Our first November Student Spotlight is Ellie Perkins! Ellie is a sophomore at Cass City High School and a member of the Cass City FFA chapter. When asked about the FFA, Ellie expressed that it was an exciting extracurricular to partake in! Currently, Ellie is waiting for chapter office elections to take place, but served as her chapters Historian last year!

Ellie has competed in both Creed Speaking and the rabbit contest through her years in the FFA! Ellie enjoyed having the chance to grow from these contests and learn the many skills that came along with them.

Ellie’s Supervised Agricultural Experience focuses on Equine Management! In this SAE, Ellie cares, preps, and shows horses all across the State of Michigan. This past show season Ellie remained undefeated in her showmanship of Clydstales! Ellies plans on pursuing a future as an equine ophthalmologist once she graduates from high school.

When asked what advice Ellie would give to other members in the FFA, she stated, “Stick with it. When I first joined the FFA, I was hesitant, but after putting my all into it, I saw all the amazing opportunities that this organization had for its members and myself!”

Thank you for your contributions to this organization Ellie! We wish you the best for the rest of your high school career!
-Marissa & Patricia

Our next Student Saturday featured student is Johanna Eller. Johanna is part of the Alpena FFA Chapter in Region VI and is currently a senior at Alpena High School. She is currently serving her second year as her chapter’s President. Johanna says, “FFA will change your life and make you a more confident and goal-driven person.”

Throughout her time in FFA, Johanna has been involved in many activities; some of her favorites include the Broiler Contest, National Convention, Greenhand Conduct of Meetings, and Parliamentary Procedure.

Johanna also has a diverse Supervised Agricultural Experience program. She raises rabbits, chickens, ducks, and goats, and she also plans on expanding her program to include beef cattle in the spring. Additionally, Johanna grows and sells vegetables, helps her father work on tractors, and does woodworking. After high school, she plans on owning her own farming business where she will sell produce and meat at her own store.

Johanna’s advice to younger members is, “Step up and be the next generation to feed our country. You belong and you can contribute in your own way, so don’t sell yourself short just because you don’t raise animals or live on a farm. Dig your heels deep to get your goals done and plant your roots deeper. But don’t forget what’s most important.”

Johanna would also like to thank all the people who have helped make her success possible “because you never know when it will be your last chance.”

Thank you, Johanna, for your dedication to this organization, and we wish you the best of luck with the rest of your senior year and your future endeavors!
-Sydney & Jacob

For our final November student feature, we’re heading to the southern part of the state to meet Nolan Andrews from the Lenawee Vo-Tech Center! Nolan is currently a senior at Blissfield High School and has attended the Lenawee Vo-Tech Center for the past two years. At Blissfield, Nolan runs track every spring. Nolan is also preparing for a career in agriculture, participating in 4-H for his whole life as he makes his dream of starting his own farm a reality.

Through the Lenawee Vo-Tech Center, Nolan has joined FFA and seen just how much is possible through agriculture. Starting his FFA career in the middle of the pandemic, Nolan and his chapter have faced some unique challenges, stating “ With all the Covid regulations we couldn’t do much for our community, but we still did help.” Nolan has helped to put on blanket drives and donate excess food produced by the chapter to local food banks, along with other community service projects.

Last year, Nolan served his chapter as the treasurer and is continuing his service this year as the president of the Lenawee AM Chapter. He has also competed in his fair share of contests, from various skills contests and demonstration last year to the most recent broiler contest this fall. Outside of his chapter’s activities, Nolan has an SAE raising seven ewes, four of which he is preparing to breed.