Ketchum’s Eddie Kiess – FFA Spotlight Presented by Oklahoma AgCredit

By Derrick Smith

The Future Farmers of America program attracts a variety of people. Some are all in on agriculture and animals, while others are there for the life skills that they learn. For Eddie Kiess, it was something else that pulled him into the group.

“A friend of mine told me about FFA,” he said. “He told me about the shooting sports that FFA does and I was interested.”

Eddie, who is in his first year with FFA, is a sophomore at Ketchum High School.

While he has enjoyed the shooting sports, Kiess has also learned welding and turfgrass management while in the program.

“Turf grass management is a competition that I do through FFA and it involves stuff about grass and fertilizer and such. You learn about area and fertilizer and all things grass.”

One of Kiess’ favorite memories in FFA is when his shooting team advanced to Area.

“Our shooting team made it to Area,” he said. “We all did really well. A week later, we found out that we were supposed to turn in our scorecards.”

The person that Eddie looks up to is someone that is close to home.

“My dad is the role model that I look up to,” he said. “He has a good work ethic, ingenuity and drive. Over the years, I feel that I have taken some of those traits.”

Throughout the years of education, Eddie has had many teachers, but there are a few that stand out to him.

“Coach Knoten, coach Wallace, and Mrs. Minson are my favorite teachers,” he said. “They are fun to be around and are such good teachers.”

Outside of FFA, Eddie is also a member of the Warriors’ football and baseball teams. He plays running back, wide receiver, and linebacker on the gridiron, and on the diamond he can play outfield, catcher, first base, third base, and pitch. The advice that Eddie has for younger students is simple.

“Stay the course, do your work, and just know that there is no such thing as doing too much work.”