Marathon FFA president profile: Kaitlyn Kaiser
Reporter Casey Krautkramer asked the same set of questions to each local high school FFA chapter president about themselves, and they gave him their answers.
Marathon FFA president Kaitlyn Kaiser is featured next below: 1. What are your parent’s names and did you grow up on a dairy or hobby farm, and if so in what township?
“I grew up on a dairy farm in the township of Cassel, owned and operated by my parents, Rodney and Tracy Kaiser, until 2015 when the cows were sold. My daily farm chores were feeding calves and heifers. I have two siblings: my sister, Marissa, who is 15, and my brother, Alex, who is 13. I’m 18 after having my birthday on Jan. 30.”
2. How many years have you been a member of the Marathon FFA? Why did you decide to join the Marathon FFA and what is attractive about being a member of the FFA? Is this your first year as your FFA chapter’s president, and what are your duties as president? What types of Marathon FFA, state or national FFA events have you participated in over the years and how have they helped you mature as a student and person?
“I have been a member of the Marathon FFA since my freshman year of high school. I decided to join FFA because it’s a fun way to get involved in the agriculture community. This is my first year as the president of the Marathon FFA. My duties as president include: coordinating activities and events and representing my school’s chapter. FFA has given me opportunities to learn more about agriculture, such as Career Development events, and also to teach those younger than me through Food For America. Last year, I also participated in student leadership workshops, where I learned how to be the best leader I can be for my chapter and I also went to the national convention. FFA has taught me the importance of service to our environment through our yearly highway cleanup and river cleanup.”
3. What’s this past year been like as an FFA member during COVID-19? How has your Marathon FFA chapter adapted to doing things or holding your normal community events during COVID-19? What are some ways your Marathon FFA chapter has needed to be more creative during COVID-19 to still get things done, compared to how things were normally done in the past?
“This past year with COVID-19 it’s been challenging to host events and activities. We have been unable to host our usual events, such as Food For America and the high-
way cleanup. Due to COVID-19, we had to find a new way to sell fruit for our Christmas fruit sale, which was online. State and national events were held virtually this year.”
4. Are your parents members of the Marathon FFA Alumni, and do you plan to join the Marathon FFA Alumni after graduating from high school this spring? If so, what’s the benefit to continuing to be involved in the FFA beyond high school: What are your education plans after high school? What future job profession would you like to hold?
“My parents were members of their school’s FFA chapters in high school, but are not members of the Marathon FFA Alumni. I’m considering joining the Marathon FFA Alumni so that I can continue to be involved in FFA and the community. After graduating high school, I plan to go to the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire and major in actuarial science/business and hope to become an actuary.”
