National FFA Week: Auburndale Student Teacher Discusses Their FFA Program

Friday, February 27th, 2026 -- 1:01 PM

This Week is National FFA Week.

Our own Dale Erickson had the opportunity to speak with FFA students and advisors from our area school districts including a student teacher in Auburndale.

Listen to the interview with Ashley here!

National FFA Week runs through February 28th.

(AI assisted transcription via Otter.ai)

Dale: "This past week, we've had an opportunity to hear from FFA students from around the area and they shared how the FFA Organization has improved their leadership and speaking skills. Ashley Johnson is a student teacher in the Auburndale School District this year and I had an opportunity to speak with her about FFA and ag education. Ashley, can you tell us where you were from, your growing up and your involvement in FFA as a student?"

Ashley: "So I'm originally from the Weyauwega-Fremont FFA chapter. I grew up on a diversified livestock farm and my dad was also a cattle hauler, so he was kind of our daycare, so we just went along with him in the truck all day long. In FFA, that was, like my number one thing that I love to do in high school."

"I was the president for two years. I filled out six proficiencies. I loved going to the conferences and conventions and I knew freshman year of high school that I wanted to become an agriculture teacher. It was just something I've had a passion for my entire life."

"I really found my place in FFA, and I found my passion just to be the best version of myself. So, that's what I really want to teach these students, to be the best version of themselves and really find their passion, because that's what drives you to be the best version of you throughout life."

Dale: "Can you tell us a little bit about your experience here at Auburndale, learning the system here, and being able to do your student teaching in a very active FFA environment?"

Ashley: "I love it here in Auburndale. When I tell people I'm with Mr. Conyour, everyone always knows Mr. Conyour and that's like the best part. And they're all for good reasons. Mr. Conyour takes such great care of the community and you can really tell, because everyone in the community loves him."

"They love the chapter, so they always try to support it. That's the number one thing I learned about being here, is that if you support the community, they support you, and Auburndale has been great for that. Their classroom setup is also amazing."

"They have a very large greenhouse, and they also have their meat Lab, which is something I have grown to love. I didn't even know that you could have this in a high school, and I love the farm to table aspect of implementing that in classroom and just having that meat lab, you can really show the students where their food comes from."

"And the students also like, love food. So, when we tell them, they get to eat food almost every day, they are very, very excited to be in the classroom. Auburndale FFA has amazing community events, and they also push their FFA members to be the best versions of themselves every single day. And they are very involved in LDS and CDE contests, as well as going to conventions and things like that."

Dale: "Thank you to Ashley and all of the area FFA students that have shared their experiences in the FFA Organization for Central Wisconsin Broadcasting News. This has been Dale Erickson reporting"

Feel free to contact us with questions and/or comments.