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Jaden Schug credits FFA for giving her presentation prowess

By Doug Clough - Farm News writer | Feb 10, 2023

Jaden Schug

IDA GROVE — Research has proven that while death is the number two fear that people have,

public speaking is the biggest real-life terror for most.

Jaden Schug, thanks to her Future Farmers of America (FFA) education, didn’t get that memo.

“The high school years can be awkward,” said Schug, 25. “FFA gives students so many different experiences to grow through training, conference attendance, networking, and — when you’ve got something to say — to present those ideas to others.”

Schug, a 2016 graduate of Odebolt Arthur-Battle Creek Ida Grove (OABCIG) High School, earned her FFA Greenhand while a freshman. The Greenhand FFA Degree is awarded to ninth grade or older members who learn about the FFA history, mission, creed and emblem and make plans for a supervised agricultural experience.

-Submitted photo
Jaden Schug, an FFA-educated leader from Ida Grove, is married to Clint Schug, a farmer from Ida County. Pictured here on their John Deere tractor are their daughters Evelyn, bottom, and Cora, top left, and Clint, right. The Schugs specialize in corn and soybean rotation.

“By attending the state conventions,” said Schug, “I was able to meet people from central and eastern Iowa. These were great networking moments, and — I didn’t know it at the time — but I would run into the people I met in college and even after I earned my degree.”

After high school, Schug attended Iowa State University, earning her finance degree in December of 2019. She also graduated summa cum laude, an honorary title signifying that her diploma was earned with the highest distinction in her class and only presented to students who earned a 3.75 grade-point average (GPA) or higher; Schug earned the highest GPA possible while pursuing her expertise — 4.0.

“I loved the FFA experience, especially creed and public speaking,” said Schug. “Chapter office leadership training benefited me greatly also. As a high school junior, I was one of the district officers for northwest Iowa. The conference breakout sessions were informational and gave us a chance to learn and present in 45-minute sessions.”

While in high school, Schug had a part-time job working for United Bank of Iowa (UBI) in Ida Grove.

“I grew up on a farm and many of UBI’s customers are farmers as well,” said Schug. “At that time, I was doing jobs as needed and running errands, and I was comfortable talking to our customers and working with the people there.”

On summer break from ISU, Schug would return home to work at UBI.

After graduating from ISU, Schug was employed full-time as an ag lender for UBI at their Ida Grove location in January of 2020, moving to the Schleswig branch in September of the same year.

“I enjoyed being raised on a farm,” said Schug, “and I believe that experience has made me a better employee since I could relate to our customers. I didn’t want to work on the farm, but in agricultural finance, which is another great agricultural career.

“My husband is a corn and soybean farmer with his dad and brother, and we’re raising our kids on our farm. Through FFA and our farming background, I’m in tune with the loan product needs of farmers.”

Schug married her husband Clint, 31, in 2018, and the couple have three children: Evelyn, 4; Cora, 3; and Calvin, 7 months.

Schug is also using her leadership skills in the community she serves.

“There is a need for experienced, competent day care in rural Iowa,” said Schug, “so I’m using my FFA background in public speaking to discuss with local groups what we can do to make this happen. Whether you are at work or volunteering, it’s important to know how to network with all kinds of personalities and backgrounds. FFA has been a great asset to me in this and many other ways.”