The Glencoe-Silver Lake FFA Reunion.
The Glencoe-Silver Lake FFA Chapter held its first reunion on Jan. 18, 2025, in the community room of Glencoe-Silver Lake Senior High School.
The event, organized by Lily Brelje and her officer team, brought together 12 current FFA members and 32 alumni, ranging from a 2-year-old to 73-year-old Alan Shram, the 1969-70 chapter president. The room buzzed with laughter, stories and a shared pride in the FFA legacy.
As attendees arrived, they signed a guest book, sharing their names, graduation dates and original chapters. This information was used to select winners for door prizes during the event.
The chapter displayed memorabilia from previous FFA years, including photos, scrapbooks dating to 1971, trophies, ribbons and banners. For many alumni, this was a chance to revisit their past and share their experiences with the next generation.
One of the most touching moments was when Shram shared stories from his time as chapter president. His words resonated with current members eager to learn from his experiences.
“FFA taught me the value of hard work and leadership,” he says. “It’s amazing to see how the organization continues to inspire young people.”
The memorabilia display sparked countless conversations. Alumni pointed out photos and awards, sharing the stories behind them. “It was so cool to see their faces light up as they talked about their FFA days,” says 2024-25 Glencoe-Silver Lake FFA President Grady Schuft.
For current members, the reunion was an eye-opening experience. “I loved hearing their stories about the similarities and differences in FFA from now to then,” Schuft says. “It was fascinating to see how things have changed but also how much has stayed the same.”
Xander Fritz, the 2024-25 chapter sentinel, added, “I really enjoyed seeing the agricultural sales awards because I competed in that event, but it was also cool to see awards from competitions we don’t do anymore, like the volleyball ones. It showed me how diverse FFA used to be.”
The reunion also highlighted the chapter’s long and successful history. “I learned that our chapter has been around for a long time, and we used to be one of the biggest in the area,” Schuft says. “Seeing all the awards and achievements from years past made me proud to be part of this chapter.”
For the alumni, the event was deeply impactful. “It was great to talk to the older generations of our chapter,” says a Glencoe-Silver Lake FFA member. “I think the reunion gave both new and old alumni the chance to feel more connected to our roots and experience something they haven’t done in years.”
