Danny Rice, advisor, Koby Vanderpool, treasurer, Tristen Duncan, student advisor, Kaelin Criqui, secretary, Frank Warner, vice president, Sadie McGowin, reporter, Braden Reed, student council, and Wyatt Lingenfelter, sentinel, get ready to leave for MdCV FFA’s annual officer retreat. Courtesy photo.

This year the 2019-2020 Marais des Cygnes Valley FFA officer team took a retreat out of state July 29-31, 2019, venturing to Bennett Springs, Mo. The team included Braden Reed, Frank Warner, Tristen Duncan, Kaelin Criqui, Koby Vanderpool, Wyatt Lingenfelter, and Sadie McGowin.

On their way to Missouri the team made a few pit stops. Stop one was at Epler Farms, where the team learned about how to run a crop operation, its modern equipment and also the new technology in the production agriculture field.

Stop two was at Hiland Dairy Foods Company, in Springfield, Mo. Officers learned more of the dairy processing side of agriculture. Thousands of gallons of fluid milk and gallons of ice cream are processed at this facility, as well as Red Diamond Tea.

After arriving in Bennett Springs, the team spent the next three days bonding, enhancing their leadership skills, and planning activities for the next school year. Some time was spent fishing, cruising around enjoying the scenery, and playing a game of ultimate football.

The team is very excited for the new activities they have planned but also improving previous ones. A few activities planned are the organizational luau, Ag Awareness Day, and possibly a cornhole tournament.

Follow Marais des Cygnes Valley FFA on its journey and see a schedule of events at mdcvffa.weebly.com.

Information and photos thanks to Danny Rice.