Building off traditions, creating new opportunities
October 2025
By Lauren Cook, Kellen Hilgenberg, Elaina Nelson, and Kate Rosenbeck
During the 2025-2026 school year, several clubs at Coon Rapids-Bayard are building off of traditions and creating new opportunities for their members and the Crusader Community.
The CR-B student council is under new advisement, the Family, Career, and Community Leaders of America (FCCLA) is not only a club but an academic course, and the FFA organization has already participated in many different events. Ashlyn Schubert and her mother-in-law Nikki are the new advisors for the CR-B student council, and they successfully helped students lead engaging homecoming activities in September. Marissa Wiskus is the FCCLA advisor, and with the newly-renovated FCS classroom, she created a course to help students accomplish various goals. Melanee Petersen, the FFA advisor, has already traveled with students to several events in Shelby, Atlantic, and Lewis. FFA members are consistently attending events to broaden their horizons.
“This year, we’re excited to come up with fresh ideas to boost school spirit and help everyone feel more connected as a student body,” Ashlyn Schubert said. “We can’t wait to make this a year full of pride and memorable moments for CR-B.”
“I've been an advisor for several years at two other schools and it's so interesting to me to see the similarities and differences between the councils and what they can accomplish,” Nikki Schubert added. “Mrs. Schubert (Ashlyn) and myself are very similar in our outlook on what we want to see the Crusader student council accomplish, and we hope we can challenge them to always be looking for ways to improve what they do.”
Kerra Hart, a student council member, truly enjoyed homecoming.
“I love that we came together, dressed up, and ended the week with a dance,” Hart said. “I love that I, along with the other members of the council, get to see what goes into these events. We develop a better understanding and gratefulness for all of the festivities because we see what it takes to make them a success.”
The FCCLA organization is eager to bring a new service to the CR-B students.
“FCCLA is looking forward to getting the Crusader Coffee Corner up and running sometime next semester,” said Rylee List, a senior in the class.
Mrs. Wiskus is holding more regular FCCLA meetings this year to help students set up the coffee corner and begin the application process to try to accomplish a lofty goal.
“We will be applying for and hopefully receiving the Gold Level Chapter at the state conference this year,” Wiskus said.
“Through activities in the state conference, members will have a better handle in trying to make it to the national conference,” said Kally Wiskus, another senior in FCCLA.
Right at the beginning of September, students in FFA participated in soil judging and they concluded September by participating in the district soil evaluations. Students also participated in career and leadership development events. All of the activities are leading up to the state convention.
“We want to have fun at the state convention,” said Emily Booth, a sophomore FFA member. “Our FFA cookout was also really memorable to me.
As evident, the student council, FCCLA, and FFA organization have been very active in just the first quarter of the school year. It is safe to say they will accomplish many more goals this year that will have a direct impact on not only the members in each club but also the entire student body.