Author: Leia Emenhiser
Each fall, the Rossville FFA chapter hosts a unique learning opportunity known as the Career Plot Day at the home of Gunther and Andrea Kreps. The event centers around a farm field behind their house that is farmed each year by the Mohler family. Throughout the growing season, students study different aspects of the field and what it takes to grow the crop. Later, they present what they learned to judges, community members, and supporters.
Several judges are invited each year to evaluate the students’ presentations. The top presenters earn an exciting reward, a trip to the Commodity Classic, an annual national agricultural convention, provided through the support of Gunther Kreps and AgXplore. Career Plot Day is made possible through the support of the local agricultural community. Many businesses around Rossville donate products used in the field, inducing seed, fertilizers, and other crop inputs. The Mohler family and Gunther Kreps also donate all of the revenue from the farm each year to the Rossville FFA chapter, helping support future educational opportunities for students.
There were 14 students who presented on various aspects of growing the crop. The top presenters included Gracie McDonald, Leia Emenhiser, Claire Heater, and Annabel Kreps. Gracie presented on the soil analysis of the field and how it impacts crop production, while Leia focused on seed selection and the key decisions that go into choosing the right varieties. Claire and Annabel presented on plant growth regulators used in the field and their benefits to crop development. Their presentations earned the highest grade from the judges and a trip to the Commodity Classic held from February 25-27 in San Antonio, Texas.
The students traveled to San Antonio on Wednesday and began their trip with dinner along the famous River Walk. The next morning started early as they walked to the convention center to check in for the event. At the convention, the group visited the AgXplore booth where they watched a podcast being filmed about soil health by members of the company. They also spent the time walking through the convention center, meeting people from across the agricultural industry and learning about the many companies and innovations involved in modern farming.
Later in the morning, the students returned to the AgXplore booth where they participated in the Beyond the Jacket podcast, discussing their experiences in FFA. After lunch, they continued exploring the convention before attending a general session where they heard from the United States Secretary of Agriculture, Brooke Rollins, along with representatives from various national commodity groups, such as the National Corn Growers Association.
That evening, the group attended an employee and customer dinner with AgXplore near the River Walk. While there, they took a boat ride through the historic waterway and learned more about the city of San Antonio. The day ended with a stop for ice cream before heading back to the hotel.
For the students, the trip offered valuable experiences and insights into the agriculture industry, offering them a great learning opportunity.
Gracie McDonald shared that her favorite experience was talking with people from across the country who were focused on conservation of agriculture. “I learned that there are so many opportunities that even young people can participate in within conservation,” she said. She also appreciated the chance to travel and see a new part of the country thanks to FFA.
Claire Heater highlighted the opportunity to interact with AgXplore employees during the dinner. While at the convention, she spent time with sales agronomist Caden Alexander and watched him give a sales presentation on a product she had studied. Afterwards, she was able to talk with him about his day-to-day work and learn more about the career.
Leia Emenhiser said her favorite part of the trip was meeting new people and learning about their roles in agriculture. She especially enjoyed hearing the Secretary of Agriculture speak. “I learned more about all of the avenues of agriculture that I never considered or knew about,” she said. “It was a great opportunity to hear from so many people about their role in agriculture and grow as a person.”
Annabel Kreps noted that she appreciated the opportunity to represent Rossville FFA on a national level. She enjoyed seeing all of the opportunities agriculture has to offer, especially as a Freshman. Kreps got to know about the agricultural space projects NASA is currently working on while speaking to industry professionals at their booth during the conference.
The students also got to interact with a Rossville FFA alumnus, who is a student at Purdue University and an intern with AgXplore, Zach Hubler. They got to learn about how his role in the Career Plot Day altered his plans for the future and what he wanted to do after graduation.
Experiences like Career Plot Day and the Commodity Classic trip help Rossville FFA members see the many possibilities within agriculture. Through community support, hands-on learning, and industry connections, students gain valuable knowledge that prepares them for future careers in the agricultural field.
