Frascht wins FFA entrepreneurship award, Charles City students approved for FFA degrees

By James Grob, jgrob@charlescitypress.com

Charles City FFA member Blake Frascht won the Beef Entrepreneurship Proficiency in Iowa for his Beef Cattle Supervised Agricultural Experience last Saturday in Ankeny.

The award is given out to an FFA member in the state of Iowa who owns a cattle enterprise that uses the best management practices available to efficiently produce and market beef.

Frascht owns 5 percent of his family’s feeder cattle, as well as a small cow-calf operation in rural Charles City. He is in charge of all of the feeding, bedding and management of the entire herd of market cattle.

Frascht said the the biggest challenge he faces in the beef operation is trying to make a profit.

Skills Frascht has gained through his cattle project include using new technology to be more efficient in his production, animal health management, and budgeting and money management skills to make a profit.

Starting this year, Frascht will be taking over 50 percent of the cattle operation and expand his role in the day-to-day management and care of the cattle.

Frascht will be recognized at the Iowa FFA Leadership Conference in Ames and will receive a plaque and a $100 cash award. He also advances on to National Proficiency Award judging, which will take place in July. The top national finalist will be recognized at the National FFA Convention in October.

In other FFA news, on Wednesday, Feb. 7, seven members of the Charles City FFA were approved to receive their Iowa FFA Degree in Nevada, Iowa.

This degree is awarded to FFA members across the state who have met key requirements for FFA members, as well as being active in the community and keeping a satisfactory scholarship record.

The local members receiving their degree this year are Caleb Deetz, Caleb Hejna, Dylan Bilharz, Jacob White, Jordan Wulff, Madee Tjaden and Tanner Heitz.

To receive the degree, an FFA member must earn and invest $1,500, work a minimum of 375 unpaid hours, or a combination of the two for the Supervised Agricultural Experience Project.

The member must also be an active member in the FFA Chapter, have a minimum of 25 hours of community service, give a six-minute presentation on an agricultural topic, as well as other minimum qualification factors.

Fewer than 5 percent of all Iowa FFA members receive their Iowa FFA Degree. The seven Charles City members will receive their degree on Tuesday, April 24, in Ames at the 90th Iowa FFA State Leadership Conference.

Feb. 16-23 is National FFA Week.