All seniors were given purple shirts. All were donated by Roger & Marjorie Beckman. Liam HalawithMaroon echoes editor & reporter. The new Agricultural Education Teacher at Mount Pleasant Community High School, Matthew Jones, got to stretch his legs at the Henry County fair. Meeting kids from all over the county and getting to spend some time with 4-H members here in Mt. Pleasant.
Jones is looking forward to summer being over, so he can start to rebuild the FFA in Mt. Pleasant, “I haven’t been this excited for summer to end in my life.” The national FFA organization website states that “FFA is a Dynamic Youth Organization that changes lives and prepares members for primer leadership, personal growth and career success through agricultural education.” FFA was established in Kansas City, Missouri in 1928. It has since spread to all 50 states and several U.S. territories. Jones goal for the first year of FFA and agricultural classes is to establish a foundation for future years to come, “ I want to lay a solid foundation so we don’t get what happened last time.” Jones is referring to back in 1995 when the school district closed down the FFA that had been running before but close down due to declining numbers. In an interview with the Maroon Echoes in April, at a Meet and Greet with Matthew Jones, school board members Chuck Andrew and Jennifer Crull explained how they saw the agricultural program fade away, almost 30 years ago. Chuck explained, “ It happened at a time when agriculture as we know it was changing.” Andrew and Crull are part of the Agricultural Education Taskforce, a group of people who were working to explore what bringing back FFA would mean to the district and if it was possible. The group was also eventually tasked with fundraising $300,000 in two years. They are inching closer and closer to their goal. The funding will fund the program for 3 years, after that it is up to the district to come up with funding. Superintendent of Schools John Henriksen says,” As long as it’s based on [student] interest it can’t fail.” MPCHS student and Henry County fair queen contestant, Madison Campbell, is deeply involved in agriculture, “ There is a very big push in my family because they use to be in FFA.” Madison will take all three classes offered by Mr. Jones including animal science, introduction to agriculture, and agricultural business. Madison wants to see all ages get involved in FFA & 4-H to make sure that the program lasts. Cristina Johnston will be taking animal science and intro to agriculture, this fall. Cristina wants to be a vet tech and plans to go to college for that. Johnston showed three animals at the fair one of her own and two of her sisters. Johnston wants more to people to learn about livestock, “ I want for more people to understand livestock.” Jones expects up to 70 kids in his classes in the fall.
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Liam HalawithMaroon Echoes Editor & Reporter. MPCHS junior, Kenna Smith, 17, daughter of Debbie and Jason Smith, was named 1st Runner-Up in the annual Henry County Fair Queen contest, held inMcMillan Park. Smith says, “I got to meet a lot of new people.” “It was fun to make new friends.” Kenna is involved in many activities at MPCHS including softball, volleyball, dance team, student council (in which she is the president), band, and silver cord. Outside of school Smith is the 4-H President, helping her fellow exhibitors pick out their exhibits, and to run their meetings.
19-Year-Old Sophie Lounsbury, a recent graduate from New London High School won top honors. Smith and Lounsbury will be assisting with the events at the fair all week. Other contestants from Mount Pleasant include, Madison Campbell, 17, who participates in volleyball and the music department, and Ashley DeMeyer, 21, an MPCHS & Hawkeye Community College graduate, and who will attend Iowa Wesleyan in the fall. Campbell said that even though she didn’t place in the competition, she enjoyed her experience, “I got to learn new things and was pushed out of my comfort zone.” Madison shows steers at the fair and is excited to join the new high school FFA program and Ag classes this year. Madison will be in the Animal Science, Introduction to Agriculture, and Agricultural Business classes offered at MPCHS in the fall. Liam HalawithEditor & Reporter for the Maroon Echoes. MP Baseball Team Celebrated their players at their last doublebeade game of the year, the last game before their postseason run. The Panthers said goodbye to seniors Bryce Anderson, Chase Lamm, & Trace White.
The team is left with 7 players on the varsity team. Juniors: Corbin Broker, Jaxon Hoyle (Not Pictured), Clayton Lowery, & Nik Colbe. Sophomores: Chase Williamson, Dalton Gardener, Brennen Bender, Will Edeker & Sawyer Carrasco. Freshman: Carson Coleman & Cooper Kelgord. The celebration included giving a rose to each mother of the player and a pack of pistachios to each father. Liam HalawithEditor and Reporter for the Maroon Echoes. The Mount Pleasant Softball team recognized their senior players tonight, saying goodbye at their last home game and double header of the season.
They celebrated their seniors one last time after winning their first game of a double header, 7-4 in the seventh inning. The team said goodbye to seniors Makayla Cam, Trinity Krabill, Anni Liechty, and Lyndi Vantiger. |
Maroon Echoes StaffAdvisor- Ronnie Waggoner Archives
November 2020
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