FFA News

On Tuesday, April 27, the Miami East-MVCTC FFA Chapter Meats Evaluation Team competed in the Ohio FFA State Virtual Career Development Event. Team members were Emma Sutherly, Dottie Everett, Braden Zekas, Samuel Sutherly, Isaac Beal, Jillian Niswonger and Thomas Wallace. The team placed 6 out of 43 teams. The highest placing individual from Miami East was Emma Sutherly who placed 18 out of 205 individuals.
During the event, contestants were asked to quality and yield grade beef carcasses, place and answer questions on carcasses, wholesale and retail cuts, and identify various retail cuts. Additionally, contestants completed a knowledge test and meat formulation solution challenge.

Previously, the team had competed in several virtual meats competitions.  At the Champaign County Invitational where they were fourth and Emma Sutherly was the highest placing individual from Miami East. During the Ohio State Buckeye Invitational the team placed fifth. The highest placing individual from Miami East was Braden Zekas. … Continue reading

The Milton-Union MVCTC FFA Chapter recently held their 2021-2022 Officer elections at their April chapter meeting. Congratulations to the newly elected Officer team! President-Carter Tinnerman, Vice President– Taylor Falb, Secretary– Emmie Bohse, Treasurer– Tyler Kress, Reporter– Emma Deeter, Sentinel– Tyler Leffew, and Student Advisor– Gavin Spitler. They will be installed during the chapter’s Annual Parent-Member Banquet next month.… Continue reading

Students from the Miami East-MVCTC FFA Chapter had the tables turned for a day when they became teachers at Miami East Elementary School on Monday, April 13.  24 second-year students enrolled in Plant and Animal Sciences were trained in Project WILD earlier in April and then prepared 20 minute lessons to educate second and third graders about wildlife and wildlife habitats.  
The goal of Project WILD is to assist learners of any age in developing the awareness, knowledge, skills, and commitment to result in informed decisions, responsible behavior, and constructive actions concerning wildlife and the environment upon which all life depends. Ms. Linda Raterman of the Miami County Soil and Water Conservation District was responsible for the training and lesson development the FFA members went through.… Continue reading

Briana Fetters, a senior member of the Zane Trace FFA Chapter, was recently named the recipient of a $1,000 scholarship sponsored by the Ohio FFA Foundation and the Ohio Horseman’s Benevolent and Protective Association. This scholarship program began in 2016 as a partnership between the Ohio FFA and Ohio’s Thoroughbred owners and trainers. Each year 24 FFA members from around the state are selected for the scholarship based on responses to essay questions about how FFA has shaped their lives and the impact the scholarship will have on their future. Briana plans to pursue a pre-veterinary Biology program at Capital University with a future goal of obtaining at Doctor of Veterinary Medicine Degree from Ohio State University.… Continue reading

The Miami East-MVCTC FFA Chapter recently held its 62nd Annual Parent-Member Awards Program.  During the event social distancing and face coverings were worn.  Highlights of the evening were:
– Mr. Bill Mote presented a gift to the Miami East FFA Chapter on behalf of the Doris McMillan Trust. The funds will be used for local scholarships and various FFA programs.

– Career Development Event Teams were recognized for their participation. In the 2020-21 school year the FFA members competed in over 200 competitions for an average of 2.5 events per member. The teams placing in the Top 5 were Food Science and Technology, Agricultural Biotechnology, and Grain Merchandising. 

– Michael Bair was recognized as being a 2020 National FFA Proficiency Winner in the area of Poultry Production.… Continue reading

The Miami East-MVCTC FFA Chapter recently donated trees to every fourth grader in the Miami East Local School District. This was a special project of the FFA’s Environmental Committee. Members of the Environmental Committee are Martin Desautels, Abigail Kadel, Devin Nix, Logan Phillips, and Kyle Vernon. The trees were distributed in the classrooms of Mrs. Kathryn Irick, Miss Anna Lauterbach, Mr. Matt Roth, and Mrs. Laura Weddle.

In an effort to help repopulate Ohio with trees, each student was given one pine tree in the hopes that they would plant it.  FFA members realize that farmers and ranchers provide food and habitat for 75 percent of the nation’s wildlife.  Not only will the trees provide cover for wildlife in the area, they will also produce quality oxygen.

All students were challenged to plant their tree in celebration of Earthy Day.… Continue reading

Jake Zajkowski, Anthony Wayne High School senior, was recently recognized at the Northwest Ohio Science & Engineering Fair. Jake placed 1st overall in the fair, and will advance to the International Science & Engineering Fair to be held in May. Jake has studied hydroponic lettuce in the high school agriculture greenhouse for the past three years. This year, Jake conducted research on increasing Vitamin B12 in hydroponic lettuce.

This intensive research included genetic modification and plant tissue culture, along with raising over 400 lettuce plants with a hydroponic system. Jake presented his findings through a video format, and was judged against students from across Northwest Ohio. He will now prepare to present his findings to judges at the international level. When asked about the experience, Jake said, “It was a great experience to interact with other researchers and judges that allowed me to share my passion for agriculture sustainability.”… Continue reading

The April 2021 Miami East-MVCTC FFA Member of the Month is Leann Vernon. She is a senior and fourth year member of the Miami East-MVCTC FFA Chapter. Her parents are Doug Vernon and Brenda Vernon.

Leann recently competed in the State FFA Virtual Poultry Evaluation Career Development Event where she led the team and placed 17th out of 282 individuals. She has also competed in the State FFA Grain Merchandising and State Food Science and Technology competitions this school year. Her Supervised Agricultural Experience Program consists of raising and marketing fall chrysanthemums. 

Every month of the school year the Miami East-MVCTC FFA will select a student to be the FFA Member of the Month.  The officer team will nominate one member that has been actively involved in the FFA chapter, school and community activities.  If selected, the member will be recognized at the monthly FFA meeting, have their picture displayed in the Miami East Ag Room, and will receive a special accolade in celebration of their accomplishment.… Continue reading

The Miami East-MVCTC FFA Chapter members recently competed in the Ohio FFA State Spring Virtual Career Development Events. These teams have been practicing for several months and participated in invitational competitions and practices as much as possible.

The Dairy Cattle Evaluation team placed 28th in the state out of 91 teams. The team consisted of Jayden Gates, Carter Gilbert, Ethin Bendickson, Braden Zekas, Elizabeth Bair, Makayla Brittain, Michael Bair, Jillian Niswonger, and Keyara Davis. The highest placing individual from Miami East was Jayden Gates who placed 87 out of almost 500 individuals. The team took a test, completed a pedigree and sire selection exercise and evaluated classes of dairy. 

Kendal Staley and Sara Rush competed in the State Equine Management Career Development Event. The team placed 92nd. The team took an online test and identified horse equipment and feedstuffs. They placed classes of equine and answered questions on the classes. 

The Poultry Evaluation team consisted of Sarah Blocher, Ashlee Deaton, Makayah Musselman, Rylee Puthoff, Leann Vernon, and Braden Zekas.… Continue reading

Laine Abbott has always loved to play his guitar. Last year he started bringing his instrument to school to play for friends as they enjoyed lunch in the Ag classroom at Zane Trace. Some of them suggested that Laine should submit an audition video for the 2020 Ohio FFA Convention. They thought he might just have a chance to be selected as one of the talent acts to take the stage during the annual gathering of over 7,000 FFA members at the Ohio Expo Center. Unfortunately, like many other events in the spring of 2020, the Ohio FFA Convention was cancelled and along with it Laine’s opportunity to audition.

Fast forward to February 2021, when Laine learns that the Ohio FFA will be including a limited number of talent acts, four total, for their upcoming hybrid State Convention.… Continue reading

The Zane Trace FFA Chapter was recently given a Gold Rating and named one of the top 10 chapters in the state of Ohio through the National Chapter Award Program.  The National Chapter Award program recognizes FFA members and their chapters for the activities they plan and conduct throughout the year. Chapters submit an application outlining fifteen different activities they conduct that emphasize the areas of growing leaders, building communities and strengthening agriculture. The senior members of the chapter worked throughout the months of February and March to complete the application, which included detailed descriptions of activities such as the elementary Maple syrup lessons, the Sausage Breakfast, ZT courtyard construction, canning for a cause project, RCHS dog adoption day, Pioneer Pantry and more.… Continue reading

By Chloe Shumaker, chapter reporter

The West Holmes FFA chapter competed in the District 2 and State Evaluations conducted virtually by the Ohio FFA held. Nearly 30 members filled out applications to receive their State Degrees, American Degrees and submitted Proficiency Applications. These students have dedicated their time to their books and SAE’s. 

The chapter Secretary, Reporter, and Treasurer submitted their officer books to be evaluated. Secretary book submitted by Cora Crilow received a gold rating. Treasurer’s book submitted by Becca Schuch received a gold rating. Reporters book submitted by Chloe Shumaker received a gold rating. They will all be recognized at the 2021 Ohio FFA State Convention in April.

Senior Clay Shepler, Juniors Cora Crilow, Ethan Feikert, Chloe Shumaker, and Emma Stizlein were approved for their state degree. In order to receive a State Degree, there are many qualifications that members have to meet. First, you have to have been in ag class for at least two years, have earned or invested $3,000 in your SAE, carry a 3.0 GPA or 93% attendance, completed 25 hours of community service, participate in 2 Career Development Events, and participate in at least 8 other school and FFA activities.… Continue reading

By Chloe Shumaker, chapter reporter

On March 2nd, 19 members took the Greenhand quiz. This quiz is about the history of the FFA and the FFA creed. The team placed 20th out of 150 teams. Individually, Ashley Tate was 16th, Laina Croskey was 30th, Logan Vansickle was 183rd, Maison Carter was 400th, Wyatt Schlauch was 423rd, Olivia Gerber was 547th, Natalie Rohr was 616th, Grant Miller was 630th, Liberty Hendrix was 703rd, Derek Miller was 713th, Maren Drzazga was 737th, Wyatt Myers was 939th, Taelor Patterson was 985th, John Maloney was 1080th, Zoee Snow was 1100th, Jimmy Lesiak was 1355th, Isabella Starner was 1395th, Torrie Savage was 1524th, and Blake Mathew was 1824th. 

14 members took the Farm Business Management quiz. The team placed 26th out of 82 teams.  Individually, Maria Steiner was 38th, Dakotah Ringwalt was 191st, Becca Schuch was 210th, Garrett Houin was 213th, Sarah Irwin was 275th, Natasha Averbuhk was 296th, Jess Miller was 351st, Ally Ogi was 434th, Ethan Feikert was 456th, Sami Kendall was 548th, Alysa Pringle was 558th, Olivia Sampsuel was 567th, Kadan McDougale was 622nd, and Pacee Miller was 673rd. … Continue reading

Norwayne FFA had three proficiency candidates make the top four in their prospective agricultural fields this year. The three participants were Halle Miller, Caitlyn DeMassimo, and Ellyssa Simmons. These members have had active Supervised Agricultural Experiences (SAEs) since their first day in our program, and, now that they are seniors, have the opportunity to compete at the state level in their categories.

Caitlyn DeMassimo’s proficiency is entered in Equine Entrepreneurship. For her SAE Caitlyn, gives horseback riding lessons to people of all ages. She runs her own business by managing the scheduling of her clients, creating the cost for her lessons, and instructing the students during the lessons herself.  In 2019, Caitlyn earned 3rd place in the state for her proficiency, and in 2020 she earned 2nd. 

Ellyssa Simmons competes in the proficiency area of Agricultural Sales Placement.… Continue reading

By Kyla Stockdale, chapter reporter

Since the beginning of school our officers have been working so that they could achieve gold ratings for their officer books. At River Valley we have been known to have gold rated books and we wanted to keep that tradition going. They worked for months on adding, organizing, perfecting, and going through them time and time again to make sure they had everything that they needed for them and meeting all of the requirements. Once it came to the end of February and time was up we had to turn them in for state evaluation. We were all nervous as we waited for quite some time to hear back the results and once they came back we were all elated that we were able to keep the school’s tradition going with all three of our books getting gold ratings.… Continue reading

By Libby Carpenter, Chapter Reporter

The Environmental Committee of the Miami East-MVCTC FFA Chapter recently sponsored a Recycling, Reducing, and Reusing contest at Miami East Elementary. 

Members of the Environmental Committee visited each classroom and shared facts about the importance of recycling, reducing, and reusing materials. They then challenged the students in third grade to color and decorate an environmental-themed picture.  FFA members evaluated the pictures and awarded first place to one student in each homeroom. The results are as follows:

Mrs. Megan Noll – Lauren Landis
Miss Stephanie Blackton – Bronson Palivec
Mrs. Katie Mason – Jackson Gray
Mrs. Elizabeth Fields – Addison Webb

Each student participating received a prize complements of the Miami East-MVCTC FFA Chapter and Culver’s.  The first place picture in each homeroom was awarded a special prize of an FFA cup.  Congratulations to the winners!

Members of the Environmental Committee involved in the project were Martin Desautels, Abigail Kadel, Devin Nix, Logan Phillips, and Kyle Vernon.… Continue reading

By Meredith Oglesby, OCJ FFA reporter 

When FFA members reflect on their time in the organization, memories of the blue corduroy jacket, friendships and endless opportunities rush to mind. Now, students at Allen East High School have the chance to grow, learn and become leaders through the new Allen East FFA Chapter. 

The chapter, which was started in the fall of 2020, currently has 85 FFA members. Chapter members have already been participating in service activities, the FFA fruit sale, FFA week and virtual career development events (CDEs). 

“The most exciting part of our new chapter is all of the new experiences that are happening,” said Grace Studor, an Allen East FFA member.  

The FFA organization is not entirely new to the Harrod area. Students in the 1960s were a part of the Harrod and Lafayette FFA Chapters. Harrod and Lafayette High Schools later consolidated in 1965 to form Allen East High School, during which the two FFA chapters disbanded. … Continue reading

Halle Miller took second place in the Ohio FFA Advanced Prepared Public Speaking competition, March 7. Her speech, Passing on the American Dream, was about the importance of succession planning. She made points on how it is important for families to make succession plans before the transition of the farm to the next generation actually starts.… Continue reading

Recently three members of the ZT FFA 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 late April.… Continue reading

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 US and around the world. To help make their impact more tangible, members assembled fifteen 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.… Continue reading