CHILLICOTHE, Ohio — Zane Trace FFA members sold over 500 flats of Florida strawberries in the month of February to raise funds for CROP/CWS Charity. This charity supports disaster relief, sustainable farming education and humanitarian projects in the U.S. and around the world.
Members assembled 15 Clean-Up Buckets full of supplies such as sponges, detergent, towels, gloves, soap and trash bags to donate to CROP. These buckets will be distributed to families affected by the recent Red River flood in Kentucky.
Recently, three members of the chapter’s officer team submitted their books for evaluation at the state level, and all three received gold ratings, which is the highest rating members can achieve.
The officers were secretary Taylor Brown, treasurer Alayna Butler and reporter Braylee Burkitt. Each of these officers will be awarded a gold pin and recognized during the upcoming Ohio Virtual State Convention in April.
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OBERLIN, Ohio — Firelands FFA partnered with the non-profit group Central American Medical Outreach to create care buckets for people in Honduras.
This past year, Hondurans have suffered from not only COVID-19, but also two category four hurricanes. Three and a half million people were affected by Hurricanes Eta and Iota; over 130,000 are still living in shelters. Nearly two-thirds of the citizens of the country will fall into extreme poverty this year without intervention. A great number of families lost their homes and belongings.
COVID-19 continues to rage through the Honduran community, and conditions are made worse by people packed in shelters.
Central American Medical Outreach will be providing temporary shelter homes to assist in getting people of out shelters until homes can be rebuilt. Firelands FFA partnered with the outreach to create Buckets of Care filled with supplies for families moving into temporary shelter homes. Each lidded bucket includes two sheets, two large bath towels, a comb and brush, set of four plastic cups, four plastic plates and a spatula, along with a frying pan.
With a great deal of support, the chapter was able to make 55 complete buckets and start an additional 28 buckets that will be completed by the outreach. If you have questions or know of another organization that would like to participate in this cause, contact Shanna Finnegan at sfinnegan@firelandsschools.org or outreach representative and Firelands alumna Mary Sayler at marys@camo.org.
The chapter celebrated National FFA Week a few weeks later this year, March 15-19. The week included events like Red Vs. Green Day, Driver Safety Day, FFA Apparel Day and Staff Appreciation, Truck Meet and America Day and Drive Your Tractor to School Day.
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CRESTON, Ohio — Halle Miller, of Norwayne FFA, placed second at the Ohio FFA Advanced Prepared Public Speaking competition March 7. Her speech, Passing on the American dream, was about succession planning.
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WEST SALEM, Ohio — The Northwestern FFA Agriculture Sales team competed in the state competition March 13. The career development event was held virtually this year through Zoom.
The members that competed were Ava Stoller, Desi Smith, Jadeyn Berry and Dugan Mclaughlin. The members had to conduct a formal sales call selling this year’s product of livestock gates used in cattle production. Members also compete in a team activity where they work together to develop the pre-call plan and identify potential questions the customer may have.
The team placed second in the state. Berry placed 10th, Mclaughlin placed 12th, Smith placed 16th and Stoller placed 24th.
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SULLIVAN, Ohio — The Black River FFA chapter officers and State and American Degree and Proficiency applicants have spent the better part of January finalizing their officer books and degree applications for the regional evaluation.
The Treasurer’s Book, submitted by senior treasurer Chloee Howard and junior treasurer John Kray; the Reporter’s Book, submitted by senior reporter Madison Bias and junior reporter Summer Sooy; and the Secretary’s Book, submitted by senior secretary Abigail Groesser and junior secretary Ridge Martin, all received perfect scores and gold ratings.
This year, the chapter also had four members, Hope Diaz, Kiersten Hendershot, Chloee Howard and Rebecca Stroud, apply for their Ohio FFA State Degree. In addition, graduates Eric Cordonnier and Anna Shearer applied for their FFA American Degrees. Their applications all met the requirements and will advance to the state evaluation for final approval.
The State Degree is the highest individual award a student can earn at Ohio FFA’s state level. The American Degree is the highest individual award bestowed upon a student at the national level.
Molly Cordonnier applied for a Proficiency award. Cordonnier’s Supervised Agricultural Experience is based on her entrepreneurship project in Goat Production, where she raises and breeds Boer and Nubian show goats. Her application has also qualified to move onto the state evaluation.
