BELLEVUE, Ohio — The Bellevue FFA General Livestock Judging Team recently returned to Ohio after representing the state at the Keystone International Livestock Exposition in Harrisburg, Pa.
The team took part in a Junior Livestock Judging Contest, competing against other FFA teams and 4-H teams from across the country.
Team members are Nick Erf, Lauren Hamer, Taylor Andrews, Sarah Hunker and Mitch Peacock.
Members earned the opportunity to attend the KILE by placing fifth in the Ohio state General Livestock Judging Contest last spring.
The judging contest consists of students judging market and breeding cattle, swine, sheep, and goats, as well as using genetic data to place classes, reading a market pricing grid and delivering oral reasons to a judge.
* * *
CHILLICOTHE, Ohio — Zane Trace FFA officers attended the Ohio FFA Legislative Leadership Conference at the Ohio State House Sept. 25. These members were Amber Ginter, Beau Bilek, Kevin Daubenmire, Haylee Vollmar and Kasandra Dalton. For the first half of the day, agricultural lobbyists educated attendees about the importance of their jobs in politics. Afterward, the attendees learned how they could improve lobbying skills in their everyday lives through interactive activities.
After the morning session, members met their own state representatives, and other representatives from all over Ohio. Zane Trace officers met with Gary Scherer, Ross and Pickaway representative, and David Hall, Holmes County representative, who discussed current agricultural issues going through the House.
Vollmar, Hope Gatewood, Kyle Kight, K.C. Cox, Montana Fry and Nathanael Freeman competed in the District Forestry contest in Knox County Sept. 26. The contest tested the team’s knowledge on trees, chain saws, timber cruising and navigation.
The team then traveled to the state contest which was held Oct. 5 at Hocking College in Nelsonville. The group placed 32nd in the state, and Freeman was the top individual.
Both the Paint Valley and Zane Trace FFA chapters have been working to pay their way to the FFA National Convention in Louisville, Ky., from Oct. 30 to Nov. 1.
They sold ribeye steak sandwiches and cupcakes during the football game between Zane Trace and Paint Valley. The game was held at Zane Trace and the members set up prep tables, a serving area and grills to conduct the fundraiser. Together the two chapters sold 250 ribeye sandwiches at $5 each and profited just over $600.
* * *
WEST SALEM, Ohio —Members of the Northwestern FFA Chapter heard Nathan Murphy, a firefighter from the Wooster Fire Department, talk about fire safety Oct. 14. Murphy spoke about firefighting, as well as safety precautions while dealing with fire. He also talked a little about other safety concerns on a farm, and demonstrated how to put a fire out using a fire extinguisher.
Sean LeMaster, from Fin Feather Fur, spoke about hunting and gun safety on Oct. 21.
Both of these speakers were organized by the safety committee.
