At the opening session of Region 5 FLA/FHA, candidates ran for region offices. Paynesville junior, Sarah Schmiesing, St. Martin, was elected vice-president. Other officers are: Paul Cumings, Atwater-Cosmos-Grove City, president; Amanda Anderson, Litchfield, secretary; Kellie Knudson, Dawson-Boyd, treasurer; and Jennifer Johanneck, Litchfield, junior high council.
Schmiesing will be eligible to attend the national meeting in San Diego this summer. She had the highest written test score of the officer candidates. She also interviewed before a voting delegate session after completing a stage interview and presentation before about 450 people.
The STAR event competition also took place on Feb. 14. Star events stand for students taking action through recognition. They are illustrated or nonillustrated talks which range from five to ten minutes in length. Receiving gold medals for first place, the chapter trophy and advancing to state competition from the high school are: Alyscia Braun, “Breakfast Basics,” illustrated talk; Rachel Gifford, “Teaching Communication Skills to Middle School Students,” interpersonal communications; Cheryl Guenther, “Animal Rights,” illustrated talk; Amanda Reeck, “Tobacco Trouble,” illustrated talk; and Lynn Vadner, “Stop Drunk Driving,” illustrated talk.
Middle school students receiving gold medals were: Rocky Hunter and Ryan Hunt, healthy habits; Kayla Hemingson, sign language; and Shannon Bahner and Anita Anderson, babysitting.
High school students receiving silver medals with illustrated talks were: Tracy Adams and Ranae Bengtson, “Eating Disorders,” Stacy Karels, Eating Disorders,” Sean Kruger and Aaron Fearing, Fast Food Fats; Beckie Zuroff and Randi Ampe, Teens and Aids;
Middle school: Amy Schoenherr, healthy habits; Melissa Kolb, horses; Katie Herding, hybrid dogs; and the parlimentary team, Dustin Ruble (team manager and historian), Wendy Bennett, Jenna Berry, Jenny Monson, Rocky Hunter, Krista Bengtson, Russel Nelson, Amy Schoenherr and Ryan Hunt.
After lunch, a talent show was held where FLA members had a chance to show what they’re made of and to try to win the grand prize, plus a chance to advance to the state meeting in April. Schmiesing performed a piano solo.
Room consultants from Paynesville were Jenni Bahner, Kandace Bengtson and Angie Meyer. Voting delegates were Michael Sand and Keith Winter.
Competing in the Wacky Olympics, a fun fitness activity, were: high school, Tracy Adams, Ranae Bengtson, Amanda Reeck and Cheryl Guenther; middle school, Josh Kampsen, Mike Sand, Rocky Hunter and Ryan Hunt. The middle school students had to pass an orange, run backwards in flippers and handle a basketball in front of 350 students.
FLA is a dynamic and effective national student organization that helps young men and women become leaders and address personal, family, work, and social issues through vocational home economics education. The organization has involved over nine million youth since its founding in 1945.