Caledonia Argus

Caledonia FFA celebrates 50 years

Posted: 2/19/02

By Shannon McKinney
Argus News Reporter

Itís been 50 years since Caledonia High School began its FFA (Future Farmers of America) chapter.

A special program is planned for Monday evening, March 25, at 8 p.m. in the high school agriculture department to recognize its annual awards and achievements.

The chapter is operated through the agriculture department at Caledonia High School and students are chosen to fill the capacity of president, vice president, treasurer, reporter, secretary, reporter and sentinel. Agriculture teachers are advisors to the FFA chapter. For about the first 20 years, girls were not allowed on the chapter, and ìChapter Sweetheartsî were chosen as honorary representatives.

Allen Dittmer, FFA Advisor since 1974, said over the years, girls have taken very active roles in FFA.

First president of Caledonia Chapter #232 Curtis Schroeder remembers what it was like to be in the FFA when it first began in 1952. ìI was honored to be the president. I liked the teacher (Wayne Rowe),î he said.

Other original FFA officers included vice president Robert Meiners, secretary Donald Ranzenberger, treasurer Laverne Pieper, reporter Alan Huesmann and sentinel Richard Lankoski.

Wayne Rowe was the advisor at the time. Back then they didnít attend contests and not many people knew what FFA meant. ìWe went to meetings in Rochester,î said Schroeder.

Now FFA members travel all over the state for contests and even to national conventions every other year. Due to budget constraints last year, they were unable to attend the national convention. They hope to raise money to attend this year, said Dittmer.

But district budget problems were an issue in 1952 too.

Schroeder went to school when the building housed grades K-12. He said money problems seemed to be as bad then as it is now. ìWe were talking about building at the time. It was quite a struggle to even get FFA. They wanted to keep faculty as small as they could,î explained Schroeder.

Heís glad to see that the community supported it. ìItís good to have it; kids connected with farming,î he explained.

Many teachers at that time were World War II veterans. Schroeder wishes he knew what happened to Mr. Rowe, who was a veteran of WW II. ìHeíd been through a lot. He lost part of his stomach through the war. He was kind of an interesting person,î he said.

Rowe was an FFA advisor from 1952 through 1954.

FFA offers career opportunities

Dittmer says FFA has helped students become aware of the different career opportunities that are available in the agriculture business. Each year students take part in contests about general livestock, dairy, soils, fish and wildlife, small animal and agricultural mechanics.

ìWeíre looking at all the different career areas of agriculture business. It is very big. I donít think people know that it is so much more than farming. One of our goals it to get people aware that agriculture can offer more career choices even those who donít have the farm background,î he explained.

Dave Klinski, a farmer and school board member, was a member of FFA all four years of high school, 1966-70. He enjoyed the fellowship between Caledonia, Houston and Spring Grove. ìMost of the guys werenít involved in athletics so we belonged to FFA. We had a lot of great times. It was the farm boy thing. It was our niche,î he explained.

Klinski attended different contests; his first trip to the Twin Cities was for a contest. He has fond memories of traveling to the national convention in Kansas City.

He says the type of competition has changed, ìIt was not so much teams as it was individuals.î

FFA also taught him other qualities. ìThere was a lot of emphasis on leadership qualities. There were even contests on parliamentary procedure and how to hold a meeting. It certainly affected me in organizational things today. Even on the school board, my experience on FFA carries through.î

Dittmer has watched the agriculture program change in the last 27 years. In 1974, the agriculture department was located in the elementary building. Then it saw two more moves in the 1980s and 1990s when additions were built onto the high school and the agriculture department was relocated. The department also saw a remodeling project after the last addition.

Dittmer said its impressive that the agriculture department has seen so much change. ìI give a lot of credit to the community for their support. I really worked with Dr. Miller(former superintendent Miles Miller). He asked for my input and what I needed for my facility to run efficiently for our area. I really felt that I was part of the process. Itís amazing that Iíve been able to experience that.î

Past officers and members will be a part of the FFA awards program on March 25.

There are currently 21 members in the FFA.

The president is Joannie Tewes, vice president is Karl Housker, secretary is Julie Abrahamzon, treasurer is Adam Molling, reporter is Brandon Knutson and Lorrie Tewes is the sentinel.

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