Members of the Merrill FFA Chapter were one of 42 teams participating in the National FFA Agricultural Tech. and Mech. Systems Career Development Event (CDE). The event was held in conjunction with the 87th National FFA Convention & Expo in Louisville, Ky., Oct. 28-Nov. 1. The team, led by advisor Brigid Reimann, was awarded a Silver emblem. Members also competed for individual awards with 154 other participants. Joel Oelke received a Gold emblem, Ben Sosnovske received a Gold emblem, Jacob Jensen received a Silver emblem, and Justin Mondeik received a Silver emblem.
The Merrill team qualified for nationals by winning the state completion in the spring. Overall, they placed 15th out of 43 teams at nationals. In the subject area of Power and Structure Systems they placed 3rd in the nation.
Jensen, Sosnovske and Mondeik are seniors at Merrill High School this year. Oelke, who graduated in 2014, is a freshman at UW River Falls. Oelke took the highest individual placing for Merrill, ranking 30th of 172 participants.
The National FFA Agricultural Technology and Mechanical Systems CDE is a competitive event that allows students to apply classroom knowledge to real-life situations. Activities included in the event are a written exam, a team event, demonstration of problem-solving skills, and hands-on performance activities. Areas of emphasis include environmental and natural resource systems, machinery and equipment systems, structural systems, energy systems and electrical systems.
Some of the specific activities included building a drip irrigation system, adjusting a corn planter and welding. In welding, the Merrill team placed third and won one of the Lincoln welders that were used in the competition.
Jensen said the four team members all brought their own areas of expertise to the competition. Jensen’s family, for example, owns a construction company, so he is familiar with construction equipment. Sosnovske, on the other hand, has learned a lot about agriculture from working on his family’s dairy farm. Mondeik works at AGRA Industries in Merrill and is an avid racer, gaining a lot of mechanical know-how. Oelke’s father owns a company that designs and installs dairy milking parlors.
“We all have different strong points,” Jensen said. “Joel is business, Ben is dairy and farming, I have more mechanical knowledge and Justin knows design and engine systems.”
“Overall, we’re a very well-rounded team,” Sosnovske added.
FFA isn’t just an extracurricular activity for these young men; it’s a pathway to their future careers. Both Jensen and Mondeik plan to attend Northcentral Technical College and then Michigan Technological University majoring in Ag Mechanics and Technology. Sosnovske will be headed to UW River Falls, also to major in Ag Mechanics and Technology.
“The more I see out there, the more confident I am that this is what I want to do,” Jensen said. “It’s fun to see you many areas the same knowledge can be applied to.”
Competing in the FFA Career Development Events has also helped solidify Sosnovske’s plan for the future.
“Since we’ve done so well, I decided that’s what I’m going to go to college for,” he said.
This was the third trip to nationals for Oelke and Sosnovske, and the first for Jensen and Mondeik.
Having won the state competition last school year, the three seniors on this year’s team are ineligible to compete in Ag. Tech. and Mech. Systems this year. But, they can enter a different CDE, and are considering Forestry. They already have a mentor in mind; Ben’s dad is a past state winner in Forestry.