FFA News

By Alysa Pringle, chapter reporter

On Saturday,May 1st, 12 members from the West Holmes FFA chapter visited the Holmes County Home for community service. Members who participated include: Natasha Averbukh, Cora Crilow, Ansen Hall, Sarah Irwin, Samantha Kendall, Leah Reining, Becca Schuch, Ashley Tate, Syrus Tish, Blaine Winkler, John Maloney, and Wyatt Schlauch. Members weeded the gardens, trimmed bushes, picked up sticks, and cleaned sidewalks. The members worked from 9am – 12pm and were thanked with pizza and drinks when they were done.… Continue reading

                  This year, the Northwestern-Wayne FFA chapter is proud to announce that there were a total of 11 members of the chapter to be recognized for their accomplishments and hard work on the state level. This is a major accomplishment that takes a great deal of effort on behalf of the members. This year, Abby Ramseyer, Cole Wharton, Jadeyn Berry, Ari Borton, Rylee Dawson, and Dugan Mclaughlin all received high levels of recognition from the State FFA organization.  The state degree is the highest honor that the Ohio FFA Organization can bestow upon a member, and is represented by a golden charm. Members who earn this degree have shown high levels of dedication and involvement in the FFA organization.
           Abby Ramseyer is the daughter of Jeff and Michelle Ramseyer and received her state degree this year. During her involvement in the FFA she has participated in numerous activities, including general livestock, floriculture, and the job interview career development events.… Continue reading

The Milton-Union MVCTC FFA Chapter hosted their Annual Ag Awareness day for the elementary school on Friday, May 21st. During the day over 600 elementary school students rotated through four educational stations including a large animal station, small animal station, tractor station, and a flower planting station. The large animal station included ponies, a goat, and a cow. The small animal station included rabbits, guineafowl, chickens, and guinea pigs. There were four different tractors. Additionally, each student got to take home a planter to grow flowers at home. Miss Kimball would like to extend a special thank you to the members who helped make the day a success!… Continue reading

The Miami East FFA Alumni Chapter recently recognized graduates of Miami East High School that had been enrolled in Agricultural Education and members of the FFA Chapter. In order to qualify for the scholarship, the applicants completed an essay on “The Benefits of Agricultural Education” and were active in the FFA Chapter for at least one year. Each recipient received a cash scholarship to be used for their further endeavors.
Adam Bensman is the son of Brian and the late Catherine Bensman. He served as a chapter officer, earned the State FFA Degree and participated in the livestock evaluation team. He shared, “I am sure that I will use all of the skills that I have learned to help me in the future. I am hoping to inspire others in a positive way.”
Sarah Blocher is the daughter of David and Susan Blocher. She has participated in poultry evaluation, earned the State FFA Degree and taught elementary children during Ag Day and Farm Safety Day.… Continue reading

The Northwestern-Wayne FFA had a very successful year with the members participation in Career Development Events. A career development event prepares members for events outside of FFA while focusing on their success. FFA members study and gain knowledge to succeed in a related career. Our Chapter participates in numerous CDE’s throughout the year.
The Northwestern FFA participated in the Milk Quality and Products Career Development Event. The members who participated were Ari Borton, Valerie Imhoff, Melanie Imhoff, Ava Stoller, and Jadeyn Berry. Due to COVID-19 this CDE was held virtually. The purpose of the Milk Quality and Products CDE is to enhance learning activities related to milk quality, federal milk marketing, attributes of milk products and substitutes for them. The contest consists of milk flavor identification and evaluation, a California Mastitis test, cheese identifitcations, a written exam and problem solving. The Milk Quality and Products Judging team placed 2nd at the state level. … Continue reading

The National FFA Organization announced that they would hold their annual in-person convention this fall in the city of Indianapolis. The event, which traditionally brings more than 65,000 attendees, will take place Oct. 27-30. 

Expected in-person events during the convention include the American FFA Degree Ceremony; Career Success Tours; competitive events; delegate business sessions; entertainment; the National FFA Expo and shopping mall; general sessions; student and teacher workshops; and the National Days of Service. 

In addition to the in-person event, the organization will also offer a virtual program, including student and teacher workshops, the virtual FFA Blue Room, National Days of Service and the streaming of general sessions.  

“We are excited to come back to the great city of Indianapolis that has been such a gracious host to us in years past,” said Mandy Hazlett, associate director of convention and events at the National FFA Organization.  “We know convention will look a bit different this year, but we are excited to offer this opportunity to our student members once again.” … Continue reading

The Milton-Union MVCTC FFA Chapter hosted their Annual Parent-Member Banquet on Saturday, May 15th. During the banquet members were recognized for their achievements throughout the year. Four members earned their Discovery Degree, 19 members earned their Greenhand Degree and seven members earned their Chapter  Degree. Emma Deeter was named Star Greenhand and Tyler Kress was named Star Chapter Farmer. Additionally, two Honorary Chapter members, Ms. Abby Kurtz and Mr. Ben Moore, were inducted. Finally, the newly elected officer team was installed as follows: President- Carter Tinnerman, Vice President- Taylor Falb, Secretary- Emmie Bohse, Treasurer- Tyler Kress, Reporter- Emma Deeter, Sentinel- Tyler Leffew, and Student Advisor- Gavin Spitler. We would like to extend a special thank you to Karen and Jack Wellbaum, Laura’s Country Diner, Wertz Hardware, Hale-Sarver Funeral Home, Kress Farms, Mary K. Miller, Hissong Family Farms Blue and John Leffew of John Construction for sponsoring our awards!… Continue reading

The Miami Trace Great Oaks FFA held its annual banquet April 23rd at the Miami Trace High School. Although parts of the banquet were altered due to Covid-19, the chapter officers and advisors were able to make it run smoothly. The chapter recognized members, advisors, parents and other community members who made positive contributions to the chapter. Many members were recognized for having numerous achievements throughout the year. The senior FFA members received over $15,000 in scholarships during the event.

Sophomore member Jacob Cline began the program by singing the national anthem, junior member Emily Moser introduced the meal and led the over 200 guests in prayer.

After the conclusion of the meal, retiring president Graham Carson welcomed everyone and was followed by junior member Kennedy Worley with the introduction of special guests. There were over 200 people in attendance and the meal was catered by The Crown Room of Washington Court House.… Continue reading

Paige Briner, senior at Edon Northwest High School, is ready to do her part in educating future citizens about where their food comes from and the importance of agriculture. Briner gathered with her parents, Kory and Jessica Briner, as well as her agricultural educator and FFA Advisor, Mrs. Hannah Everetts, to sign her letter of intent to study agricultural education at Michigan State University this Fall.

“I’ve grown up in an agricultural community and have always had a passion for agriculture,” said Paige. “The FFA is a place where everyone can find their voice, and that’s something that I want to continue to be a part of. Without a strong role model in my ag teacher, Mrs. Everetts, I don’t think that I would be going into this career.”

“Paige has always stepped up to be a leader in our FFA chapter and is a wonderful role model for younger members, so it is no surprise that she decided on agricultural education as her career path,” stated Everetts.… Continue reading

The Miami Trace FFA Chapter from Washington C.H., Ohio will send members to Indianapolis as they vie for national honors in the area of poultry evaluation. Newly Weds Foods, Inc., Tyson Foods, Inc. and U.S. Poultry & Egg Association sponsors the national event.  FFA members who will represent the chapter include Bryce Bennett, Drew Black, Jenna Goddard, and Jonah Goddard. Amanda Swigert is the coach and FFA advisor for the team. Participants in the Poultry Evaluation Career Development Event (CDE) select live meat-type chickens for broiler breeding, evaluate and place live egg-type hens, and rate the finished product by evaluating and grading ready-to-cook carcasses and parts of chickens and turkeys.  These members won the Ohio poultry evaluation CDE in late March through a virtual competition. 

The National FFA Organization provides leadership, personal growth and career success training through agricultural education to more than 700,000 student members who belong to one of the more than 8,600 local FFA chapters throughout the U.S.,… Continue reading

A One-of-a-Kind State Convention Celebration

When the 2021 Ohio FFA State Convention was moved to an online format this year members of the Zane Trace FFA Chapter looked for a creative way to commemorate the event. The traditional tours of central Ohio ag businesses, competition interviews and sessions attended by over 6,000 FFA members at the Ohio Expo Center would be on hold for another year, but a new opportunity to celebrate with other FFA chapters soon took the place of the usual trip to Columbus.

Thanks to the efforts of agriculture instructors in Holmes, Wayne, Ashland, Licking and Ross Counties the 2021 FFA Funvention was planned for April 29^th and 30^th at the Holmes County Fairgrounds and Harvest Ridge Event Center near Millersburg, Ohio. Nearly 400 members from a total of eighteen chapters, including 25 from Zane Trace, attended the event. Each day they participated in live streaming of Ohio FFA Convention sessions, in person workshops related to agriculture careers and a trade show that featured nearly 50 business and educational vendors.… Continue reading

Benjamin Logan FFA held their 50th annual banquet on April 17, 2021.  Due to COVID-19 they decided to take a little different approach and have an outdoor banquet where social distancing took place. Benjamin Logan FFA was honored to recognize their members for all of their hard work and dedication to the organization while providing a meal from Where’s There Smoke and The Flying Pepper Food Trucks. Highlights of the banquet include:

Chapter Honorary FFA Degrees

• TJ and Kae Lynn Lyden

State FFA Degrees 

• Shelbie Snoke
• Taylor Forsythe

American FFA Degrees

• Emma Wenger
• Taggert Beaty
• Peyton Derr

Top Five Fruit Sales

• Kane Gibson 1st
• Elizabeth Deardurff 2nd
• Carson Lyden 3rd
• Peyton Henry 4th
• Gage Hamm 5th

Proficiency Awards

• Emma Wenger- Specialty Crop
• Tanner Anspach- Turfgrass Management

Excellence in Agriculture Awards

• Kane Gibson- Freshman
• Kendra Kennedy- Sophomore
• Addie Buckenroth- Junior
• Bradey Ackley- Senior
• Ryland Eades and Mike Doss – Adults

Chapter Star Awards

• Carson Lyden- Star Greenhand
• Bradey Ackley- Star Chapter Farmer
• Tanner Anspach- Star in Agribusiness

Retiring Benjamin Logan FFA Officers

• Bradey Ackley- President
• Emily Roth- Vice President
• Kendra Kennedy- Secretary
• Shelbie Snoke- Treasurer 
• Ava Boysel- Reporter
• Tanner Anspach- Sentinel
• Matthew Black- Student Advisor

2021-2022 Benjamin Logan FFA Officers

• Shelbie Snoke-President
• Kendra Kennedy- Vice President
• Whitney Willoby- Secretary
• Maria Henderson- Treasurer
• Madison Buettner- Reporter
• Matthew Beikman- Sentinel
• Taylor Forsythe- Student Advisor

By: Brianne Priest , 2021-2022 Utica FFA Reporter  

Utica FFA members participated in Ohio FFA State Convention virtually on April 29^th and 30^th.  Since convention was virtual this year Mrs. Neff hosted three watch party’s in the FFA room for middle school and high school FFA members.  We celebrated the success of some of our members during  these watch party’s. We celebrated Abigail Paxton’s Gold-Rated Treasurers Book, Georgia Gamble’s Gold-Rated Reporters Book, graduate Abby Kellett receiving her state degree, and our FFA chapter was recognized for our charitable giving to the Utica Food Pantry and to Walking Wild Rescue. We also celebrated Amanda Annett, our State Winner in the Beef Production Placement proficiency award and her State Runner up in Diversified Livestock Production.  She was also recognized for being named Ohio’s America Star Placement. We cheered when our State Agriscience Fair competitors pictures went across the screen. Our students and placings were Animal Systems Division One Emily O’Hara 1^st place, Division Two Melinda Wesley and Andrew Boeshart 1^stplace, Samantha Farley and Cheyenne Smith 3^rd place, and Ayonna Good and Jayne Rauch 4^th place.… Continue reading

By: Brianne Priest, Utica FFA Reporter

The process for State FFA proficiency rewards begins in the fall.  Students being filling out or editing applications to apply for the next year’s State FFA Convention.  Amanda Annett has completed this process in 3 separate years and this year has resulted in her being the State Winner in the area of Beef Production for the Ohio FFA Association. 

FFA members who maintain quality records and have an interest in applying, can fill out the proficiency award applications.  Students apply based on what type of SAE or Supervised Agricultural Experience the students has. There are over 40 award areas in the State of Ohio. Applications are reviewed by committees of ag teachers, where the top 4 are selected based on the application score. The top 4 students then complete an interview. Since all Ohio FFA events have been virtual this year, Amanda interviewed in March via zoom. … Continue reading

Thursday and Friday, April 29 and 30 members of the Miami East-MVCTC FFA Chapter participated in the Ohio FFA Virtual State Convention. Members were recognized for various accomplishments and competed in several contests.  

Motivation speakers at the convention included the National FFA Vice President Artha Jonassaint and State FFA President Bethany Starlin. Serving as voting delegates were Isaac Beal and Adi Richter with the assistance of Luke Brunke.  

The highlight of the event was the conferring of the State FFA Degree.  This year, Miami East High School had five members receive such an honor. Seniors Erin Baker, Sarah Blocher, Carter Gilbert, Jimmy Sutherly, and Seth Wells earned the degree. The degree requirements are based on their earned income from their Supervised Agricultural Experience program, leadership experience, and FFA and community activities.

During the National Chapter Award results the chapter placed in the Top 10 in the area of Building Communities and was named a Gold Medal Chapter. … Continue reading

By: A.J. Dossman, chapter reporter

Spring has sprung! To FFA members, this is the busiest time of the year. This spring, six Career Development Event teams, and over 30 A-C FFA members competed at the state level. These six teams competed with tremendous efforts, despite the current Coronavirus Pandemic. Due to the pandemic, these teams had to compete virtually.

The teams competed are: Ag Issues Forum, Meats Evaluation, General Livestock, Dairy Cattle, Poultry, and Agronomy.

The Ag Issues Forum CDE team consisting of Hannah Saum, Morgan Cowdrey, Emily Buckley, Autumn Parry, and Karlee Parry competed at the state contest on April 24. This contest requires the team to deliver an approximate 15-minute presentation about an agricultural topic to a panel of judges, and then they must answer seven minutes of questions. The team placed second at the state competition.

The Meats Evaluation team consisting of Riley McKeska, Hannah Saum, Alex Williams, Eian McKnight, and Lily Dennis competed at the state contest April 27.… Continue reading

To schedule your campus visit go to: wilmington.edu

By Madi Kregel, OCJ field reporter

Family traditions run deep in the FFA and, for many FFA members, there once was a time where they watched an older sibling wear the blue jacket. That was the case for 2020-2021 Ohio FFA State Secretary Joe Helterbrand from Hillsboro. 

His older brother, AJ Helterbrand, was a state officer in 2011-2012. Joe was just a little boy at that time, but says that he still remembers going to watch his brother at the state convention that year. He said that first opportunity to witness the convention is what sealed his interest in FFA.

“With my parents, they said that you had to try it out for at least a year and if you didn’t like it you didn’t have to stay in it through your high school career. But I chose definitely to stay with it and to definitely get more involved through FFA,” said Joe Helterbrand.… Continue reading