FFA Advisers

Decatur County Museum

DCHS Advisers

In its 94 years of existence, the Oberlin FFA Chapter has had 15 advisers - beginning with S.H. Howard in 1932.

S.H. Howard -- 1932-1936

The first article I found in the Oberlin papers that mentions FFA is in the May 12, 1932, article of the Oberlin Herald - "Future Farmers Organize."

"There were 19 boys initiated into the Future Farmers of America Organization, Monday evening. The initiation ceremony was read, and then each of the new members was given a green glove which they had to wear for half a day on Tuesday. This signifies the first degree, the greenhand degree.

"After they have carried a project for one year and started on their second year, they may be promoted to be full-fledged Future Farmers.

"The officers elected are as follows: President - Melvin Stimbert (pictured); vice president - Berle Wickham; secretary - Walter Shaw; treasurer - Kenneth Norton; reporter - Ivel Chilson, and Birt Huff and Max Vernon were elected watch dogs. 'Prof.' Howard is the sponsor."

Lester Chilson -- 1936 - 1943

1941 FFA -

(Seated) Schmoker, W. May, Schmidt, Watkins, Benda. (first row) Fowler, Wurm, Groneweg, Larson, 0.Daugherty, Cullison, Smith, J. Montgomery, Darrel Boutz, Urban; (second row) Van Vleet, C. Montgomery, M. May, Janousek, G.Anderson, Doyle Boutz, Thoren, Johnson, Pelkey, Noren, Marcuson, L. Daugherty, J. Daugherty, Pummer, Gilbert, D. Post, Welsh; (back row) Simpson, Ward, M.Anderson, Witt, Counter, Walinder, Riley, Walton, Vernon, Alstrom, McKay, R.May, Mr. Lester Chilson, K Post.

1942 OFFICERS -

Harold Walton, reporter; Edwin Noren, vice president; John Benda, president; Martin May, secretary; Myron Johnson, treasurer; Robert Riley, watch dog; and Lester Chilson, adviser.

Freeman Biery -- 1943-1944

from the Oberlin Herald - May 18, 1944

Mr. Biery was at DCHS for only a year. In May of 1944, he joined the U.S. Navy.

"Mr. Freeman Biery, the vocational agriculture teacher for the past season has passed his examinations for the U.S. Navy and will be called this month.

"Mr. Biery has all his work completed at the high school if his call should come before he expects it. He gave all his tests last week.

"Before Mr. Biery came to Oberlin, he taught one year in a rural school; then he went to Kansas State College in Manhattan where he completed his course in three years. He then taught a year in Waterville, Kansas, and came to Oberlin.

"DCHS is losing a fine teacher, and Uncle Sam is getting a good man.

"Supt. H.G. Mahon announced that Mr. Biery's position has been filled by the former ag teacher at Colby for a number of years - Lester Chilson."

O.D. Calhoon -- 1944 - 1947

1947 FFA -

(back row) - Ivan Lemman, Harold Richardson, Francis Moore, Eldon Hayward, Milton Anderson, Maynard Smalberger, Elwood Bogart, Claude VanVleet, Robert Olson, Alfred Soderlund, Lloyd Orr, John Schmahl, Frank Pummer; (third row) Lloyd Moore, Lee Walinder, Blaine David, Dale Olson, Vaughn Miller, James Jaderborg, Richard Russ, Merlin Diederich, Ira Gilbert, Dale Smith, Wayne Soderlund, Wayne Rezner, Ralph Marcuson, Kyle Mines; (second row) - Bill Brainard. Raleigh Dean. Gene Scott, Dale Richardson, Robert Chanbers, Don Waldo, Rex Morton, Merl Moler, Ralph Shaw, Don Kelley, Shelton Denise, Merlin Anderson, Bill Deines; (front row) Willis Carman, Gerald Diederich, Keith Mines, Duane Waldo, Ray Dean Wilcox, O. D. Calhoon, Lloyd Vernon, Elmer Van Vleet, Keith Shaw, Charles Votapka, Gale Hayward.

Lloyd Moody -- 1947 - 1959

1955 OFFICERS -

Jerry Macfee - sentinel; Lloyd Moody - adviser; Duane Unger - reporter; Gary Soderlund, - president; Dennis Barratt - vice president; Larry Guinn, - secretary; and Gary Torluemke - treasurer.

1957 OFFICERS -

Vryl Rush, Don White, Eldon Johnson, Norbert Zander, Charley Kelley, and Robert Wurm (center) with their National Gold Chapter award.

1959 OFFICERS -

Woody Morford - sentinel, Adviser Lloyd Moody, Bill DeMay - reporter, Bill Machart - president, Norbert Zander - vice president, Norman Richards - secretary, and Charley Kelley - treasurer.

Don Guinn -- 1959-1970

1963 OFFICERS -

Mike Richards - sentinel; Leo Diederich - reporter; Gene Morford - vice president; Roger Pachner - president; Evan Unger - secretary; Gene Plotts - treasurer; Mr. Don Guinn - adviser.

1966 OFFICERS -

(back row) Vice President Rick Chambers, Sentinel Elmer Waterman, President Gary Richards, Adviser Don Guinn; (front row) Secretary Jim Van Pelt, Student Adviser Harlyn McGuire, Reporter Lemoin Unger, and Treasurer Steve Brown.

1968 OFFICERS -

(back row) Don Guinn - adviser; sentinel Ron Hunziker, president Merald Van Vleet, treasurer Chuck Hessenflow; (front row) vice president Gerald Benda, secretary Rodney Walters, reporter Jim Fredrickson.

Those who received the Chapter FFA Awards in 1970 -

(back row) Mike Pollnow, farm safety; George Wessel, home Improvement; (second row) Pat Fisher, star green hand; Steve Schissler, crop farming, soil and water conservation; Arthur Colon, chapter star farmer, dairy award; Wayne Aschwege, livestock farming, hogs; (front row) Steve Noren, public speaking, leadership, Dekalb Award; Ron Fowler, farm mechanics, beef; Phil Wurm, dog training: Dennis Anderson, horsemanship.

Mr. Guinn leaves for Nigeria

Mr. Guinn left at the semester to go to Nigeria where he served as an agricultural instructor sponsored by K-State and a federal program of assistance to underdeveloped countries. Mr. Paul Babcock took his place as FFA sponsor in Oberlin.

Paul Babcock -- 1970-1976

1971 OFFICERS -

(front row) Larry Alstrom - vice president; Ron Fowler - president; Terry Lippelmann, - secretary; (back row) Kent Euhus - treasurer; Doug Williby - reporter; Arthur Colson - sentinel; Paul Babcock - adviser.

1974 OFFICERS -

(front row) Jeff Finley - secretary, Robert May- president, Jon Lippelmann - Vcce president, Scott Hodson - sentinel; (second row) Floyd Badsky - treasurer, Paul Babcock - advisor, Jim Barrett - reporter.

1976 OFFICERS -

Dave Chambers - sentinel, Mike Simpson - secretary, Roland May - reporter, Paul Babcock - adviser, Greg Long - vice president, Larry Screen - treasurer, Mark Olson - president.

Ricky Copp -- 1976 - 1978

1977 OFFICERS -

Ricky Copp, adviser; Jamie Fortin, vice president; Lynn Rippe, treasurer; Dan Koerperich, president; Ken Badsky, sentinel; Terry Rush, secretary; James Muehlenkamp, reporter.

1978 OFFICERS -

Terrry Rush, Vice-President; Michael Miller, Sentinel; Ricky Copp, Adviser; Eldon Huff, Secretary; Scott Gilmer, Reporter; Lynn Rippe, Treasurer; Ken Badsky, President.

Terry Steinshouer -- 1978-1980

1979 OFFICERS -

Randy Peters - reporter, Curtis Carter - vice president; Michael Miller - sentinel, Scott Gilmer - president; Mike Neff - treasurer, and Elden Huff - secretary.

Terry Steinshouer - adviser 1978-1980

Duane Dunn -- 1980 - 1987

The fall of 1979 saw a new adviser - Duane Dunn -- and Oberlin's first female FFA officer - Penny Fisher.

1980 FFA OFFICERS -

(sitting) Barry Richards - president; (standing) Brian Simonsson - treasurer; Ed Schwab - vice president, Penny Fisher - reporter; DaveHuff - secretary; Terry Urban - sentinel.

1982 FFA MEMBERS:

(first row) Duane Dunn-advisor, Tim Bailey - president, Kevin Wurm - vice president, Marsha Miller-secretary, Wayne Dellere - sentinel, Terry Rippe - reporter, Doug Richards- treasurer; (second row) Lewis Mathes, Pat Pomeroy, Steve Whetzel, Wayne Bogart, Nancy Wurm, Dan Schultz, Gaylen Huntley, Kevin Meitl; (third row) Lonnie McEvoy, Barry Solko, Brent Simonsson, Gene Soderlund, Theresa Snyder, Brenda Urban, Merlou Lohoefener, Darren Sperry, Mike Berry, Wes Schultz; (fourth row) Roger May, Kirk Marcuson, Rohm Whitaker, Kevin Bennett, Mark Schultz, Jason Fortin, David Brown; (back row) Sean McGilligan, Trevor Urban, Becky Tally, Julie Plotts, Trent Townsend, Ward Votapka, Dennis Macfee.

1983 OFFICERS -

Doug Richards - president; Kevin Bennett - vice president; Gene Soderlund - secretary; Lonnie McEvoy - treasurer; Becky Tally - reporter; and Rohm Whitaker - sentinel.

MEMBERS OF THE 1986 FFA judging team:

Duane Dunn, adviser: Marlene Tally, Darren Hom, Mary Wilson, John Kelley and Greg Unger.

1987 FFA MEMBERS:

(front row) Keith Wentz, Greg Unger, Darren Horn, Stan McEvoy, Marlene Tally, John Kelley, Kristy Unger; (second row) Brent Townsend. John Koerperich, Jamie Hodson, Rex Chambers, Stephanie Unger, Billy Harmon. Dea Macfee, Shannon Metcalf, Galen Wentz; (back row) Rob Bryan, Kevin Wurm, Larry Dempewolf, Brad Burmaster, Kenny Gee, Shane Smith, Glen Baughman, Aaron Wentz, Kurt Bennett and Kevin Fortin; not pictured: Mike Ayers, Charles Focke, Kevin Rush, Kayla Unger and Bill Urban.

Lowell Ely -- 1987 - 1990

1988 OFFICERS -

Adviser Lowell Ely, Kurt Bennett, Greg Unger, Kayla Unger, Darren Horn, Kristy Unger, Stan McEvoy.

1989 OFFICERS -

Larry Dempewolf - president; (middle) Kurt Bennett - vice president; Marcus Machart - reporter, Justin Brown - sentinel, Galen Wentz - secretary; (bottom) Brian Olson - treasurer.

Mike Wetter -- 1990-1996

1991 OFFICERS -

(back row) Mike Wetter - adviser; Brian Olson - president; Justin Brown - vice president; Darren Macfee - treasurer; Darren Wentz - secretary; (front row) Dan Morford - sentinel; Marie Plotts - sweetheart, and Cody Richards - reporter. Other FFA members were Mark Masoner, Tom Wasson, Jay Tate, Curtis Fowler, Amie Olson, Torrey Morford and Clayton Erickson.

1993 OFFICERS -

(back row) Lonnie Morford - reporter, Dan Morford - secretary, Adviser Mike Wetter, Torrey Morford - treasurer; (middle row) Cody Richards - vice president, Darren Macfee - president, Michelle Stoney - sweetheart; (front row) Wheat Lippelmann - sentinel.

1995 FFA:

(front row) Jason Ketterl, Brady Richards, Lonnie Morford, Wheat Lippelmann, Milo Lippelmann, Michelle Stoney, Tammy Gutchewsky; (scond row) Jared Loesch, Matt Unger, Bo Farr, Daniel Wilson, Michael Wasson, Rye Lippelmann, Matt Gawith, Matt Kaspar, Troy Wentz; (back row) Mr. Mike Wetter, Doc Uehlin, Jim King, Luke Pearse, Eric Voss, Buddy Plotts, and Michael Wessel.

Michael Stull -- 1996 - 1999

1998 FFA:

(front row) Kristi Fortin, Kenzie Abbey, Brett Gawith, Erika Redfern, Andrea Bailey, Alex Louderback, Chris Post, Brian Gutchewsky, Krysten Miller, Brooke Abbey, Amanda Chambers, Matt Machart, Hunter Bryan, Troy Wentz. Aaron Fall, Lynette Morfrod, Garret McDougal, Mike Wesssel, Cale Claussen, Kristen Groneweg, Amanda Sisco; (back row) Cody Spencer, Josh Williby, Matt Farr, Brad Moore, Tanner Lincoln, Brandon Bryan, Justin Williby, Aden Glaze, Matt Wilson, Troy Isenbart, Josh Meitl, Brett Moore, Mandy Zodrow, Corey Fortin, Stean Olson, Ryan Diederich, Todd Ketterl, Shayla Cochran, Angie Ayers, Leslie Marcuson, and Carie Nichols.

Michael Stull - adviser 1996-1999

Nathan Copeland - 1999-2005

2000 FFA:

(front row) Rodney Solko, Corey Fortin, Eric Groneweg, Brandon Bryan, Bryan Miller, Ryan Diederich, Clay Anderson, Paul Tally; (second row) Wyatt Ashley, Brandon Metcalf, Kristi Fortin, Leslie Marcuson, Shayla Cochran, Danny Spencer, Randy Spencer; (third row) Aden Glaze, Brad Moore, Scott Harman, Travis Votapka, Brent Olson, John Loesch, Nathan Gaumer, and Ryan Cochran.

2001 FFA:

(front row) Bryan Miller, Danny Spencer, Wyatt Ashley, Eric Groneweg, Clay Anderson, Paul Tally, Brandon Metcalf; (back row) Javier Dominguez, Travis Votapka, Jesse Carlisle, Nathan Gaumer, Brent Olson, Ryan Diederich, Randy Spencer, Rodney Solko, and Corey Fortin. Not Pictured: Scott Harman, Kary Miller, Chance Harman, Matt Coleman, Logan Glaze, Darrel Spencer.

2005 FFA:

(front row) Breck Simonsson, Chet Ely, Caleb Peters, Justin Zodrow, Bret Marietta, Kegan Macfee; (2nd row) Alyssa Montgomery, Malenda Johnson, Kelsey Gallentine, Christa Hardy, Whitnee Ashley, Kim Wessel, Shelby Jeffrey, Kayla Zodrow; (3rd row) Chantelle Beneda, Katrina Wentz, Mr. Copeland, David Urban, Megan Barrett, Jebb Tally, Jamie Miller, Ethan Long, Seth Ritter, Mitch Hitt, Jacob Unger, Jobey Black, Corey Cook, Josh Fortin, Tyler Sauvage, Denton Bailey, Jordan Macfee, Kurt Olson; (back row) Jared Marcuson, Jeremy Henderson, Rhys Davies, Tanner Hardy, Terry Urban, Canaan Bishop , Garrit Peters, Bronson Scott, David Edgerton.

Jason Ketterl - 2005 - Present

2010 FFA:

(front row) officers Bret Ashley, Samantha Anderson, Megan Wentz, Josh Ritter, Nolan Wasson, Chance Marble, Kortnie Fisher; (second row) Mr. Ketterl, Lacey Misek, Wiley Farr, Jon Samson, Jaxen Alstrom, Dakota Cook, (third row) Serena Stacy, Keatra Fisher, Taylor Macfee, Samantha Meitl, Kiah Blau, Ryan May; (fourth row) Tyler Bruggeman, Zach May, Brady Fortin, La'kota Dennis, Greg Shaw; (back row) John Carlisle, Kade Brown, Cody Wurm.

2015 FFA:

(front row) Rex Diederich, Whitney Witt, Meghan Davies -vice president, Kaitlynn Fisher- president, Cerys Davies - reporter, KeAnn Jacobs- secretary, Konnor Witt- treasurer; (back rows) Adviser Jason Ketterl, Braden Beagley, Kassidie Jensen, Madison Macfee, Leah Chambers, Cassidy Gillespie, Bailey Duvall, Tristen Davis, Michael Messersmith, Miranda Long, Ravyn Van Vleet, Celianna Shobe, Chloe Withington, and Sonya Capps.

2022 FFA:

(front row) Jimmy Neal. Valentina Rodriguez, Kyra Sowers, Arika Marshall, Lizzy Weyeneth, Kylie Gruwell, Katrina Neal; (second row) Ryllie Lippelmann, Jordon Ruzicka, Cameo Counter, Madison Urban, Josiah Weyeneth, Jerrit Koerperich, Michaela Wasson, Garrett Emigh, Sophia Davis, Jessiah McDougal, Payton Kelley. Not pictured: Allyson Simpson, Arlan Coats, Braeden Ketterl, Kaden Waterman, Kelsey Sheats, McKayla Sievert, Conner Holladay, Mason Kelley, Makadyn Ketterl, Sage Bryan, Savannah Morris, Talan Sauvage, Teague Morford, Damien Crissman, Dani Weyeneth, Aidyn Witt, Jenna Fortin, Jesse Hendrickson, Theo Butterfield, Davin Jensen.

2025 FFA Members on their way to Husker Harvest Days:

Kent Ploussard, Mitchell Wasson, Trenton Wahlmeier, Job Kliewer, Trevor Witt, Grant Anderson, Brycen Ketterl, Gage Williby, Mason Tally, Arlan Coats - parliamentarian, Cowen Anderson - secretary, Caden Shaw - treasurer, Jimmy Neal, Justin Glass; (front row) Michaela Wasson - president, Lauren May - sentinel, Kira Burmaster - historian, Quinn Ketterl - vice president.

Upcoming articles -

More than "Future Farmers"

FFA Jacket and emblem

the FFA Creed

"Girls in FFA"

State and American Farmers, State officers