Students enrolled in the Bay Port High School Agriculture program do not stop learning once the school year ends, and summer 2024 was no exception. While many local students welcome the break from school obligations and learning, the agriculture and FFA students keep forging on with the applicable, hands-on learning led by Bay Port teachers and FFA advisors Whitney Barnes and Ryan Weed. When asked about these summer learning experiences for students, Barnes said, “Students that are able to expand their learning and are passionate about learning year round seem to develop our graduate profile skills at a much faster rate.”
To kick off the summer, Bay Port students competed at the Wisconsin State FFA Convention in Madison, WI. Over 3,500 agriculture students were in attendance, including 11 Bay Port FFA leaders. While at the State Convention, the Agriculture Issues team and Environmental & Natural Resources team were the top competitors in their category and earned the opportunity to compete at the national level in fall 2024. The Bay Port Quiz Bowl Team earned the distinction of Runner Up, and several students earned silver and bronze awards. In addition, Mackenzie Frisch earned the State Degree Recipient award, one of 350 students in the state who earned that distinction.
Three Bay Port students were selected to attend the prestigious Next Gen Conference to learn more about food science and natural resources. This national conference focuses on specific career pathways and allows students to map out their future career options with career exploration sessions, industry roundtables, and tours.
During the Brown County Fair, the Bay Port FFA chapter competed in a variety of categories, including poultry, beef, swine, and sheep. Most notably, seven Bay Port students earned the award of Grand Champion, which is the highest award that can be attained at a county fair.
In addition to participating and competing, the Bay Port FFA leadership team participated in two officer retreats aimed at planning over 150 activities for the upcoming school year.
All events are designed and implemented in accordance with national FFA standards, as well as meeting the needs and interests of members and the surrounding community. Several FFA members also take advantage of work-based learning opportunities in the vast agriculture sector.
These supervised agricultural experiences provide diverse opportunities to match agriculture career pathways, such as maple syrup operations, raising livestock, and managing forests.
FFA competitions, students working and learning in supervised agricultural experiences, and leadership training showcase a dedication that lasts beyond the start and end of a school year.
