EUREKA, Ill. — The Eureka High School (EHS) District 140 FFA Ag Mechanics team is eyeing a national title this November after winning state honors in May. Comprised of Luke Rinkenberger (welding) Mason Kieser (ag power), Micah Hoffman (surveying), Trevor Hasselbacher (electrical) and Warren Stoller (carpentry), the team will compete during the National FFA Convention in Indianapolis November 1-4.

A few of the team members accompanied Eureka FFA Advisor Jason Bachman to a recent luncheon hosted by the Eureka Rotary Club, where they were acknowledged in advance of the national convention. Each student offered a few words about the impact of FFA, and EHS’ careers program, on their education and work experiences.

“This experience has shown me that I can consider electrical wiring as a possible career for the future,” said Hasselbacher, a junior who competed in electrical wiring in both FFA and Skills USA competitions. “I had no experience in wiring until taking Ag Mechanics 1 at EHS as a sophomore.”   

Ringenberger, 18, graduated from EHS in May but will attend the 2023 FFA Convention as a part of the Ag Mechanics team. Ringenberger said his FFA experience helped him refine his welding skills. 

Hoffman, who was a freshman when Eureka won the state FFA Ag Mechanics contest in May but will attend the 2023 FFA Convention as a sophomore, learned the skill of surveying at EHS. 

“I learned to take different readings of the land to determine the slope and area. I had no clue what surveying was until I started going to Ag Mechanics practices,” he said.

“To brag on these guys a little more-- obviously they’re humble-- they upset a Prairie Central (FFA) team that is the most winning state team in the nation. They have won more state contests than any other school, and they have represented the state of Illinois at more national contests than any school in the nation,” said Bachman.

“In my career as an ag teacher, we have finished third three times. But this team upset Prairie Central through their hard work, and are just a great group of kids. This is just a very small representation of the students that we have here at EHS, and that, I guess, is the part I feel most blessed about,” he added. 

FFA Ag Mechanics team participants are versed in testing machine systems, troubleshooting problems, performing machinery repairs and maintaining equipment to keep productivity high. Participants in FFA Ag Mechanics competitions engage in one of the following agricultural technology and mechanical activity phases: agricultural power, carpentry, electricity, surveying or welding. In each phase, students are judged on a written examination and the ability to perform specific exercises. 

Career opportunities in agricultural mechanics include engineers, manufacturing welders, equipment dealers, steel building erectors, field or on-site welders and teachers, according to FFA.

Around one-third of EHS’ 400 students are enrolled in the school’s FFA program, according to Eureka FFA advisor Jason Bachman. He called FFA a big part of the small high school’s career and technical education (CTE) program. CTE areas of study offered at EHS include agriculture, industrial technology, family and consumer sciences, and business. 

“We’re very blessed to have the support of a fantastic community that invests in this program, and we’re pouring it all back into the students and their activities,” said Bachman.

The EHS FFA advisor concluded his presentation to the Rotary by announcing that the town of 5,500 in western Woodford County, which is home to former president Ronal Reagan’s alma mater Eureka College, would soon be receiving new road signage acknowledging the Ag Mechanics team’s state FFA championship. If Bachman has it his way, come November 4 he will be requesting another road sign celebrating a national FFA championship.