Velva FFA Chapter

Velva Community Orchard produce is READY for YOU to pick! Our grape vines and apple trees have worked overtime this summer to produce delicious fruit!

For this year, we would like to open the orchard up to the public! Anyone is welcome to come pick fruit! There are several varieties of both apples and grapes. The apples would be great for baking, canning, dehydrating, making applesauce, or even to eat as a snack! The grapes can also be eaten or turned into yummy jelly!

The orchard is located on the south side of Central Ave as you head east out of town towards Karlsruhe. Feel free to contact Mrs. Fannik if you have any questions!

Please, come help yourself! 🍎🍇🍏

The Next Gen: Animal Systems Conference has come to a close. Lizzy spent the past three days with FFA members from across the country, broadening her awareness of animal agriculture careers!

In addition to attending animal agriculture industry tours, Lizzy also participated in industry roundtable discussions with professionals from the Kansas City area, and engaged in community group activities relating to employability skills and animal product marketing!

We have arrived in Kansas City for the National FFA Next Gen Animal Systems Conference! Lizzy and Mrs. Fannik traveled down with Miss Tonnessen and Miryilyn from the Rugby FFA Chapter. 75 FFA members from across the nation were selected to participate in this conference. 10 of those 75 members at this conference are from North Dakota! Thanks to Miss Tonnessen, we had a very productive morning in KC before the conference even began!

We met up with Dustin Hessman, President of Central States Testing, to learn about the importance of BVD-PI testing in cattle. He gave us a demonstration of how to run one of their tests! He also introduced us to their equine and ruminant early pregnancy blood tests, which can detect viable pregnancies very early in gestation!

Through Dustin, we were then able to arrange a tour of the Dairy Farmers of America global headquarters! We were given a tour of the facility, learned about the importance of the DFA cooperative for the dairy industry across the country, and even made a stop at their milk bar!

Both experiences were fantastic. An excellent way to kick off what’s sure to be a great week for Lizzy learning even more about animal agriculture!

‼️ Fun on the Farm is happening TOMORROW beginning at 3:30pm at Watne Farms! If you’re wanting to have some fun and learn about agriculture, go check it out! Thank you to North Dakota Farmers Union for putting on this event!

Elizabeth Hanson has been working hard all week with her three beef animals at NDSF livestock shows! Yesterday, she showed her Limousin Heifer, Commercial Heifer, and Registered Market Steer in the 4-H/FFA Beef Show.

She was the 5th place Senior Showman, and her Limousin heifer was Reserve Champion! She also placed 1st in class with her Commercial heifer and 3rd in class with her Market Steer! Congratulations, Lizzy!

The success continues! Here are the Grand and Reserve Crop, Horticulture, and Ag Produce exhibits brought in by our members:

🌾Grand Champion Durum Sheaf and Reserve Overall Crop Exhibit - Bryson Schiele
🌾Grand Champion Barley Sheaf - Bryson Schiele
🌾Reserve Champion HRSW Sheaf - Bryson Schiele
🌾Grand Champion Canola Sheaf - Mason Kraft
🌾Grand Champion Soybean Sheaf - Lucas Kraft
🌾Reserve Champion Soybean Sheaf - Bryson Schiele
🌾Grand Champion Corn Sheaf - Drew Volochenko
🌾Reserve Champion Corn Sheaf - Lucas Kraft
🍯Grand Champion Honey - Bryson Schiele
🥚Reserve Champion Brown Eggs - Bryson Schiele
🌱Grand Champion Mini Garden & Grand Champion Overall Live Arrangement - Brea Schiele
🌱Grand Champion Small Succulent & Grand Champion Overall Potted Cactus & Succulents - Bryson Schiele
🌱Reserve Champion Medium Foliage Plant - Brea Schiele
🌱Reserve Champion Large Succulent Plant - Brea Schiele
🌸Grand Champion Fresh Floral Small Arrangement - Hailee Cree
🌸Grand Champion Silk Wall Hanging - Hailee Cree
🥔Grand Champion Russet Potatoes (2nd Show) - Bryson Schiele

Congratulations to these members on their accomplishments! We are proud of you!

Our members had an excellent showing of agricultural mechanics and educational static exhibits this year at the North Dakota State Fair! Our Grand and Reserve winners are highlighted below:

💥Grand Champion Large CNC Plasma Sign - Alex Leier
💥Grand Champion Large Woodworking Project (Entryway Bench) - Mason Kraft
💥Grand Champion Corn Hole Boards - Alex Leier
💥Grand Champion Bar Stool - Lani Volochenko
💥Reserve Champion Bar Stool - Evalyn Selzler
💥Reserve Champion Medium Woodworking Project (Gun Rack) - Walter Holt
💥Grand Champion Digestive System Poster - Lani Volochenko
💥Reserve Champion Soil Profile Poster - Giorgia Palazzolo
💥Grand Champion Jr. High Team Agriscience Fair Project - Brea Schiele & Emma Pedersen
💥Reserve Champion Junior/Senior Team Agriscience Fair Project - Alex Leier & Gregory Vierley
💥Grand Champion Freshman/Sophomore Team Agriscience Fair Project - Rylee Steffen & Brecca Schwan

Congratulations to all our members who exhibited projects!!

Our FFA members were at the North Dakota State Fair yesterday for Pride of Dakota Day!! We helped serve the $1 lunch to fairgoers and were able to sample some excellent Pride of Dakota products!🌭🥔🥛🍪

Thank you to the North Dakota Department of Agriculture and Pride of Dakota program for hosting this great event!! We were happy to be part of it! 🌾

Our final day of WLC began with the Meals on Wheels service project! Members packaged over 60,000 breakfast meals to be donated to the D.C. metro area!

We then traveled to Arlington National Cemetery where members visited the gravesite of John F. Kennedy, watched the Changing of the Guard at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, and visited Arlington House.

Bryson, Greg, Ashton, Ben, Alex, and Mrs. Fannik ate at Fogo de Chao while Morgan, Lizzy, and Tucker took in the Air and Space Museum, and the American History Museum on the National Mall.

Tonight, our members will gather with other WLC members for one final night of networking, making memories, and celebrating their plans to make a difference in their communities. It’s been such a fun week!