The Smithville FFA chapter sent a group of members to the National Farm Machinery Show, in Louisville, Ky., Feb. 13-14.
The students who went were Brett Bauman, Colin Stoll, Jacob Studer, Zach Studer, Cole Thomspon, Wyatt Baer, Tristen Stoll, Kolstin Hartzler, Frank Becker, Wyatt Loving, Michael Stewart, Shawn Mantovani, Wren Hostetler, Jesse Stoller, Colton Martell and Jess Jones.
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CHILLICOTHE, Ohio — Zane Trace FFA members Beau Bilek, Kevin Daubenmire, Nathanael Freeman and Olivia Pflaumer traveled to Lancaster High School Feb. 12 to compete in the District 7 agriculture sales CDE.
Overall the team placed 7th out of 10 teams. The top individual on the Zane Trace team this year was Kevin Daubenmire, who placed 9th in the district.
Two students from the Zane Trace FFA, Micah Cox and Kevin Daubenmire, traveled to Utica, Ohio, Feb. 22 to compete in the District Seven, agricultural and industrial diagnostics CDE. There were nine other teams there. The team finished fifth out of the 10 teams. They finished with a total of 151 points.
Four members of the Zane Trace FFA chapter competed in the District 7 public speaking contest Feb. 19.
In creed speaking, Julia Everidge competed, coming in fourth place out of 11 participants, with a gold rating. In extemporaneous speaking, Beau Bilek placed fourth out of nine, with a silver rating. Colton Smith earned a silver rating and placed fifth. The speaking team also won the Ross County FFA Champions title for the 2013-2014 school year.
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DIAMOND, Ohio — Four members of the Southeast FFA chapter competed in the public speaking contest. Freshman Katie Hoover took fourth place in the FFA Creed Speaking Contest . Senior Kelly Siegferth took third place in the Advanced Creed Speaking Contest. Senior Nathan Boring also took third place in the beginning prepared contest. Senior Alex Zavara took first place in the extemporaneous contest and will be moving on the state contest in Columbus, Ohio.
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HANOVERTON, Ohio — United Local FFA celebrated Feb. 21, the last day of FFA week, by participating in Tractor Day. United FFA currently has more than 77 members. A few students were allowed to drive their tractor to school.
Last Friday, United Locals junior and senior ag class showed a group of first graders how simple machines work.
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WEST SALEM, Ohio — The Northwestern FFA Chapter recently celebrated National FFA Week Feb. 18-21, 2014.
The purpose of FFA Week is to inform people throughout the school and community about the great opportunities available through FFA. From its beginnings in 1928 as the Future Farmers of America, the National FFA Organization today reaches out to all 50 states, Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands. FFA is committed to developing character and leadership skills, as well as preparing members for a lifetime of civic leadership and career success.
As a part of FFA Week, the Northwestern Chapter members held many special events. The members also served pancakes, eggs, and sausage to the faculty of the high school Feb. 20 to show their appreciation to them for their understanding and support.
Also on Friday, an assembly was held to get the entire school involved. At the assembly, competitions were held between grade levels. The following contests were held: bale toss, drill race, milk chugging, sack race, and ice cream eating races. FFA week is a fun way to get the school and community involved in the chapter’s activities. It is held every year at the high school and the Northwestern FFA would like to thank everyone who participated and those who continuously support the chapter to make it as successful as it can be.
The Northwestern FFA held a celebration Feb. 20 where more than 70 degrees were presented to first and second year FFA members.
The Greenhand degree is a degree given to the first year FFA members that meet standards set by the chapter and the National FFA Organization.
On Feb. 21, 52 members received the Greenhand degree. These members were: David Agnes, Shelby Aulger, Mary Baker, Brittany Brown, Marie Clements, Kaylee Conoway, Felicia Corn, Ashley Dunn, Tiffany Farner, Tiffany George, Tyler Graham, Josh Hagans, Sydney Harmon, Sierra Kamps, Nate Koch, Shelby McKay, Todd, Murphy, Brenden Reed, Brooke Rush, Nathaniel Shore, Mackenzie Smith, Katie Stull, Joshua Tope, Mary Wetmore, Chase White, Tim White, Will Allen, Tyler Austin, Dalton Bloom, Gabbrielle Cecil, Cameron Cline, Colton Corbett, Maverick Dillon, Caleb Edgar, Travis Felter, Lene Goodman, Justin Grimm, Courtney Hall, Dakota Jester, Kourtney Kliner, Cory Leighty, Reiley Murphy, Leiara Peterson, Allison Ruegg, Cody Shepard, Brittany Slanczka, Dylan Stephenson, Brock Thut, Alan Michael Ulrich, Kyle Wharton, Katelyn White, and Courtney Wood.
After the Greenhand degrees were presented, the Chapter degrees were awarded. The Chapter degree is for second year members that meet standards set by the chapter and the national FFA Organization. These standards include giving a six-minute speech, leading a class discussion, and investing 50 hours or earning $150 in an approved supervised-agriculture-experience project. This degree is the highest degree that a chapter can award its members. The Northwestern FFA Chapter is proud to announce that 21 members earned this degree. These members are: Ashley Besancon, Debbie Eberly, Philip Eberly, Emily Flinn, Jaret Fugate, Rachel Guidetti, Cheyenne Hoert, Austin Howman, Ally Jurenec, Michelle LaPorta, Taylor McConnell, Shelby Miller, Shania Reed, Zarenia Reed, Kile Schaefer, Nathaniel Shore, Richard Starkey, Ben Vaughan, Ben Wasson, Kaci Way, and Kierstyn Wood.
Northwestern FFA competes in judging at ATI Feb. 22. Members of the Northwestern FFA Chapter competed in the dairy and general livestock judging contests held at ATI. The dairy judging team consisted of Adam Miley, Kaleb Kliner, Kierstyn Wood, and Lexie Perdue. The team placed third overall out of more than 20 teams. Individually, Kaleb Kliner placed sixth and Kierstyn Wood tied for seventh. The dairy cattle CDE is an educational activity designed as a practical method of teaching students to select quality dairy cattle. Students will be challenged with pedigree evaluation, sire selection, linear evaluation, a written test, placing classes and written class reasons.
The chapter also had the opportunity to have two general livestock judging teams. The first team consisted of Victoria Devore, Shania Reed, Kaci Way, and Katie Stull. This team placed 12th out of more than 35 teams. Victoria Devore placed fifth overall individually. The second team consisted of Makenzie Harmon, Brittany Slanczka, Shelby Aulger, and Kierstyn Wood. This team placed 13th overall. Individually, Makenzie Harmon placed 20th.
On Feb. 25, members of the Northwestern FFA Chapter competed in the district public speaking contest held at the RG Drage Career Center. Mary Baker, Kaci Way, Ashley Besancon, and Kierstyn Wood competed.
Mary Baker represented the freshman class and recited the FFA Creed. She also answered questions about parts of the creed and the creed’s history. Baker placed first overall for this contest and advances to the state contest on March 8 in Columbus.
Kaci Way participated in the beginning prepared contest. She prepared a six-eight minute speech to present at the contest, as well as answered questions about her topic. Her topic was called “Why Bother with SAE’s?” Way also placed 1st overall and will advance to the state contest.
Ashley Besancon competed in the advanced prepared contest. She also prepared a six-eight minute speech for the contest and answered questions on her topic, which was “Animal Testings: Notorious Controversy.” Besancon placed 1st overall as well, and will advance to the state contest.
Kierstyn Wood competed in the extemporaneous speaking contest. This contest tests members’ ability to come up with a quality speech in a 30 minute time period. Members randomly draw an agricultural topic at the contest, and then they have 30 minutes to prepare a six-eight minute speech. Wood’s topic was “Alternative Uses of Agricultural Commodities. ” Wood placed sixth out of a large field of competitors.
