|
|
|
|
President
|
Connie Koopmann
Hello fellow Young Farmers. My name is Connie Koopmann and I am from the Schulenburg Chapter in Area III.
I have been married to my husband, Allen for 25 years and we have a daughter, Jamie who is 24 and a son, Sterling who is 22. I have been a part of the Schulenburg community all of my life. I started working at the age of 11 for my parents who owned a bakery. I worked 18 years with my parents before they were call to be with theLord. After that I continued to operate the bakery with my husband for the next 13 years, and then I decided it was time for a career change. I closed the bakery part, but kept the catering business that we also had. I ventured into managing a restaurant which was awesome till I got injured on the job. I had to quit and ended up having back surgery. While recovering a friend told me about a job that I might want to check into. I applied and got the job as food service manager at Whispering Hills Achievement Center in Flatonia. This is a private facility that works with austic and mentally challenged kids. I have thoroughly enjoyed working with these kids and they are a blessing in disquise.
While I was in high school I was very active in the FFA program. I learned so many things that have helped me in my life. For example, parliamentary procedure was something that I did not think I would ever use. But, then I decided to enter the world of politics. I seeked election for Mayor of Schulenburg and was elected. I served this position for 4 years, and then served 4 years on the City Council. The parliamentary procedure that I learned in FFA helped me conduct the city meetings. I also went on to earn my American Farmer degree.
When our kids were old enough they joined 4-H and showed different breeds of animals. When they started high school they joined the FFA program. We have made numerous friends across the State of Texas by going to different shows with our heifers, and goats. Now that they are grown their show animals are still part of our family producing off-springs so that Jamie and Sterling will be able to start their own stock.
We joined the Schulenburg Young Farmer Chapter with the help of our friends. I have held the officer positions of reporter, secretary, vice-president, and currently serving as chapter president. I have enjoyed this organization because we continue to offer adult education to our members and the community. Our chapter has 2- CEU programs a year, and 6 educational meetings a year. We also host a hay show for residents of the county to enter and have their hay tested to see how much protein it has and if it is of good quality. The residents pay the testing fee and donate the bale of hay to the chapter and we hold a hay auction to raise funds. Two local businesses donate fertilizer to the champion and reserve champion winners. We are very fortunate to have 3 agricultural teachers that support our organization. Brad Lux has been here for 10 years, Amy Hartman for 3 years and Shaye Beasley for a year. The FFA even does one of our educational programs and takes us through a mock judging contest such as poultry, wildlife, and livestock. Even though some of our members have been involved in agricultural for a number of years, the FFA members have broadened our aspects of new trends. The chapter also host a turkey shoot every October and we have a gun raffle every other year. Not only is this a fund-raiser it is educational because of teaching gun safety to the young one’s in attendance. The City of Schulenburg’s big celebration each year is the Schulenburg festival, which is filled with music, arts ‘n crafts, class reunions, a big parade, softball, volleyball, and basketball tournaments. During this time the Schulenburg Young Farmers sponsor and egg toss and cow chip contest. In the egg toss two participants toss the egg back and forth hoping that the egg does not break on them. They have to keep making the distant between the two participants farther apart with each throw. In the cow chip contest, a participant throws and dried cow pattie (manure) into a toliet bowl. Distance is a factor in this event too. We host adult and youth divisions to give everyone a chance to participant and it is great entertainment.
My goal as President Elect is to work closely with the President to ensure that we are giving the members as much as we can. Both the President and I want to see membership and attendance grow. Agriculture is a part of everyone’s normal life. If you eat, you are involved in agricultural. How did that milk get in that gallon jug, and where did that steak come from that you enjoyed last night? We are becoming the age of the computers and smart phones but they don’t put food on the table. This is the goal of the Young Farmers. We must keep the current membership informed as well as informing the general public. I want to thank everyone who is a member of the Young Farmers and want to challenge everyone in the state to become a member of your local Young FarmerChapter. Also, thank you to Brad, Amy, and Shaye, for a doing such an excellent job with the FFA and for being so supportative of the Schulenburg Young Farmer Chapter. You are always there for us and the chapter appreciates it. Love and blessings to the three of you!!
|
|
|
|