EDITOR’S NOTE: This report was compiled by Aurora Martin.
JEROMESVILLE — The Hillsdale FFA conducted its annual summer retreat on June 17 and 18 in Loudonville.
The officers for this year are President: Reed Twining; Vice President: Emma Linder; Secretary: Isabella Simmons; Treasurer: Jacob Schwendeman; Reporter: Aurora Martin; Sentinel: Michael Shenburger III; Student Advisor: Isabelle Linder; Historian: Paelyn Wilson; Chaplain: Addison Young; Parliamentarian: Maci Atterholt.
The team started in the Ag wing at Hillsdale High School to gather for their first activity, and departure was at 7:20 a.m. Students went to Walmart to prepare lunch and breakfast for the next day as a bonding activity.
Since the upperclassmen were grouped, as were the underclassmen, they were instructed to plan a meal within a set budget for the team during the trip. After that “side quest,” the team traveled to Camp Nuhop for some team-building exercises, then followed the activities with lunch at the Black Fork Bistro.
The officers went to River Run Canoe Livery for some team bonding.
They were paired off in twos and kayaked for seven miles. They had endless laughing and tons of memories being shared and made during this trip.
After the river run, they went to check into the Airbnb.
The rest of the night was spent reviewing officer expectations, member standards of behavior, goal setting, team photos, and having dinner together at Oak Park.
The night ended with s’mores, sitting around the campfire, and lots of laughter.
The following morning, the upperclassmen made breakfast with bacon, pancakes, fresh fruit, juices, and milk. After breakfast, the team continued bonding and planning for the school year.
The team took a break from planning around noon, and the underclassmen made a spaghetti lunch with garlic bread and green beans.
The lunch resulted in a team bonding activity that the advisers planned, tied to each other with yarn, and enjoyed our meal together.
The retreat concluded with final touches with planning for the year, and one last team activity before they returned to the school together.
This officer team is filled with enthusiasm, optimistic about the upcoming year, and eagerly anticipating the opportunities and challenges that lie ahead.