LOUDONVILLE, Ohio — Loudonville FFA sophomores Miranda Rickets and B. William Fraley earned a silver metal and fifth place in the National FFA Agri-Science Fair in Louisville, Ky., Oct. 30.
Last May during the State FFA Convention, Ricketts and Fraley earned first place and a gold rating in Ohio in the agri-science area of Power, structural, and technical system in the 7-9 grade partner division. This summer they found out their admissions packet was judged high enough to move on to nationals.
Their project, “Wet Cell Batteries, Investigating Different Metals for Power,” included testing several combinations of the metals and concluded that copper and magnesium had the best electrolyte current.
The chapter is advised by Kendra Carnegie.
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LOUISVILLE, Ky. — This year, three Firelands FFA members received the highest degree attainable in the National FFA Organization. Shelby Balint, a 2011 Firelands graduate; Alex Tuggle, 2012 graduate; and Josh Ward, 2012 graduate, received the American FFA Degree at the 86th National FFA Convention & Expo in Louisville, Ky.
The convention, the largest student gathering in the United States, was Oct. 30-Nov. 2.
To be eligible, FFA members must have earned and productively invested $7,500 through a supervised agricultural experience program in which they start, own or hold a professional position in an existing agriculture enterprise. Recipients must also complete 50 community service hours, as well as demonstrate outstanding leadership abilities and community involvement.
Balint, daughter of Tom and Darlene Balint, has earned a list of awards in FFA including; Star Greenhand, Star Chapter Member, Star Junior Member, and Dekalb Star Senior Award,Scholarship Award, many Career Development Event awards, proficiency awards and was Supreme FFA Exhibitor.
Her Supervised Agricultural Experience (SAE) projects were placements at an orchard, horse farm, and production farm along with raising sheep, chickens, and turkeys.
Alex Tuggle, the son of Curtis and Marisa Tuggle, was the 2011-12 FFA President, and was selected as Star Junior and Dekalb Star Senior. He has earned district and state proficiency honors for his Supervised Agricultural Experience (SAE) project: He maintained a flock of sheep for market & show purposes.
Josh Ward, son of John and Martha Ward, was awarded the most active member of his grade all years that he had been a member. Josh was on the following Career Development Event Teams: parliamentary procedure, agricultural sales, wildlife management, soils, ag. industrial diagnostics, outdoor power & equipment, and agricultural mechanics, and earned the AgCredit 110% Award his senior year. His SAEs included hay production and goat production.
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MILAN, Ohio — The Edison FFA attended the 85th National Convention in Louisville, Ky. The chapter took eight members. While in Kentucky the chapter visited Mammoth’s Cave and the Kentucky derby. The chapter didn’t compete at the national level this year.
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WOOSTER, Ohio — Clay Armstrong, of the West Holmes FFA was selected as a national finalist for the National FFA Organization’s national proficiency award in forage production entrepreneurship and placement.
Armstrong is one of only four people who competed for this award at the national finals Oct. 30- Nov. 2 during the national FFA convention and expo in Louisville, Ky. Proficiency awards recognize outstanding student achievement in agribusiness gained through establishment of a new business, working for an existing company or otherwise gaining hands-on career experience.
The Forage Production- Entrepreneurship/Placement Award is one of 49 proficiency program areas in which FFA members can participate to develop valuable experience and leadership skills at the local, state and national levels.
Armstrong began working on a grain farm when he was in the eighth grade. He began by learning how to put hay in the barn and stacking it correctly. He worked his way up, moving to raking hay and then cutting and finally bailing it himself.
In recognition of being a finalist, each finalist received a plaque and $500. The national winner of the Forage Production- Entrepreneurship/Placement award received an additional $500 during a special ceremony at convention.
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LOUISVILLE, Ky. —Blake Campbell, of the Waterford FFA Chapter was selected as the first runner up in the national finals for the National FFA Organization’s national proficiency award in Diversified Livestock Production-Entrepreneurship/Placement. Campbell was also selected as the winner in the International Travel Seminar Program, in which he will have the opportunity to travel to Costa Rica in June of 2014. Campbell is one of only four people who competed for this award at the national finals.
Campbell raises and markets five breeds of purebred, registered swine in addition to purebred Texel sheep and crossbred sheep. With his brother, he received his first two gilts from an essay contest with the Ohio Berkshire Association. Throughout the years, he has been able to steadily increase profits and develop better conception rates, getting 10.92 piglets per litter.
Campbell is the first member in Waterford FFA history to be named a National Proficiency Finalist and International Travel Seminar winner.
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ANDOVER, Pa. — The Pymatuning Valley FFA held its annual pie auction at the Ashtabula County Antique Engine Club Show July 6, after a day of parking cars for the event. All proceeds benefited the PV FFA chapter.
The chapter raised more than $2,000 at the pie auction.
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HANOVERTON, Ohio — United Local FFA attended the 86th National FFA Convention over the weekend of Nov. 2.
The chapter had several graduates receive their American degrees. Degree recipients from United were: Alex Hull, Chance Ramsey, Rebecca Swope and Abram Zehentbauer.
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WEST SALEM, Ohio — Members of the Northwestern FFA Chapter gathered at the Tegtmeier Farm Oct. 19 for a meeting and movie night.
Sierra Kamps reported on the Ag in the Classroom committee. Members have visited Northwestern Elementary one time so far this year with the first lesson plan. The committee teaches elementary students about different aspects of agriculture, and will visit the elementary each month.
AlanMichael Ulrich reported on the Safety committee, which has had a speaker come in to talk about fire safety, and will have a speaker come in to talk about gun safety. Amanda Brewster reported the Earnings and Savings committee has met once to discuss fundraisers for the year.
Debbie Eberly reported the Cooperation committee discussed the program of activities for the year, which involves working with other FFA chapters. Damon Johnson reported on the recreation committee.
McKayla Bunyak reported the Community Service committee has discussed such community service activities such as bell ringing for the Salvation Army and Adopt-A-Highway. Phil Eberly reported the Public Relations committee talked about the scrapbook of all of the chapter’s activities.
Adam Miley reported on the SAE committee, which discussed attending a project fair to give members ideas for their own Supervised Agricultural Experience Projects.
Jaret Fugate reported the Leadership committee met to discuss the different leadership opportunities for members such as leadership night and greenhand conference.
Ben Wasson reported the Skills committee discussed the different contests that the chapter participates in throughout the year.
Members also gave reports on different activities the chapter has been involved in, including the Twilight Tour and Answer Plot tours, where the FFA parked cars; rural and urban soil judging contests; recycling at the fair; officer training; Greenhand Conference; grape picking, where members picked 4.5 tons of grapes in two days; Fiber Show; and the Pink Pumpkin sales. Nearing the end of the sale, the chapter has raised more $2,100 for the American Cancer Society.
Members approved motions concerning attending the National FFA Convention; the annual fruit sale; Parliamentary Procedure Contest; bell ringing for the Salvation Army at Wal-Mart Dec. 23; participation in the Husky Brigade Nov. 11.
After the meeting, members enjoyed refreshments and watched a movie.
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ASHLAND, Ohio — The Crestview FFA Chapter, along with the Clear Fork and Northmor chapters, traveled to Louisville, Ky., Oct. 29 to attend the four-day National FFA Convention.
During the trip down, the chapters stopped in Chillicothe, Ohio, to view Tom Harp’s antique collection of Farmall tractors at Black River Farm. The group then toured the Miedema Dairy Farm, which has 1,000 head of mature dairy cattle.
In Lexington, Ky. the chapters toured Keeneland, a race track and horse facility that hosts the Breeder’s Cup, and toured the Toyota manufacturing plant in Georgetown, Ky., Toyota’s largest manufacturing facility in America.
The chapters’ final tour of the day was at DeGraff Stables in Midway, Ky. The farm has a stud facility for world class champion Quarter Horses, mare boarding accommodations and a birthing center.
In Louisville, the chapter also toured Louisville Slugger, producer of the famous baseball bats.
During the final day of the convention, the chapter members watched former Crestview FFA Chapter members Elizabeth Bernhard, Carey Fulk, and Garrett Searl receive their American FFA Degrees.
Elizabeth Bernhard was the 2011-2012 chapter reporter. She has taken three dairy heifers to the county fair and had a total of thirty-four acres of soybean and wheat test plots. Overall, she has productively earned and invested $15,731. Bernhard is currently attending the University of Akron.
Carey Fulk was the 2011-2012 president. She has taken four market hogs, three dairy heifers, and a dairy feeder calf to the county fair. She had 16+ acres of soybean, wheat, and corn test plots and multiple home improvement projects. Overall she has earned and invested $10,750.
Fulk is currently studying at Owens Community College.
Garrett Searl was the 2011-2012 secretary . In job placement, he has worked over 1,555 hours at a horse stable and CW White Dairy Farm, earning and investing $24,300. Searl is currently attending the Ohio State Branch in Mansfield.
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MINERVA, Ohio — Twelve members of the Minerva FFA traveled to Louisville, Ky., for the National FFA Convention and to watch chapter member J.D. Little receive his American FFA Degree.
Students who went on the trip included: Bryce Fankhauser, Clayton Brightbill, Bailey Campbell, Martin Merrick, Madi Snode, Taylor Zwick, Elizabeth Berstler, Charm Evans, Erin Sponseller, Kaitelyn Wayts, Mackenzie Kiko and Caitlin Sponseller. The group left Oct. 30 and returned Nov. 2, traveling with United FFA and Southern FFA members.
In addition to the convention, the FFA’ers visited the Air Force Museum in Dayton, Ohio; and toured the Louisville Slugger plant.
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