L-R: Audubon FFA Chapter Officers
Collin Bauer (State FFA President), Lane Elmquist (Secretary), Colton Hansen (Vice-President), Brylie Andersen (Reporter), Corbin Chambers (President), Clayton VanAernam (Historian), Daniel Tessman (Audubon Sentinel and SW District Sentinel)
Not pictured: Hayden Larsen (Treasurer)
Each year the SW district and Iowa FFA officers plan and facilitate Chapter Officer Leadership Training (COLT) Conferences for FFA members in the SW district. The Atlantic FFA Chapter welcomed FFA chapters from all over the SW district on June 4, 2024. There were 170 members representing 28 chapters present. Attending from Audubon: Corbin Chambers, Colton Hansen, Lane Elmquist, Brylie Andersen, Clayton VanAernam, Daniel Tessman, advisors Mrs. Brittany Elmquist and Mr. Andy VanAernam. Daniel also serves as the SW District Sentinel.
While at Atlantic on June 4th district and state officers lead four interactive workshops for FFA Chapter leaders, many of which are officers, for the annual COLT Conference. The workshops facilitated were local FFA Chapter program focused in the areas of advocating for the agriculture industry, connecting with stakeholders, recruiting for the local chapter, and working as a cohesive team. FFA leaders also received training relative to their specific officer duties within the local chapter.
Iowa FFA President, Collin Bauer, stated, “COLT conference provides a chance for FFA members to learn more about their responsibility as a local leader and is a conference for members to meet and connect with state, district and other chapter officers.”
COLT conference programming is designed as a two-year rotation of local leaders training. The focus areas of next year’s program include agriculture literacy, time management, professionalism, and self-confidence. The goal is to engage FFA members in learning about the tools that would allow them to be successful in anything they are part of through high school and beyond.
COLT conference is made possible with support from Farmers Mutual Hail Insurance of Iowa through the Iowa FFA Foundation.
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About Iowa FFA Association
The Iowa FFA Association is a youth organization of more than 20,000 student members as part of 263 local FFA chapters across Iowa. 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. The Iowa FFA Association was organized by delegates from 23 schools at Iowa State College on May 17, 1929 and is an integral part of public instruction in agriculture. The Iowa Department of Education provides leadership and helps set direction for FFA as a service to local agricultural education programs. For more, visit the Iowa FFA Association online at IowaFFA.com, on Facebook, and Twitter.