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 Now retired teacher, Betsy Pech helped to build the Hartem Ag
program and led the school's FFA for many years. Pech, a 2013
recipient of the Honorary Holbert Award given by the Illinois State
University Department of Agriculture, was one of the first women to
teach high school agriculture. She is recognized as a role model and
mentor for young women interested in careers with an agricultural
base.
Through her many years at the school, she also led many award
winning FFA teams.
In 2014, as Pech retired 29 years of teaching, Hartem's FFA was
selected as the top chapter in Section 14, a Gold Emblem chapter,
and a National Finalist.
2014 graduate and FFA member Natalie Nowatney participated in the Ag
Issues program for three years. She said that in 2014, "We went to
nationals and got bronze."
Nowatney says that to prepare for the contests, "my mom and I read
through hundreds of pages of government documents." She notes that
the contests gave her a lot of public speaking experience.
Pech left a great legacy that new Ag teacher and FFA leader
Elizabeth Fanning has begun writing her place into the schools
history.
 Fanning gave a review of the past year, her first year -- "Last
year, we did a lot of trap shooting and livestock judging, which we
will be doing again this year."
As for future plans, she says, "This year Hartem FFA will be
competing in multiple Career Development Events (CDE'S) such as Ag
Sales, Livestock Judging, Soils, and many more."
The Hartem FFA Facebook page shows highlights from last year's
contests, where the team often did well. At the Geneseo FFA contest
in February, Noah Watts received the high individual award in the
junior swine division and Dustin Woolard received third overall in
the senior sheep division.
In April, the Hartem Livestock Judging Team won the Section 14
contest. Meg Meeker placed 1st overall and Dustin Woolard placed 6th
overall. And congratulations also go to Noah on receiving the high
individual award in the junior swine division and to Dustin for
receiving third overall in the senior sheep division.
Many of the chapter's members have also gone to the Washington
Leadership Conference, a weeklong conference that helps students
develop leadership skills and do service projects.
Fanning explains that the 2015-2016 Officer Team has set some goals
for the chapter to be more community oriented and help out with
beautification and upkeep of their towns. CDE'S are career
development events. We are planning on fixing the Hartsburg welcome
sign, planting flowers, and litter pick up.
The community oriented spirit is in line with what the chapter has
done over the years. Under Pech FFA members were required to
complete individual community service projects -- one per month --
during the school year. Another community project they have done
over the years is a food drive.
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Hartem's new principal John Leslie mentions on the school's website
the strong focus on community.
The National FFA also has something of a focus on helping communities. Via its
website, "FFA members amplify their voice when it comes to speaking about
agriculture and letting others know the importance of agriculture in today’s
world. This is the perfect time to show your community how FFA members live the
FFA motto: Learning to Do, Doing to Learn, Earning to Live, Living to Serve."
And the Illinois FFA website notes, "The FFA mission is to make a positive
difference in the lives of students by developing their potential for premier
leadership, personal growth and career success through agricultural education."
What students learn in FFA influences their future. Several recent FFA alumni
are currently studying agriculture in college or involved in Agriculture related
careers. 2013 Hartem graduate Cole Baker is studying agricultural business at
Lincoln Land Community College with plans to transfer to Illinois State
University and states that the FFA opened many doors of opportunities for him.
He explains, "I was very involved in the Ag Issues contest, livestock judging,
and public speaking contest, all of which taught me skills that I use every day
in my life." Baker also says, "I was the chapter president and Section 14
president. Holding those offices taught me about leadership, communication, and
many other different aspects of agriculture. Everyday, I thank the FFA
organization for providing me with those great skills and opportunities. Also I
thank my agriculture teacher Mrs. Betsy Pech for pushing me to pursue all that I
did in FFA."
Others, such as 2010 State FFA Award winner Christopher Crane are now helping
run their family farms. Josh Clark, another 2010 award winner, is the service
coordinator/supervisor at Roland Machinery, a supplier of heavy equipment. Also
from that group was Tommy Zinser, who now works at the grain elevator in Emden.
With former FFA members taking what they have learned and using it in their
careers, this statement from the National FFA - "Students whose lives are
impacted by FFA and agricultural education will achieve academic and personal
growth, strengthen American agriculture and provide leadership to build healthy
local communities, a strong nation and a sustainable world" - appears to ring
true.
[Angela Reiners]
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