September 5, 2017 at 3:32 p.m.
Teamwork contributes to success
Kenyon-Wanamingo FFA chapter works together during state fair
The Kenyon-Wanamingo FFA chapter had a successful Minnesota State Fair. The dairy members are pictured, front row (from left) Bradley Rostad, Marshall Friese and Erin Gudknecht. Middle row, (from left) Clint Irrthum, Marcus Irrthum with his grand champion Ayrshire cow, Alysha Bang and Rachel Friese with her grand champion registered Holstein cow. Back row, (from left) Jesse Revland and Parker Erickson. Not pictured: Riley Donkers. <br /><!-- 1upcrlf -->PHTOO BY KRISTA SHEEHAN
During the 2012 FFA dairy show on Sept. 1 at the Minnesota State Fair, 10 members of the chapter showed 20 animals. These members included Alysha Bang (20), Rachel Friese (20), Jesse Reuland (18), Parker Erickson (17), Marshall Friese (17), Bradley Rostad (17), Marcus Irrthum (16), Clint Irrthum (15), Erin Gudknecht (14) and Riley Donkers (14).
Both the grand and reserve grand champions in the Holstein and Ayrshire shows came from the Kenyon-Wanamingo FFA dairy string. Their chapter also won the Midwest Dairy Association Special award, which is chosen based on the seven best animals in the chapter.
"It's fun to be competitive. It feels like we've accomplished a lot and it actually means something when we get it," Alysha Bang said about her chapter winning the MDA award.
It was her 9-year-old Ayrshire cow that was named reserve champion while Marcus Irrthum's 3-year-old was named grand champion Ayrshire. Rachel Friese exhibited both the grand champion Holstein, a 3-year-old, and the reserve grand champion Holstein, a 10-year-old cow.
"It's fun to show them off and show them to the people who live in the Cities and visit the barn to see cows," Friese said. "We get to teach people about agriculture."
The members said the showring success has helped their chapter.
"Other people see our winnings and want to join us because it's fun, but there's a lot of work," Alysha Bang said.
"You really have to dedicate yourself to the project," Jesse Reuland said.
Work hasn't scared off these chapter members.
"It's a good learning experience," Alysha Bang said. "You learn how to take responsibility because you have to watch your animals."
The chapter enjoys working as a team in addition to winning ribbons during the show.
"It's fun," Marcus Irrthum said about showing. "You get to meet new people and work together. We wash our animals together and we are right next to Goodhue (FFA) so we help them and they help us."
This teamwork also brings in more dairy members to Kenyon-Wanamingo FFA.
"Our advisor, Charles Larson, is really excited about the number of dairy we've had. It's been growing every year," Rachel Friese said. "I think it's cool our chapter is getting bigger rather than smaller."
Alumni and parents have helped the chapter remain strong, Friese said.
"There's a lot of passion within our county for dairy," she said. "You can tell it's a close knit community because there is so much support."
Nearly all parents attend show day and also put on an alumni dinner at the state fair.
"All our parents are willing to help out with anything in the chapter," Friese said.
But not all the members are from a dairy farm. Two of them lease cows.
"There are definitely farmers in the community willing to lease animals if the kids are willing to do the work and are interested in dairy," Friese said.
Beyond the showing, Marcus Irrthum said being in FFA has been a good experience.
"You learn people skills and get to communicate and meet new people. It teaches you how to work, too," he said
Bradley Rostad said there are many different project areas in FFA, not just dairy.
"There are different fields you can learn about or you can get more specific in one to get more knowledge for the future," he said.
But many of the Kenyon-Wanamingo members want to dairy farm or stay in the dairy industry in some way. A large part of this interest has grown from their teamwork and success as a chapter.
"We work well together because we're with people we know well," Marcus Irrthum said.
"We know what we're all capable of, we work together as a team and get it done," Alysha Bang said. "That's what FFA is about."
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