ASHLAND, Ohio —The Mapleton FFA sent a team to the 2009 State Animal Behavior and Welfare Contest at the state fairgrounds in Columbus April 21.
The team consisted of Jerry Mencl, Garrett Canfield, Hillary Krause, Shelby Emmons and coach Jared Wynn.
Mencl led the team placing sixth overall. The team was fifth in the contest and was awarded a banner.
CRESTON, Ohio — The Norwayne FFA Dairy Cattle Management CDE team traveled to Columbus April 11 where they placed first at the state contest.
The team consisted of Julia Zollinger, Ryan Billman, Eric Billman, Lydia Hartzler, Nicole Steiner and coach Tom Noyes.
Individual ranking for the team were: Zollinger, fourth and Ryan Billman, 10th.
The team is now qualified to travel to Indianapolis in October for the National FFA Dairy Cattle Career Development Event.
GNADENHUTTEN, Ohio — Indian Valley FFA competed at the Sub-District Public Speaking contest at River View High School.
Senior Wendy Myer took second place and received a gold rating in the prepared class.
Myer also placed second and received a gold rating at districts and qualified for state. At state, she placed eighth in her class.
She is the daughter of William and Kathy Myer of Uhrichsville.
Junior Matt Demattio, son of Doug and Beckie Demattio of Tuscarawas, placed second at sub-district and received a gold rating in his class extemporaneous.
At district he placed second and received a gold rating and qualified for state. At the state level he placed sixth in his class.
Freshman Coryden Enochs, son of Dawn and Joe Enochs of Gnadenhutten, participated in the Creed speaking contest at the sub-district level. He placed fourth in his class and received a gold rating.
SULLIVAN, Ohio — The Black River FFA held its annual tractor drive April 17. Eighteen tractors came rolling in that morning and were a part of the parade around the high school and BREC. There were many colors in the parade ranging from green John Deeres, red Internationals and one blue Ford. The drivers were Mrs. Berry, Tyler Rook, Molly Heilmen, Ryan Eichel, Ben Mey, Cory Walter, Kyle Hales, Justin Packard, Talon Wood, Adam Brietkrenz, Jordan Ternes, Brittany Murry, Garrett Sanford, Zeb Flegel, Jimmy Dieter, Eric Hange, Dean Finkel and Neil Jones.
ALLIANCE, Ohio — The Marlington FFA chapter held its annual banquet April 21 with many members and guests present.
Guests enjoyed a meal prepared by the alumni and the officers and members spoke of their activities and projects of the past year.
Mr. and Mrs. Gabric presented their family’s scholarship to Bobby Campbell.
The Gabric family also presented the Greenhand Award winner, Audrey Duff, an official FFA jacket.
Hannah Oyster gave her retiring speech and passed the gavel to the 2009-10 president, Amber Shoemaker.
The rest of the 2009-10 officer team includes Lisa Sutton, vice president; Emily Conrad, secretary; Audrey Duff, treasurer; Lydia Battershell, reporter; Zach Hoover, sentinel and Rebbecca Faverty, student adviser.
NEW CASTLE, Pa. — The 53rd annual Laurel FFA banquet was held April 21 in the Laurel High School cafeteria.
The Discovery Degree was awarded to Devin Miller, Ethan Wilson, Kristen Sipe, Jolene Stiteler, Dalton Valenti, Jessica Jones and Austin McGowen.
The Greenhand Degree was awarded to Mike Kulinski, Josh Stratton, Andrea Fedrizzi, Nicholas Began, Kara Mayberry, Tori Richards, Shyanna Adams, Cody Montgomery and Ethan McClimans.
The Star Greenhand was awarded to Mike Kulinski.
Recipients of the Chapter Degree were Sarah Wilson, Natalie Orelli, Brandy Smail, Frank Pollio, Caitlyn Leasure, Troy Booher, Eric Wallas and Evan Parker.
The Star Chapter Award went to Sarah Wilson while Brittany McConnell was recognized for being awarded the Keystone degree, the highest degree given at the state level in January.
Katie Majors was recognized for being awarded the American Degree last fall at the National FFA Convention in Indianapolis. She is the first member of the Laurel FFA chapter to receive this degree for at least the past 30 years.
The Laurel FFA Leadership Award went to Evan Parker and the Scholarship Award was given to Emily McKissick.
The Ag Mechanics Proficiency Award went to Frank Polio.
Other students were recognized throughout the night for their participation at the fall and Spring Roundup Contest, FFA Week/State Days, the FFA basketball tournament and District Public Speaking, as well as those who did well at the Record Book Contest.
Caitlyn Leasure compete at the state level in the interview contest.
Hillsdale FFA’ers (L-R) Morgan Austin and McKenzie Stimmell won Star Greenhand awards, Hannah Fulk received the Star Chapter award and Michelle Funk earned the Star in Agricultural Business award during the chapter’s recent banquet.
Six Hillsdale FFA’ers earn state degree
JEROMESVILLE, Ohio — The Hillsdale FFA recognized achievements of FFA members at the annual parent-member banquet April 18.
The night included the retiring address of chapter president, Hannah Fulk, and a slide show of this year’s activities.
Top awards
Morgan Austin and McKenzie Stimmell each received Star Greenhand awards and Hannah Fulk received the Star Chapter award.
Michelle Funk earned the Star in Agricultural Business.
The chapter also recognized the six members who will receive their state degrees May 2: Jeff Stimmell, Nick Farquhar, Joel Brockway, Dan Brockway, Kelsey Clark, and Tiffany Heiby.
Volunteers honored
Honorary Chapter Degrees were awarded to Dan and Tonya Fulk, Steve Smith, and Linda Shearer.
The Fulks have been chaperones and chauffeurs for the Hillsdale FFA members for four years, traveling to Columbus and Indianapolis for contests and conventions.
Steve Smith has helped the chapter as coach of the tractor trouble-shooting team, and through the Hillsdale FFA alumni. Linda Shearer assisted the chapter by allowing it to use the kitchen and storage space, helps order food for the Hillsdale FFA alumni, and helps cook banquet meals.
The Distinguished Service Award is the highest honor a chapter can bestow on a nonmember. In order to receive this award, the recipient must first have received the Honorary Chapter Degree. This year, the award was given to Steve Hughes, who has helped with the irrigation system in the greenhouse and shared his expertise with the ag sales team.
Chapter activities
The top three salesmen of fruit sales were: Joel Brockway, selling $2,638; Michelle Funk, $1,850; and Jeff Stimmell, $1,653. Members sold a total of $32,067 of fruit.
Six students received scholarships for having the highest grade point average in their ag class: Tiffany Willis, Zach Fulk, Tiffany Heiby, Hannah Fulk, Ashley Pickering, and Heather Heffelfinger.
Hannah Fulk is a top four finalist for the state swine production proficiency award. She will find out her placing at state convention in May.
Contest results. Last year, the chapter’s agricultural sales team qualified for national convention in Indianapolis. The team placed third and received a gold rating.
Also last year, the dairy products team qualified for national convention in Indianapolis. The team placed ninth and received a gold rating, and the parliamentary procedure team also qualified for national convention in Indianapolis. The team received a silver rating.
This year’s parliamentary procedure won the state competition. Members of the team were: Hannah Fulk, Erin Ebert, Kelsey Clark, Jeff Stimmell, Kelsey Haas, Michael Schuck, Kelsey King, Brittany Baldner-Hill, McKenzie Stimmell, and Sara Tallmadge.
The nursery and landscaping team placed third in the state. Individually, Kelsey King place 11th; Nick Farquhar, 12th; Jeff Stimmell, 15th; and Hannah Shock, 18th.
The food science and technology team placed fifth at state. Team members included Kelsey King, Ashley Pickering, Mariah Gibbons, and Dylan Mullins.
This year, three members advanced to the state level in the job interview contest. Alexis House placed third in the junior/senior first year in agricultural education; Kelsey Eberly placed third in the sophomore division; and Madison Hays placed fourth in the freshman division.
Brittani Baldner-Hill placed first in the district and third at the state competition of the beginning prepared public speaking contest.
The ag sales team placed fourth in the state. Individually, Seth Ebert placed 12th; Tiffany Heiby placed 16th; Cody Raudebaugh placed 17th; and Morgan Austin, 40th.
The poultry team won the state contest, qualifying for national convention. Mariah Gibbons placed second, Michelle Funk placed seventh, Michael Shuck placed ninth, and Tecca Zimmerman, 19th.
The agronomy team placed second in the state, qualifying them to compete at the Big E in the fall. Individually, Nolan Bicker placed first, Jeff Stimmell placed ninth, Hannah Shock placed 14th, and Emily Bon placed 19th.
Michelle Funk participated in the dairy handler’s activity and placed fifth in state, which qualified her for the Big E.
New officers
The night concluded with the induction of the 2009-2010 officer team: president, Jeff Stimmell; vice president, Kelsey Eberly; secretary, Tiffany Heiby; treasurer, Kelsey King; reporter, Mariah Gibbons; sentine, Joel Brockway; student adviser, Cody Cline; parliamentarian, Seth Ebert; historian, Brittany Funk; and chaplain, Hannah Shock.
