SULLIVAN, Ohio — Fifteen Black River FFA students attended the Ohio FFA State Convention May 4-6. Chapter officers Eric Cordonnier, Meghan Gallagher and Suzanne Packard received gold pins for earning a state gold rating on their officer books.
Sierra Bourdess, Madison Edwards, Joey Rochford, and Brandon Heath earned their state degrees.
The chapter also received a Gold Rating for its National Chapter Award application.
President Madison Edwards, and vice president Sierra Sturgill prepared a presentation on the chapter’s chapter development activities. The application will advance for review at the national level. The students also participated in a community service project and leadership workshop, to help pack 88,000 meals as part of the Ohio FFA Fights Hunger service project. The chapter banquet was also held in May, led by the past year’s officers: President Madison Edwards, Vice President Sierra Sturgill, Secretary Meghan Gallagher, Treasurer Eric Cordonnier, Reporter Suzanne Packard, Student Advisor Brandon Heath, Sentinel John Bricker, Chaplin Rachael Holt, and Historian Morgan Czarny.
The Black River Support Staff received the Honorary Chapter Farmer Degree. Robin Kocik, high school secretary, accepted the award for the staff. The Star Greenhand Award went to Jessica Peak, surpassing the other 33 first-year members. The Star Chapter Degree was earned by Callie Aviles, and the Star Junior was earned by Meghan Gallagher. The Dekalb Agricultural Accomplishment Award went to Senior Madison Edwards. Members participated in numerous regional and state Career Development events. In the job interview contest, Jessica Peak was second individually. In public speaking, Jessica Peak earned seventh in Advanced Creed.
The chapter’s top three fruit salesmen were Callee Aviles, with $1,094 sold, Eric Cordonnier, and Collin Burnett. The new chapter president is Sierra Sturgill; vice president, Eric Cordonnier; secretary, Callee Aviles; treasurer, Hannah Moskal; reporter, Scott Jeffery; student adviser, Scott Jeffery; and sentinel, John Bricker.
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MARION, Ohio — The Tri-Rivers FFA Ag and Industrial Power (AIP) students restored a 1964 John Deere 4010 as an anniversary gift for FFA Adviser Carrie Heimlich’s, husband, Nick Heimlich. The John Deere, once owned by Nick’s grandfather, had been used on the family farm in Cardington, Ohio, for many years. Carrie Heimlich presented the project to the AIP class, which started work in September 2015 and completed the project in May 2016.
The team power washed the tractor twice, replaced the bushings in the seat, repaired the hood and some of the sheet metal, repaired hydraulic and electrical problems, and disassembled many of the parts to assure they were all working correctly. Restoring the tractor is not the only project they have succeeded in this year. They have also fabricated and repaired livestock equipment, repaired customer’s mowers and other lawn equipment, as well as worked on student and school wide tasks. Many staff and students as well as family were in attendance for the big surprise reveal.
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COLLINS, Ohio — The Western Reserve FFA Chapter held its annual awards banquet at the school campus to celebrate student achievements.
Key award winners included: Honorary Chapter Degree: Libby French; The 110% Award: Micayla Fincham; Star Awards: Micayla Fincham, star third/fourth year member; Milly Dalton, star second-year member; Rebecca Krisha, Star Greenhand Award. Outstanding members: Boen Dalton, third/fourth year member; Jenna King, second-year member; and Preston Watson, Greenhand. Blue & Gold Members: Austin Yaworsky, third/fourth year member; Elliot Courtney, second-year member; and Amanda Yaworsky, Greenhand.
FFA Alumni Scholarship: Jacob Stewart. Camp Scholarships: Rebecca Krisha and Preston Watson. Top salesman in fall cheese and fruit: Ryan Miller. The chapter sold over $17,500 in cheese and fruit. Top strawberry salesmen: Micayla Fincham, selling 103 flats. The chapter sold 367 flats of strawberries in the spring fundraiser.
State FFA Degrees in 2015: Zane Liles, Dillon Sauler, Boen Dalton, Daisha Simon, and Aaron Fashing. 2015 American Degree: Bret Herbkersman. Outstanding Supervised Agricultural Experience: in the area of agricultural sales, Lucas Blankenship; beef production, Kaitlyn Spettle; diversified agricultural production, Boen Dalton; diversified livestock production, Rebecca Krisha; equine science, Amanda Yaworsky; food science technology, Jared Yassanye; forage production, Boen Dalton; outdoor recreation, Preston Watson; poultry production, Lucas Blankenship; small animal production and care, Kalie Kidd; sheep production, Kaitlyn Spettle; swine production, Lucas Blankenship; and in goat production, Boen Dalton.
The 2016-2017 officer team includes: president, Micayla Fincham; vice president, Rebessa Krisha; secretary, Amanda Yaworsky; treasurer, Preston Watson; reporter, Brooklyn Hiesser; and EHOVE representative, Jenna King.
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MILLERSBURG, Ohio — The West Holmes FFA dairy team competed in state dairy judging finals, April 30, in Columbus. The team placed fourth overall and won a trip to the Eastern States Exposition in Springfield, Massachusetts next fall. Team members included: William Hughes, placing ninth individually; Regina Miller, placing 12th; Logan Schlauch, 24th; and John Hughes, 38th. West Holmes FFA members traveled to the Ohio FFA convention, May 5 and 6, to receive honors and hear from session speakers. Members toured the Anthony and Thomas candy factory and visited Skyzone in between sessions of the convention.
William Hughes was recognized as a State Star Farmer finalist and Lyndsey Davis was recognized for her gold rated treasurer’s book. Proficiency award winners included: Gabe Armstrong, first in forage production; Elise Neville, first in nursery operations; Michael Klein, first in grain placement; Justin Lorentz, second in diversified horticulture; Jillian Gurley, second in small animal; Jason Jenkins, third in turfgrass placement; William Hughes, third in dairy production; and Carter Smith fourth in beef production.
State degrees winners were: Erik Hanna, Becca Vales, Chris VanSickle, Michael Klein, Hannah Schlegel and Regina Miller. Sixteen members from the West Holmes FFA chapter visited the Holmes County Home for community service, May 14. Members weeded garden beds, trimmed bushes and trees, and mulched the gardens.
