Roadmap to success
Ratka reflects on his career in FFA BY TIFFANY KLAPHAKE STAFF WRITER
COLD SPRING — Tyler Ratka did not grow up on a farm, but that did not deter him from learning all he could about agriculture and taking on leadership positions within agricultural organizations. Ratka, a freshman at the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities, is serving as the 2023-24 Minnesota FFA vice president. At the UMN, Ratka is majoring in animal science with an emphasis in dairy production. “Both of my parents grew up on dairy farms and were active in FFA,” Ratka said. “They both work in the dairy industry with different agribusinesses. Even though I did not grow up on a dairy farm, I have always been a part of the industry.” Ratka and his family grew up in Cold Spring. As soon as Ratka and each of his two sisters, Megan and Allison, were old enough to join 4-H, they started leasing and showing dairy cattle from a family friend. Then,
when Ratka was in sixth grade, the family moved into the country. “My sisters and I own some dairy show heifers and have remained active showing, judging and with dairy quiz bowl,” Ratka said. When Ratka was a freshman in high school, he followed in his sisters’ footsteps and joined the Rocori FFA Chapter. He immediately joined the Dairy Cattle Evaluation and Management Career Development Event and competed for two years. During Ratka’s sophomore year, the team won a trip to compete at the National FFA Convention & Expo. “That contest taught me a lot about evaluating dairy animals,” Ratka said. “Along with that contest, you had to learn about the National Dairy Herd Information Association records, which is also something I was interested in.” For the following two years, Ratka participated in the Dairy Cattle Handlers Activity. Meanwhile, Ratka also participated in parliamentary procedure, served as chapter parliamentarian and
was chapter president his junior and senior year. He was also involved with chapter activities on various committees. “I helped start up our chapter test plot that we use for educational purposes right next to the school,” Ratka said. Ratka continued to climb the ladder of leadership. He served as the Region III treasurer his junior year and president his senior year. “I really enjoyed being on that team,” Ratka said. “As region president, I was able to work with the state officers last year. I knew that was something I wanted to continue being involved in.” Megan was also Region III president her senior year. “She was a good leader and role model for me to look up to,” Ratka said. “She pushed me to get more involved.” Ratka decided there was no better way to get involved than to apply for a state officer position.
“I saw being a state officer as a good way to give back and help inspire new members,” Ratka said. “The judging process was two full days of individual interviews, group scenarios, a writing portion and a speech.” The candidate judging occurs during the days leading up to the Minnesota State FFA Convention held each
PHOTO SUBMITTED
Tyler Ratka shows off an award he received at the 2023 Minnesota State FFA Convention in St. Paul. Ratka is serving as the 2023-24 Minnesota FFA vice president.
year in April at the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities campus. Ratka and the candidates
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