FFA members travel to national event

The FFA organization is a busy group at Newcastle High School this year because it has some hardworking, dedicated and nationally recognized members traveling to Indianapolis, Indiana, for the 2025 FFA National Convention, Oct. 29–Nov. 1. 

This opportunity presented itself in zealous emotion for one of Newcastle’s very own, JJ Lipp. JJ is a NHS graduate of the class of 2024 and is going to be walking across the national stage to receive his American Degree, the highest degree the FFA organization gives. Receiving your American Degree is a diligent task, even for someone as ambitious as JJ. In order to earn the American Degree, you must have earned at least $10,000 through your SAE, or Supervised Agricultural Experience, or a combination of earning and at least 2,250 additional hours of unpaid experience that are equal to 10,000 dollars, with a productively invested amount. JJ also had to attend several FFA-related competitions, partake in leadership activities, earn outstanding grades and rack up countless hours of community service. 

“We are very proud of JJ and his accomplishments!” says Newcastle High FFA adviser and Ag teacher Morgan Loepp. 

Other members traveling to Indiana are Preslee Fitzwater, Brooklyn Benshoof, Julie Morris and Aidan Butler. These members have worked countless hours and journaled many entries in the record-keeping program, AET, and have all earned bronze in their respective categories through proficiency applications. Proficiency awards are given to members for superior work and time in the SAE portion of FFA. These are hands-on activities, projects or jobs. Fitzwater was awarded bronze in agricultural communications, Benshoof for her equine science entrepreneurship, Morris for her swine production placement and finally Butler for proficiency in agricultural mechanics, repair and maintenance placement. 

The final member gearing up towards nationals is Callie Christensen. Christensen will be going for extemporaneous public speaking. This category is an extremely competitive competition — a contest where competitors prepare and deliver a four- to six-minute speech on a current agricultural-related topic after 30 minutes of preparation using only selected resources. Competitors will draw three topics and choose one to give a speech on. The speech must be given in an organized, fluid and knowledge-demonstrated fashion. The goal of this category is to develop strong speaking skills, the ability to think under pressure and knowledge of current agricultural issues. After the speech, the competitor will have to answer several topic-related questions. Christensen will be the first person to compete at the national level in extemporaneous speaking in Newcastle since 2019 (per record). 

“I am very proud of them, and I hope they continue to inspire and help the rest of the chapter obtain similar heights,” adviser Loepp says.