• Article Photo. Agronomy Team (Left to Right): Nora Grovert, Katelyn Fleming, & Jenna Grovert
    Agronomy Team (Left to Right): Nora Grovert, Katelyn Fleming, & Jenna Grovert
  • Article Photo. Floriculture VS 2 Team (Left to Right): Jolie-Seidel Beltran, Madeline Pingenot & Abby McKenna
    Floriculture VS 2 Team (Left to Right): Jolie-Seidel Beltran, Madeline Pingenot & Abby McKenna
  • Article Photo. Floriculture VS 1 Team (Left to Right): Kassidi Brunssen, Ciara Dods, & Kirsten Pettit
    Floriculture VS 1 Team (Left to Right): Kassidi Brunssen, Ciara Dods, & Kirsten Pettit


By Co-Reporter, Raine Wheeler

On Tuesday, May 12th, 2026, the Vinton-Shellsburg FFA Chapter applied their knowledge of plants, seeds, and soil during a day of skills practicums and testing at the Northeast District CDEs held at Hawkeye Community College in Waterloo.

There were two teams that blossomed under pressure in the Floriculture CDE. VS 1 team consisted of Kassidi Brunssen, Ciara Dods, and Kirsten Pettit who earned 4th place gold overall. In addition to the team results, Kassidi Brunssen earned 2nd place individually, while Ciara Dods placed 5th individually. VS 2 team included Abby McKenna, Madeline Pingenot, and Jolie Seidel-Beltran who also put on their own petal-perfect performance by receiving a gold placing for their fresh cuts and fast thinking. Jolie Seidel-Beltran was one of the members who made up the VS 2 Team. This was her first year doing the floriculture CDE, and she said that she thoroughly enjoyed it. “It was an interesting experience, it was not what I had expected but in the best way possible. I’d have to say that my favorite part was getting to make the corsage.”

The agronomy team was tested on their skills from the ground up. They got to apply their knowledge of crop production, pest identification, and pest management strategies. Members that “sowed” success in the agronomy CDE were; Katelyn Fleming, Jenna Grovert, and Nora Grovert. The team mixed soil and strategy, which resulted in a silver placing. These three members have competed in this competition in the past. Jenna Grovert is one of the participants that was tested on the fields. “The CDE tested our knowledge and skills in crop production and soil science. There were three parts that my team participated in. I used my background knowledge to complete the knowledge part, and along with that, there was seed and weed identification that we evaluated based on certain details that we studied.”

Congratulations to all of these members that competed at District CDEs and thank you to the contest coaches that helped prepare our teams for the long day!