MENDOTA - The Mendota FFA Alumni & Supporters is an organization with the purpose of supporting agricultural education and the Mendota FFA Chapter at Mendota High School. They provide support for student projects, travel to various events and competitions, and supplies for activities.

Recently the Mendota FFA Alumni & Supporters recognized Mendota High School students Jack Beetz (Class of 2021) and Elizabeth Schillinger (Class of 2022) for earning their State FFA Degrees. Both students were recognized at the 93rd Illinois FFA State Convention, which was held at various locations on different dates throughout the state in June of this year.

Beetz maintained his Supervised Agricultural Experience (SAE) project records on his work for the family farming operations, Sam Beetz & Sons. Schillinger’s SAE project involved growing, harvesting, and marketing various fall produce products such as pumpkins, Indian corn, squash, and gourds.

In addition to meeting the requirement with their SAE projects, both students demonstrated a knowledge and understanding of both the FFA organization and Parliamentary Procedure as well as logging the necessary community service hours to earn their degrees. Each student was presented with an endowment of $500 from the Mendota FFA Alumni & Supporters.

The Mendota FFA Alumni & Supporters meets the second Monday of the month from November to April in the Mendota High School agriculture classroom (404). Anyone is welcome to attend and join the group regardless of whether they were a member of the FFA as a student or not.

For more information about the Mendota FFA Alumni & Supporters or to learn more about the National FFA Organization, high school agricultural education, or Supervised Agricultural Experience (SAE) programs at Mendota High School, please contact Matt Meyer by e-mail at mmeyer@mendotahs.org or phone (815) 539-7446, ext. 534.