The first Effingham FFA Chapter officer team.
“I was wanting a new challenge,” says Ty Totten.
After starting a manufacturing class at Effingham High School (EHS) and having it up and running smoothly, Totten was eager for something new. He says he has “always seen the need for agriculture at EHS” and was ready to implement the new journey.
Totten was raised with an agricultural background and lives within an agricultural community. “It is just part of who I am,” he says.
His wife, Mandy, also had a big influence on this dream. She has an FFA program of her own and developed success within her chapter. Totten said it has shown him how “FFA brings a new group of people together and how much I want to be a part of that.”
After getting the agriculture classes and the beginning of the Effingham FFA Chapter approved by EHS administration, Totten brought the idea to the student body. At the first meeting, more than 50 students attended and were interested in developing the program.
It has been almost an entire school year of having this program, and the Effingham FFA Chapter now has 88 members enrolled. It has also tried as many new opportunities as possible within several events and competitions. So far, members competed in Section 20 FFA Career Development Events like agricultural sales, horse judging, poultry judging, meat judging, and the Southern Illinois University-Carbondale (SIUC) Horse Judging Invitational.
The chapter also attended Land Use Council Envirothon, Leadership Training School, Ground Zero Conference, Illinois State FFA Convention and the National FFA Convention & Expo. “National FFA Convention has been my favorite by far,” Totten says. “I love getting to see FFA members from every state.”
The Effingham FFA Chapter Horse Judging Team poses with its third-place plaque.
Not only has the chapter been prevalent throughout the section, state and national levels, but it has also volunteered lots of time within the school and community. Members helped with FS Customer Appreciation Day, “Feed the Farmer” and the Angel Tree Christmas party.
During National FFA Week, the chapter held a staff appreciation breakfast, petting zoo, Ag Olympics rodeo and Drive Your Tractor to School Day. Additionally, every month the chapter holds meetings to inform students about upcoming events.
However, every triumph has its trials. When asked the biggest challenge his members have overcome this year, Totten said, “preparing for all of the competitions.” Before a competition, the chapter tried to gather a group of students with prior knowledge about the material. The Effingham FFA Officer Team also set goals to not come last, enjoy the experience and, most importantly, have fun.
Effingham FFA members pose with their brand new corduroy jackets.
Without his family, the advisors of Illinois Section 20 and community support, Totten says it would’ve been a much harder transition and beginning of this chapter. “We are continuing ways to improve our program and looking forward to many more years being a part of this organization,” he adds.
