Fentanez Sings His Heart Out in FFA

Fentanez Sings His Heart Out in FFA

By Guest Blogger, Shelby Kuechle from the Eden Valley Watkins FFA Chapter

FFA really does have something for everyone, agriculture related or not. For Ruben Fentanez, FFA offers him the opportunity to participate in the choir at both state and national levels. Fentanez is 17 years old and is an active member of the Mountain Lake FFA Chapter.

Fentanez joined FFA in 9th grade, when his advisor, Lindsey Brown, highly encouraged him to become a member. He started out participating in the Nursery Landscape Career Development Event (CDE) and will be applying for a chapter officer in the upcoming year. The Mountain Lake FFA Chapter has about 130 members, with about 60 active members, who do many activities. FFA brings kids from all walks of life together.

“Our chapter is very diverse from the local farm kids to kids like me who have lived in town their whole life,” said Ruben. “I didn’t have very much agricultural background until 9th grade when I joined FFA.”

Ruben with the
Minnesota FFA Choir

Fentanez has always been a musical guy and jumped right onto the opportunity of State FFA Choir. He, along with a few friends from the chapter, decided they wanted to give it a try and haven’t looked back since.

Joining state choir involves sending in an application and having a music teacher recommend the student. If the student is selected, they are able to perform at State Convention awards, etc.

National choir is a little more difficult to get accepted into, but in Ruben’s words, “It’s totally worth it.” Along with the application and recommendation, the student must send in an audition.

“I joined to sing my heart out, but my favorite part was being able to meet new people and create new friendships,” said Ruben. “State choir was really fun, but it doesn’t compare to National FFA Choir. That’s where I absolutely fell in love with FFA choir."