• Seize the opportunity! This was the message during the FFA Banquet on Friday evening.
• Former Groton FFA member and the 2013-2014 State FFA Secretary Cheyenne Leonhardt was the guest speaker during the banquet. She told the audience that they should always look for the opportunities present to them.
• "FFA is the perfect organization to seize those opportunities," Leonhardt said. "Don't be afraid of failure,  because you'll never know unless you try."
• FFA Advisor Adam Franken also spoke to the senior members about the opportunities facing them as they graduate.
• "I want to pass along three things to you," Franken said. "These are things I have learned over the past ten years that I have been here."
• "First, have faith. Have faith in yourself and in each other," Franken said. "Over the past couple of years, I have pushed you to try new things, to improve yourself, you won't have anyone in college doing that for you, you have to do it yourself."
• "Second, Take risks," Franken said. "Life has opportunities, and you need to take them even if you fail. When you fail, you learn. You need to pick yourself back up and keep going."
• "Third, Work hard. You are a testimonial to what hard work can do." Franken said. "You have seceded at the opportunities you have been given; now you just need to continue seizing those opportunities."
• The Groton FFA Chapter won several awards over the year, proving that they had worked hard to seize those opportunities.
• During the leadership CDE in November, Kate Helmer won the district creed speaking contest and Joellen Gonsoir won the Job interview contest. Katie Miller placed second in public speaking and was selected as a district officer; she will serve as the district sentinel.
• At the state FFA convention in April, Groton earned a silver award in Ag Mechanics. Team members were: Nathan Wright, 11^th (gold); Hayden Anderson, Bronze; and Tyler Wagner, Silver.
• The Natural Resources team finished Silver. Team members were: Wyatt Sombke, 15^th (gold) and Brody Sombke, Bronze.
• Vet Science team placed in the bronze category with Joellen Gonsoir finishing 10^th, (Gold).
• Lucas Sternhagen finished in 4^th place, (gold) in the Farm Business Management area.

(Continued on page 33)