The Griswold FFA Chapter was first established as the Nishna Valley FFA Chapter in 1938. Merle Smith was elected as the first Nishna Valley FFA president for the 1937-1938 school year, while a Mr. G.E. Peters was their FFA Advisor. G.E. Peters was the Nishna Valley FFA advisor until the end of the 1939 school year. Griswold then hired James W. McClymonds as the second advisor for the Nishna Valley FFA. He was the advisor from 1939-1942. For the school year of 1942-1943 Mr. Myron R. VanCleave was the advisor. The Nishna Valley FFA chapter became inactive in 1942 and 1943 mainly because of World War II. It was reorganized in 1952 as the Griswold FFA.
__________________________________________________________________________
Past Honorary Degrees
__________________________________________________________________________
Past Honorary Degrees
__________________________________________________________________________
The Honorary degree in the National FFA Constitution in Article V Section E says: Honorary membership- farmers, school superintendents, principals, members of the board of education, chapter advisors, teachers, staff members in agricultural education, business people, and others who are helping to advance agricultural education and the FFA, and who have rendered outstanding service, may be elected to honorary membership by a majority vote of the members present at any regular meeting.
*Information that was left blank has been lost, but we are actively looking for it
*Information that was left blank has been lost, but we are actively looking for it
*1953:
1954: Leo Hemphill, Walt Hokestad, Russell Pontius
1955: Harry Codlin, Russell Croxell, Oliver Joiner
1956: Glenn Allison, J. Ira Ryan,Charles Vanderbur
1957: John Anderson
*1958-1965:
1966: Ralph Stotts, Dwight Wagler, Byron Kewin
1967: Carl Laverty, Raymond Burnham
1968: Max Potter, Dan Dahlgren
1969: Earl Casey, Bernard High, Ken Hughes
*1971:
*1972:
1973: Russell Orstad
*1975-1998:
1999: Schular Manufacturing, Raymond Butt
2000: Rick Conry
2001: Sheila Kunze
2002: Vickie Anstey
2003: Scott Anderson
*2004:
*2005:
2006: Scott Peppers, Dallas & Gail Maxwell, Rich Mortensen
2007: Duane & Gwen Weirich, Tim Stienbeck, Brittany Elmquist
2008: T.J. Dunphy, Tim Steinbeck, Optimists
2009: Bill & Jenny Backhaus, Ron & Denise Mardesen
2010: Griswold American, Monsanto - Atlantic Office
2011: Rolling Hills Bank, Jerry Dietz, Brent & Amie Potter
2012: Dave Steinbeck
2013: Blake Anderson, Tyrel Garey, Joe & Margaret Sampson
2014: Donna Blair, Dale & Norma Rush, Dan Elwood
2015: Monica Brandt, Garrett Lembke
2016: Bill Backhaus
2017: Mike & Tracy Marshall, Kyle Kirchoff
2018: Don Smith, Griswold Communications, Drue Kirchhoff & SW Iowa Tiling
2019: Robert Meade, Griswold Board of Education
2020: Curtis Bierbaum, Josh Bierbaum, Terry Keiser, Gail Newman
2021: Jake Steinbeck, Kevin Blair, Andy Steffen
1954: Leo Hemphill, Walt Hokestad, Russell Pontius
1955: Harry Codlin, Russell Croxell, Oliver Joiner
1956: Glenn Allison, J. Ira Ryan,Charles Vanderbur
1957: John Anderson
*1958-1965:
1966: Ralph Stotts, Dwight Wagler, Byron Kewin
1967: Carl Laverty, Raymond Burnham
1968: Max Potter, Dan Dahlgren
1969: Earl Casey, Bernard High, Ken Hughes
*1971:
*1972:
1973: Russell Orstad
*1975-1998:
1999: Schular Manufacturing, Raymond Butt
2000: Rick Conry
2001: Sheila Kunze
2002: Vickie Anstey
2003: Scott Anderson
*2004:
*2005:
2006: Scott Peppers, Dallas & Gail Maxwell, Rich Mortensen
2007: Duane & Gwen Weirich, Tim Stienbeck, Brittany Elmquist
2008: T.J. Dunphy, Tim Steinbeck, Optimists
2009: Bill & Jenny Backhaus, Ron & Denise Mardesen
2010: Griswold American, Monsanto - Atlantic Office
2011: Rolling Hills Bank, Jerry Dietz, Brent & Amie Potter
2012: Dave Steinbeck
2013: Blake Anderson, Tyrel Garey, Joe & Margaret Sampson
2014: Donna Blair, Dale & Norma Rush, Dan Elwood
2015: Monica Brandt, Garrett Lembke
2016: Bill Backhaus
2017: Mike & Tracy Marshall, Kyle Kirchoff
2018: Don Smith, Griswold Communications, Drue Kirchhoff & SW Iowa Tiling
2019: Robert Meade, Griswold Board of Education
2020: Curtis Bierbaum, Josh Bierbaum, Terry Keiser, Gail Newman
2021: Jake Steinbeck, Kevin Blair, Andy Steffen
__________________________________________________________________________
Past Friend of Agriculture Award Winners
__________________________________________________________________________
Past Friend of Agriculture Award Winners
__________________________________________________________________________
The Friend of Agriculture award is an award for individual producers, farm families, and business persons that show a love of agriculture, that are stewards to the land, and also encourage our youth to get involved in agriculture. Only one recipient is chosen for this award each year.
2007: George Karwal
2008: Ron Mardesen
2009: Armstrong Research Farm
2010: Richard Conry
2011: Steinbeck & Sons
2012: Scott & Angie Leighton
2013: Brandon Adams
2014: Bill Backhaus
2015: Dr. L. C. Boucher, DVM
2016: Mike and Tracy Marshall
2017: Don and Amy Smith
2018: Dallas Maxwell
2019: Beth Irlbeck
2020: Alice Blair Brown
2021: Donna Blair
__________________________________________________________________________
Past State Degree Winners
__________________________________________________________________________
Past State Degree Winners
__________________________________________________________________________
1956: Glen Hemphill
1957: Kenny Vogt
1965: Ron Burroughs
1967: Nathan Burnham
1968: Doyle Kneisel
1971: Kelly Baier
1976: Kenton Bates
1977: David Denne
1984: Rod Barr
2006: Ryan Maxwell, Jake Leighton, Spencer Funk
2007: Adam Bierbaum, Chris Steinbeck
2009: Michael Mardesen
2010: Melissa Anstey, Alex Freund, Josh Bierbaum
2011: Melanie Palmer
2012: Andrea Kuffel
2013: Joe Sampson
2014: Alyssa Dean, Jacob Steinbeck
2015: Tyler DeWitt, Walker Mundorf, Jackie Rush
2018: Riley Smith
2020: Courtney Hering, Haylee Pennock, Shelby Steffen
2022: Logan Evans,
1957: Kenny Vogt
1965: Ron Burroughs
1967: Nathan Burnham
1968: Doyle Kneisel
1971: Kelly Baier
1976: Kenton Bates
1977: David Denne
1984: Rod Barr
2006: Ryan Maxwell, Jake Leighton, Spencer Funk
2007: Adam Bierbaum, Chris Steinbeck
2009: Michael Mardesen
2010: Melissa Anstey, Alex Freund, Josh Bierbaum
2011: Melanie Palmer
2012: Andrea Kuffel
2013: Joe Sampson
2014: Alyssa Dean, Jacob Steinbeck
2015: Tyler DeWitt, Walker Mundorf, Jackie Rush
2018: Riley Smith
2020: Courtney Hering, Haylee Pennock, Shelby Steffen
2022: Logan Evans,
__________________________________________________________________________
Past State Proficiency Award
__________________________________________________________________________
Past State Proficiency Award
__________________________________________________________________________
1954: Gene Woods- Dairy Production
1958: Warren Jones- Ag Electrification
2006: Ryan Maxwell- Wildlife Management
2018: Riley Smith - Ag Communications
2021: Haylee Pennock- Veterinary Science
1958: Warren Jones- Ag Electrification
2006: Ryan Maxwell- Wildlife Management
2018: Riley Smith - Ag Communications
2021: Haylee Pennock- Veterinary Science
__________________________________________________________________________
Past Griswold Chapter Advisors
__________________________________________________________________________
Past Griswold Chapter Advisors
__________________________________________________________________________
1952-1959: Charles E. Vanderbur
1963-1966: Wayne Calhoun
1966-1971: Nicholas Bradley
1971-1996: Tony Hunolt
1996-1998: Connie Dierberger
1998-2001: Ben Greiman
2001-2003: Mark Schmitz
2003-2004: TJ Dunphy
2004-2006: Brittany Elmquist
2006-2021: Kevin Blair
2021-Present: Jackie Brokaw
1963-1966: Wayne Calhoun
1966-1971: Nicholas Bradley
1971-1996: Tony Hunolt
1996-1998: Connie Dierberger
1998-2001: Ben Greiman
2001-2003: Mark Schmitz
2003-2004: TJ Dunphy
2004-2006: Brittany Elmquist
2006-2021: Kevin Blair
2021-Present: Jackie Brokaw
__________________________________________________________________________
Past Nishna Valley Presidents
__________________________________________________________________________
Past Nishna Valley Presidents
__________________________________________________________________________
1937-1938: Merle Smith
__________________________________________________________________________
Past Nishna Valley Chapter Advisors
__________________________________________________________________________
Past Nishna Valley Chapter Advisors
__________________________________________________________________________
1937-1939: G.E. Peters
1939-1942: James W. McClymonds
1942-1943: Myron R. VanCleave
1939-1942: James W. McClymonds
1942-1943: Myron R. VanCleave