This month will feature two students for HeartlandBeat.com’s Student of the Month recognition. Heartland FFA sponsor Cole Blomendahl has chosen Seniors Abigail Bechtel and Morgan Tracy for their recent accomplishments. Abigail was selected to be a member of the National FFA Choir and Morgan was invited to perform as part of the talent team at the 84th National FFA Convention recently held in Indianapolis, IN.
“Both students greatly enjoyed their experiences and appreciate the local businesses that helped finance their trip,†said Blomendahl. Morgan submitted a video recording of her solo performance singing Miranda Lambert’s song, “Heart Like Mine†and Abigail sent in a recording of her singing a variety of scales demonstrating the range of her voice. Both were assisted by Mr. Lynn Hall, Heartland Vocal teacher back in July when they sent in their applications.
Neither of the girls were strangers to the National Convention. They both were accepted last year as juniors; Tracy in the talent division and Abigail in the band. “We had some very intense rehearsal sessions for the first few days,†said Abigail about her choir experience. “We performed at a market area in downtown Indianapolis, at the Delegate’s Banquet during the week and at several of the general sessions,†said Abigail.
Morgan prepared about 20 songs for her time at the National Convention and performed in three different staged events. “I wasn’t near as nervous about performing in front of such large crowds of people as last year,†said Morgan. Most memorable for Morgan was when she sang for the official opening of the convention at the Conseco Fieldhouse in downtown Indianapolis. “It was so exciting to be up on the stage singing as hundreds of FFA participants flooded into the arena for the first time,†said Morgan.
Most exciting for both girls was the chance to meet such a wide variety of kids from all over the country. Morgan enjoyed trying out her Spanish with several students from Puerto Rico and Abigail has added many of the people she met as new Facebook friends. Besides practicing and performing, they both were able to explore the city of Indianapolis enjoying shopping and sightseeing during the weeklong convention. “It was a really cool experience!†said Abigail.
Congratulations to both Abigail and Morgan for their hard work and the honor of being chosen to participate in such a worthwhile national event!
Shannon Siebert
