ZANESVILLE, Ohio — The West Muskingum FFA chapter held its 48th annual banquet, May 13. Individuals and team members were awarded for their hard work throughout the year.
Key award winners: Honorary Chapter Degree: State Rep. Brian Hill; Star Greenhand: Andy Dunn; Star Chapter: Olivia Corder; Senior Outstanding Accomplishment: Bryce Suchland; Senior Outstanding Leadership: Evan Iden; Fruit sales: First place, Madisyn Farus; second place, Joey Suchland; third place, Ryan Davis; fourth place, Karrie Kokensparger; and fifth place, Alexis Jenkins.
Career development teams placing fifth or higher in the district: District Forestry, District Urban Soils, Wildlife Identification and Nature Interpretation. Greenhand Degrees were presented to 33 first year members, and chapter degrees were presented to 17 second year members.
Proficiency winners: Evan Iden, first place in the district for beef production. Kathryn Bird, first place in the district and second in the state for agricultural processing. The 2016-2017 officer team: Alexis Jenkin, president; Madisyn Farus, vice president; Olivia Corder, secretary; Jena Maxwell, treasurer; Cassidy Stoops, reporter; Jacob Stemm, sentinel; Jacob Stemm, student advisor; Jon Carter, historian; and Andy Dunn, committee chair.
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NEW PARIS, Ohio — On May 5-6, the National Trail-MVCTC FFA attended the 88th Ohio FFA Convention in Columbus. Three members were recognized for achieving their state degrees: Alexus Acton, Trey Mann and Chloe Studebaker. Also receiving awards were three officers from the 2015-2016 National Trail-MVCTC FFA chapter officer team, for gold rating officer books. They were Reporter Kerstian Casteel, Treasurer Weston Haws, and Secretary Dawn Richardson.
Marissa Hawkins and Kayla Pease were awarded with honorable mention for their “Hearing Safety” experiments, and Cierra Rinehart was awarded third in her category and division, with her “Which Cooking Oil Makes the Best Biofuel” experiment. The chapter also had a member participate in the Ohio FFA Choir, Tabitha Shepherd.
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WEST HOLMES, Ohio — West Holmes FFA members Nikyta Engstrom, Natalie Lovell, Hunter Mast, Tallie Troyer and Diane Yoder travelled to the Ohio FFA State Convention in Columbus May 5-6. Members were involved with the Ohio FFA Fights Hunger project by packing food into boxes and sending it to people in need. During the convention, 88,000 meals were prepared for the hunger project thanks to many members and sponsors.
Earning their State FFA Degrees were Natalie Lovell, Tallie Troyer, and Diane Yoder. Nikyta Engstrom, Hunter Mast, and Yoder crossed the stage to receive their gold-rated officer books. During the final session, the State FFA band performed with Hunter Mast at trombone and Diane Yoder on percussion.
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HILAND, Ohio — In May, the Hiland FFA Chapter held its final meeting of the school year. The meeting was led by incoming officers Diane Yoder, president; Tallie Troyer, vice president; Hayleigh Scheufler, secretary; Cheryl Yoder, reporter; Bailey Engstrom, treasurer; Parker Stutzman, treasurer; Natalie Lovell, student adviser; and Claire Farquar, sentinel. Before the meeting, members took part in the Adopt-A-Highway program along Route 39 and cleaned up trash and other debris. During the meeting, members shared results from the State Equine Contest, the Animal Health Contest and the State FFA Convention. They also revealed the earnings from the yearly FFA Banquet Silent Auction, which amounted to $395.
Hiland will send nominees to represent the FFA chapter in the Fair King and Queen Contest during the Holmes County Fair. This year’s nominees are Toyer, Natalie Lovell, Yoder and Blaine Miller.
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WEST SALEM, Ohio — Members from Northwestern FFA chapter competed in the national soil judging contest held May 5 in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. The rural team, made up of Emily Flinn and Shania Reed, competed The team studied and practiced by evaluating more than 20 soil pits this year. Members also attended the Ohio FFA State Convention May 5-6.
Kaci Way received second place for her State Agri-Science Fair project, titled Environmental and Contagious Pathogens in Dairy Cows with High Somatic Cell Counts. Marshall Geiger placed third with his Agri-Science project, titled How Does Environmental Factors Influence Equine Water Consumption?. Philip Eberly placed second with his project, titled The Effect That the Five Main Senses Have on Short-Term and Long-Term Memory.
Reiley Murphy participated with his project titled, CRISPR mutations in the OVATE location of the Solanum Iycopersicum. Kierstyn Wood also participated in this event, with her project titled Recycled Manure Solids VS. Sand In Free Stall Bedding For Dairy Cattle.
During the 4th session, officers Kierstyn Wood, Cody Tegtmeier, and Katie Stull received Gold Ratings for their secretary’s book, treasurer’s book, and reporter’s book, respectively. Chapter members Philip Eberly, Rachelle Howman, Reiley Murphey, and Katie Stull received their State FFA Degrees during the final session of convention.
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SULLIVAN, Ohio — On April 30, the Black River FFA horse judging team participated in the state judging finals. The team consisting of Madison Edwards, Hailey Park, Maddie Stuart, Meghan Gallagher and Hailee Baker judged two classes; stock-type halter and western pleasure. Each member had to present a set of oral reasons to two judges. Overall, the team earned sixth place out of 74 teams and received a top-10 plaque. Out of 398 individuals, Edwards earned 12th; Park, 15th; Stuart, 58th; and Gallagher, 157th.
The team will be advancing to a National competition in the fall.
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JEROMESVILLE, Ohio — Hillsdale FFA traveled to Columbus, May 5 and 6, for the 88th State FFA Convention. Four members received their State Degrees: Adam Cutlip, Sean Fitzsimmons, Sarah Lifer, and Malery Sloan. Kayla Harr, a 2015 graduate of Hillsdale, received second place in the Beef Production-Entrepreneurship proficiency.
Officers receiving gold ratings for their record books: Katie Mager, reporter; Madison Heller, treasurer; and Malery Sloan, secretary. Hillsdale’s Senior Parliamentary Procedure team was also recognized for a state win. In between sessions students toured the Anthony-Thomas Candy Company and the Ohio State University football stadium, the Woody Hayes Athletic Center, as well as the veterinary school on campus.
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SALINEVILLE, Ohio — Twenty-one members from the Southern Local FFA chapter attended the State FFA Convention May 5-6 in Columbus. Three students from the Chapter received State FFA Degrees: Bethann Callahan, Mickenzie Mosti and Natalie May.
Officers receiving gold ratings for their record books: Natalie May, secretary; Luke Frischkorn, treasurer; and Autumn Vincent, reporter. The chapter was also recognized for making a $400 donation to the Children’s Miracle Network throughout the 2015-2016 school year. While in Columbus, FFA members also visited the Columbus Zoo and heard from motivational speakers at the convention.
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ASHLAND, Ohio — On May 11, the Crestview FFA held its annual Food For America educational workshop. Crestview’s third-grade class was welcomed by numerous FFA members for a morning of flower planting, agricultural word searches, interactive games, tractor and welding demonstrations, and a petting zoo. Eighty-eight elementary kids were led in groups, rotating between the six stations. Food For America exposes younger generations to the benefits of being involved in FFA, and also allows current members to gain and improve on their leadership skills.
Station leaders were given the responsibility of creating a lesson plan that was both fun and educational to fill each 15-minute session. The third graders learned about the opportunities available with the Crestview FFA Livestock Lab, as well as plant a flower from the chapter’s greenhouse to take home. They then had the opportunity to learn about student tractors, including both a John Deere 7310 and 9300.
Inside the shop, students got to watch as members enrolled in the Power Equipment class demonstrated their welding skills. Finally, in the chapter’s classroom, station leaders led the third graders in a word find, coloring and agricultural pictionary.
