Berns learns skills, finds friends while earning Iowa FFA Degree

By Willis Patenaude | Times-Register

When she’s not setting Central wrestling records, clearing hurdles in track and field, playing volleyball, performing in school plays, hitting dingers in softball and being a member of the National Honor Society, Reese Berns is busy joining the exclusive 5 percent of all FFA members who receive the Iowa FFA Degree each year.

The accomplishment has a hefty set of requirements, but Berns is a go-getter, and despite describing herself as indecisive—which might account for all the extracurricular activities—her success speaks to a laser focus determination. How else do you explain juggling multiple commitments, including being a class officer, a 4-H member and cross country athlete?

Maybe Berns just had a sibling rivalry with older brother Tate, who, two years ago, was the first Central FFA member in 15 years to earn an Iowa FFA Degree. They shared a similar motivation for joining FFA: Advisor Meghan Bond, who joined Central a few years ago and has turned a fledgling program into one that enjoys constant success.

Berns started FFA in eighth grade. After a conversation in which Bond explained FFA activities and learning opportunities, she bought in. It helped that all her friends joined with her, making group activities more fun.

Berns also had some history in agriculture, as a member of the Saint Olaf Junior Farmers 4-H Club. She was in Clover Kids and even showed her dog at the fair. Throw in the fact Berns grew up on a farm with crops, helping her dad with small tasks and learning how to build and improve things around the farm, and entering FFA was a logical conclusion. There is something “fun,” she said, about learning new things and growing up on the farm.

Since freshman year, Berns has participated in FFA chapter meetings and group games, as well as conduct of meetings, which served as a Career and Leadership Development Event. 

Berns said she “gained a ton of knowledge on the correct way to run a meeting, along with learning how to speak confidently in front of people.”

She also went to the national convention as a freshman and state convention her freshman and sophomore years.

Though her FFA involvement declined a bit as a junior and senior, Berns never stopped working. She kept up with her Supervised Agricultural Experience (SAE) projects, like the Rake and Run, which was started by Tate and fellow FFA member Gavin Holst a few years ago. Berns was in the first group of students to take part.

Through the project, FFA members rake the lawns of elderly community members, which Berns said, “really made their day.” Unlike a few years ago, when she was just there to rake, Berns now serves as the project chairperson.

“It turned out to be a lot of fun and it was also rewarding because we helped so many people out,” she added.

Along the way, Berns put in the “time consuming” steps toward getting the Iowa FFA Degree. Tasks include three years of SAE records, earning a minimum of $1,000, taking two years of agricultural education coursework at school, being an FFA member for two years, performing 25 hours or more of community service in a minimum of two unduplicated events, demonstrating all 10 rules of parliamentary law, giving a six-minute speech on an agricultural topic, serving in a chapter leadership role, having satisfactory academic records, planning chapter activities and participating in a minimum five activities above the chapter level.

Berns also completed three additional degrees before even applying for the Iowa FFA Degree, including the Discovery, Greenhand and Chapter degrees. Each have their own set of criteria, from becoming familiar with the local chapter’s program of activities (POA) to demonstrating an understanding of the history of the organization and chapter constitution, while completing 180 hours (or the equivalent) of systematic school instruction in agricultural education at or above the ninth grade level. Those are just a few of the 26 steps listed to receive all three degrees to qualify for the Iowa FFA Degree, which comes with seven pages of criteria.

“It is time consuming, but in the end, it feels good to accomplish another goal I have had since Tate received this degree two years ago,” Berns said. “If people know what we as FFA members put into our SAEs, they will realize how much we have worked and learned at our jobs, life skills, community service hours and, most importantly, being involved throughout high school.”

The time commitment isn’t all for naught, since Berns recently received the Iowa FFA Degree during day two of the 97th Iowa FFA Leadership Conference. But it’s not the checklists and recruitments she remembers most, it’s trips to conventions, where she “had a lot of fun and also met many new people who didn’t even live in this state.”

Beyond the awards, she’s built memories and friendships.

“I not only made connections, but went to different places such as a place where they make honey or a fish hatchery,” she said. “I learned a lot at the convention and it was a blast participating in the activities we did. State convention was the same way, but I saw so many people I knew from neighboring schools, which was really fun because we actually got to talk to each other and get to know them.”

FFA also teaches life skills, most notably time management, communication and learning styles. Berns also spoke about improved note taking and recording payments and revenue.

“I feel like activities like this and sports will benefit anyone who does it as long as they work hard and have fun. I already use all of these because it is life lessons everyone should know and develop already,” Berns said.

As Berns heads toward graduation, she will apply these skills toward her next goals: getting a two-year business administration degree and wrestling coaching certificate.

“I will keep working hard and striving to do my best each day. I felt like [FFA] built my confidence and made me smarter while doing it. I just need to apply these skills every day in life,” she said.