Blue jackets, bright futures

Iowa FFA students celebrate agriculture, leadership at annual state conference.

Beckman Catholic's FFA program didn't just grow after becoming its own standalone chapter in 2018 - it literally took off.

Now 128 members strong across grades 7-12 and expanding, the chapter has become one of the most active programs in the school, with nearly one-third of the student body involved.

Eighteen members recently returned from the 98th annual Iowa FFA State Leadership Conference in Ames, joining roughly 6,000 peers April 19-21 for three days of competition and leadership development. Events included public speaking, conduct of meetings and parliamentary procedure, along with workshops, speakers, and band and chorus performances.

"We have a really active chapter … that has grown immensely," said Dawn Mausser, a 16-year veteran teacher and current chapter advisor. Prior to 2018, the program was shared with Maquoketa Valley before branching out on its own.

"We are very involved in career development events … , the skills aspect of things our kids really like … and obviously the science … We also do the leadership development skills. I just believe in hands-on learning and … allowing students to grow in what they're passionate about."

Student success

Mausser said community and administrative support has played a critical role in the program's growth, including helping fund and build a greenhouse used for research and plant sales each spring.

"We really have enjoyed having that as another resource for our students," she said.

The program's overarching goal is to prepare students to be "world-ready," equipping them with practical skills such as understanding balance sheets, working with local bankers, maintaining records and making informed farm management decisions.

"We have a large number of students starting their own business or dabbling in farming … , looking at the financial aspects," Mausser said.

That hands-on experience is evident in students like junior Natalie Besler, a state finalist for the Star in Agriculture Award - the highest state-level FFA honor - recognizing excellence in supervised agricultural experience (SAE), leadership and academics. Besler, a 2026 state champion in agriscience research, focused her work on the invasive zebra mussel and its economic impact.

"I knew I had to come up with a solution to keep them from spreading to new areas. My goal was to look at a way to minimize their impact by using clay artificial reefs to possibly attract them away from certain areas," she explained.

Her research found that clay reefs with a scratch texture performed significantly better than the metal reefs currently used to attract mussels.

"By containing where they colonize, I am able to remove them and reduce any further spreading," she explained.

Junior Isaac Geistkemper, the 2026 state champion in the fruit and nut production proficiency area, also built his project from the ground up. With no prior experience, he began in 2023 by purchasing 500 plants, later adding another 500 and installing irrigation as he developed a home-based strawberry business.

"In the spring of 2026, I will add 2,000 more strawberry plants to my operation," he said.

Geistkemper markets his strawberries using Facebook and Google Sheets to manage orders and organization.

"The best advertising is word of mouth," he said. "Winning the state contest means that my hard work has paid off. While preparing my application, I realized how much my operation has grown and how much I have learned." He hopes to eventually grow strawberries on a commercial scale.

Junior Owen Boge, the chapter's president, has focused on building participation and strengthening the culture within the program.

"I want everyone to experience the same growth and confidence that I have gained over the years," he said. "The FFA chapter isn't just built on a few leaders; it is built on a community of engaged members."

That sense of shared ownership, Boge said, is what helps the chapter balance long-standing traditions with new opportunities.

"We have strong support all over, and traditions bring our members closer while also encouraging creativity," he explained. "FFA has taught me many leadership skills … leading by example, growing communication skills and helping me become a better person. It has taught me to be more responsible, honest and confident. I've learned to hold myself to a higher standard."

Through his involvement, Boge also has developed skills in scientific research, problem solving and communication while exploring how agriculture connects with environmental sustainability. That mind-set carries into his agriscience project, where he developed a biodegradable plastic alternative using natural materials like coconut byproducts.

"Plastic pollution is a major issue, especially in agriculture and everyday packaging, and I wanted to explore a more sustainable solution," he said. "Agricultural products can be used in innovative ways beyond food production."

Career exploration

Stories like Boge's - along with those of Besler and Geistkemper - reflect a larger theme seen throughout the Iowa FFA State Leadership Conference: students not only learning about agriculture but actively shaping its future.

That impact isn't lost on agricultural leaders and industry partners who attend the annual event, many of whom see FFA as a critical pipeline for the next generation of innovators, producers and advocates.

At the convention's career fair, businesses and educational institutions shared information with students about Iowa's ag career paths. Exhibitors had praise for FFA members, calling them Iowa's best and brightest.

"We're trying to get more involved in FFA, talk about our business and answer questions students may have," said Julie Mackey, human resources representative for Sukup Manufacturing, a family-owned and operated equipment business with headquarters in Sheffield. "We offer internships … primarily in engineering."

Representatives from Brookings-based South Dakota State University's (SDSU) agriculture program made the trek to Ames to share what the university has to offer potential students. Shelby Brosh and Brandon Gengler are both from northwest Iowa and are ambassadors for SDSU.

"We have an array of different ag programs … from agronomy to animal science, AST and ag engineering," said Brosh. "Love the hands-on learning opportunities. Students have been asking us about different majors and minors offered and clubs available."

PICTURED ABOVE: The Iowa FFA Leadership Conference brought approximately 6,000 students together in Ames for competitions, workshops, activities and a career fair. Iowa Farm Bureau's booth, featuring the theme Roots of Freedom, was a popular stop for conference attendees. PHOTO / CONRAD SCHMIDT

Farm Bureau support

The Iowa Farm Bureau Federation (IFBF), one of the title sponsors of the state FFA leadership conference, annually supports FFA. Three years ago, it pledged $1 million to support youth and agricultural education, underscoring its commitment to the continued growth of one of the nation's premier youth organizations.

Speaking at the conference April 20, IFBF President Brent Johnson challenged the students to think differently as they face challenges no other generation of agriculturalists has encountered before. With the global population peak inevitable for the first time in 600 years - projected in the 2060s - and a steady decline thereafter, students are being asked to consider quality over quantity.

"The future of agriculture won't simply be about simple production, producing more," Johnson said. "It will be about producing smarter, creating value. It will be about quality … innovation and meeting the changing demands of consumers.

"My money is on you to not only meet the future quality and quality standards, but I know that you'll exceed those expectations just as the generations have done before us," he said. "You are not inheriting yesterday's agriculture … You are building tomorrow's agriculture."