New Giltner FFA program taking flight

There’s an exciting new chapter for Giltner Public Schools as FFA is introduced as a new opportunity for students. After a year in the planning, the school welcomes its new ag teacher, Kelsey Swantek, as its first FFA advisor for the new chapter.
Swantek grew up in Genoa where she developed her dedication and interest in FFA at Twin Rivers Public Schools. During her freshman year she discovered her dream of being an ag teacher.
“I got to watch my older siblings go through FFA and I would have been in fourth grade when I got into it and I was beyond excited to be part of it,” Swantek said. “I loved competing in high school. I loved learning about FFA. I was the kid that went to all the conventions and I love to sit through the sessions, which is like a super nerdy thing if you know anything about FFA. But I love learning everything about it. There’s something about that blue jacket that’s exciting.”
Swantek was presented with the opportunity at GPS while she was attending the University of Nebraska-Lincoln as an agriculture education major.
“They actually hired me last July, so almost a year before I even had a degree,” Swantek explains. “I got an email from Dr. Mumm. He just sent it out to my class and he said we’re hiring early. We know you’re not graduated, but we want to talk to you if you’re interested.”
After speaking with her fiance, Nathan, and her father, she was more determined to pursue the position.
“I talked to Nathan and I talked to my dad and I was like starting a program was a lot for a first year teacher but something just kind of drew me here.” Swantek said. “I came to an interview the next week and they called me the next day to offer me the job. I was pumped and terrified.”
Giltner Public Schools’ Superintendent Nick Mumm spoke positively about the reception towards the new ag building and program during the schools’ open house that took place on Friday evening Aug. 18.
“We had a great turnout to the open house,” Mumm said. “A lot of people got to go through the classroom, (and we) heard a lot of positive comments. It’s turned out to be a real great addition not only for our kids academically, but also for the experiences that the ag program will bring.”
Mumm explained that it took a lot of time to build the ag building, the FFA program and the new ag curriculum for the students.
One of the many additions, outside of staffing, that arrived at Giltner was the completion of the ag building which sits next to the bus barn near the schools. 
“Once we got the teacher, it was kind of downhill rolling from there,” Mumm commented. “We had a plan on where we were going to build the classroom. The Public School Foundation latched onto it and wanted  and to make it their specific project at the time.”
Mumm commented further about how the community and the local ag businesses such as AKRS Equipment, Aurora Co-op and CPI had supported the project through donations to develop a place to support the school’s fresh ag program. 
By Jan. 1 of this year, they were able to set plans in motion for the school and Swantek to craft a curriculum that would benefit both the students and the community.
More support arrived from surrounding schools as districts like Hampton, Doniphan-Trumbull and Aurora provided ideas to help shape the FFA program and the ag curriculum.
With the curriculum still trying to find its place within Giltner, Swantek commented on the buildup towards getting students involved with contests and events.
“The cool thing about FFA is, yes, it’s like technically an extracurricular activity, but it’s also intraocular.” Swantek explained. “We’re going to learn about contests in class; we’re going to prep for the contest. Then the test for the kids is to go to a contest and compete with us.”
The introduction of FFA to Giltner Public Schools isn’t just for students who are determined to pick up a blue jacket, but for anyone who is interested in learning about local agriculture.
“They’re technically ag education contests, not FFA contests, that allows any student in an ag class to participate in them, whether or not they’re an FFA member,” Swantek said. “It’s just a really cool way for kids to get involved and get out there, and meet people and all the cool things that they can do with that.”
To grow the Giltner chapter, Swantek plans on introducing the work of FFA through her ag classes in both middle school and high school.
“So in junior high, I will have one quarter each; there will be just kind of like a very introductory level class,” Swantek explained. “We’ll explore what ag is, what FFA is, go into a few different topics about it and kind of just get them excited to be in high school class.”
Alongside the introductory classes provided for both junior and senior high students, Swantek will also be teaching high school classes covering animal science, plant sciences and natural resources. 
Both Mumm and Swantek expressed excitement for what the new year was going to bring for the future of the schools’ ag program. 
“It’s going to serve our students and staff well,” Mumm commented, “I’m happy and appreciative of the board and the Giltner Public School Foundation for supporting it and looking for a lot of success out of that program for years to come.” 
Swantek spoke with hope that she can get her FFA students into the state convention which is set to take place in April.
“I’m really excited to be here,” Swantek commented. “I love the idea of starting a program and I’m so excited for these kids.”