A roundup of FFA news for the week of Sept. 27, 2012:

ANDOVER, Ohio — Pymatuning Valley FFA members participated Sept. 16 in Adopt-A-Highway, cleaning garbage from Route 6. The chapter does this twice a year.

The chapter held a meeting Sept. 19.

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ZANESVILLE, Ohio — Last year West Muskingum’s Ag program contained around 29 students. Most of those students were active in the FFA. Due to some great recruiting this year’s program has grown to just over 50 very active students.

All students will be participating in the FFA by attending field trip, competing in contests and helping the community through community service. Students will be competing in the Soils Career Development Event on Sept. 20, held in Muskingum County. They will also be going to the Forestry CDE at FFA camp. We are trying something new this year by having a beginning of the year cook out where new FFA members and their parents will get a chance to talk to the FFA officers and advisor to learn about the great year we have planned.

The FFA would also like to announce that is has welcomed in two new officers. Megan Garber will be carrying out the reporters’ responsibilities and Clay Scott will be the student advisor for this year. They will join a team currently consisting of sentinel Mary Teisinger, treasurer Megan O’Donnell, secretary Kathryn Bird, vice president Jack Mills and president Caylissa Murrey.

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BERLIN, Ohio — On Sept. 8,HilandFFAmembers participated in the Harvest Festival Paradein Berlin. The theme of the float was “The 85thAnniversary ofFFA”.

FFAstarted in 1928. In 1988, the Future Farmers of America name was changed to NationalFFAOrganization, known asFFA. Students decorated the float with blue and yellow balloons with theFFAemblems, hay bales, andHilandFFAsigns.

BudRaber, father of TaylorRaber, drove the 4020 John Deere tractor which pulled the float. Members were RachelleYoder, Jessica Davis, MeganHippert, TaylorRaber, Grant Mast, CodySlabaugh, and BrandonKozak.

Then on Sept. 10,HilandFFAmembers participated in Adopt-A-Highway. Members picked up trash along State Route 39 fromTroyer’sCountry Market to Chestnut Ridge Elementary School and back to the high school, covering a total of two miles.

Adopt-A-Highway is a great community service activity for members to participate. Hiland FFA members participate in Adopt-A-Highway in September and again in May.

Members who participated in this wereJavanScheufler, MacCordle, Grant Mast, Kenny Clark,NikytaEngstrom, RachelleYoder, and MeganHippert.

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WELLINGTON, Ohio — A Big Year for the Firelands FFA at the Lorain County fair.

Many ribbons, trophies, and plaques were awarded to all the dedicated showmen. The chapter’s hard work definitely paid off and the title of being the largest exhibitor at the fair was held. The 2012-2013 officer team showed their roles as leaders throughout the week with all of their success.

Jimmy Hozalski, a graduate, earned the best field crop exhibit with his field corn project.

Finally, Tom Schuman was Grand Champion in FFA Engineering and won 2nd LaGrange Engine Club Large Restoration Project for his Allis Chalmers WD restoration.