Hey Ohio FFA Members!

The Ohio Ag Net & Ohio’s Country Journal is looking for three Ohio FFA members to help serve as student reporters at the 2013 Ohio FFA Convention. You’ll get the opportunity to help cover the convention and work alongside our news staff that includes Matt Reese, Heather Hetterick, Dale Minyo and Ty Higgins. Ever wonder what its like to do our job? Here’s your chance!

The live coverage of the Ohio FFA Convention will be posted on www.ocj.com.

Student Reporters will:

• Assist in gathering award winner information
• Shoot video of newsworthy items and people
• At the end of each session share your commentary of what happened in each session in a video to recap the session.

To be considered:

• You must be attending both the State FFA Convention May 3rd and 4th.
• Submit no more than a 2 minute video sharing your qualifications and why you should be selected.

Dave Snyder of Ashland was appointed as the National FFA Superintendent of the Milk Quality and Products career development event effective in 2013.  The first official responsibility of this position was to attend the National CDE Superintendent Meeting in  Louisville, Kentucky.  There are 27 Career Development Events held at the National level each year hosting contestants of teams from all state in the United States.

Snyder served as interim superintendent for the year in 2012.  It is  the responsibility of the superintendent to attend the January superintendent meeting, and conduct the summer organizational meeting for that particular committee in charge of the Milk Quality and Products CDE. Here the decisions are made concerning organization, preparation, implementation, and revisions of the contest so that the contest can be conducted at the National FFA Convention each year. The 2012 national contest was held in Indianapolis, IN and will be moved to Louisville, KY in 2013.… Continue reading

By: Mohawk FFA Reporter, Emily Daniel

Nine FFA members of the Mohawk FFA Chapter received their Chapter Degrees on January 14, at Mohawk School.  The recipients were Meghan Chaffee,  Austin Morter, Austin Harris, Aaron Vasquez-Miller, Bri Thiery, Kelsea Fleming, Kevin Lonsway, Morgan Sniffen, and Caitlin Huffman.  The meal was catered by Special Occasions. Other FFA members that attended the ceremony were Kayla Draper who gave the introduction, Emily Daniel who led the invocation, Jarred Shellhouse who was the President for the ceremony and Deon Morter who did the closing comments.  The speaker for the evening was Gary Klopfenstein, the District 4 FFA President.  Congratulations to those who received their chapter degree!

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The February 2013 Miami East FFA Member of the Month is Andrew Kowalak. Andrew is the son of Mark and Gretchen Kowalak of Troy.

Andrew was chosen because of his recent involvement in various FFA activities. In February Andrew will be participating in the first-ever Ohio Youth Capitol Challenge with youth involved in 4-H, FFA, and Farm Bureau. Andrew will be attending the conference to become a prepared and active citizen within his community.

Additionally, Andrew is applying for a District Proficiency in the area of Forestry Management and Products. Andrew owns and operates Logo Logs in which he carves logos into forest products and sells them via social media outlets. In two years of business he has sold over 70 Logo Logs.

Every month of the school year the Miami East FFA will select a student to be the FFA Member of the Month.  The officer team will nominate one student that has been actively involved in the FFA chapter, school and community activities. … Continue reading

by: Audrey Ivers, Reporter

The West Holmes FFA had their freshmen compete in the Online Greenhand Quiz on January 24^th. The team placed 49^th out of 122 teams and 1,649 participates. Individually, Lyndsey Davis placed 199^th, Jason Jenkins placed 282^nd, Matt Gardner placed 375^th, Jillian Gurley placed 455^th, Carter Smith placed 502^nd, Justin Lorentz placed 567^th, Tory Eggers placed 594^th, Riley Brannon placed 615^th, Katlyn Hamner placed 640^nd, Gabe Armstrong placed 654^th, Dylan Harsh placed 668^th, Paige Miller placed 736^th, Moose Workman placed 799^th, Cole Woods placed 873^rd, Coven Mullet placed 888^th, Tyler Grassbaugh was 890^th, Racheal Yerian placed 910^th, Ariel Bickel placed 918^th, Ethan Fair placed 922^nd, Tanner Walker placed 963^rd, Mystique Martin placed 1013^th, Hannah Schlegel placed 1030^th, Michael Parker placed 1037^th, William Hughes placed 1041^st, Sierra Wengerd placed 1066^th, Patrick Schlabach placed 1118^th, Alex Miller placed 1317^th, Devon Little placed 1333^rd, Stasia Callahan placed 1356^th, Kristina Metcalf placed 1412^th, Brooke Underwood placed 1426^th, Bethany Underwood placed 1447^th, Sammy McClain placed 1524^th, Brandy Haddock placed 1599^th, and Jeared Miller placed 1616^th.… Continue reading

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Wednesday, January 23, a group of FFA members visited the Bellevue Middle School in order to inform and excite 8^th grade students about Bellevue Ag Ed classes and the FFA.

Organized by the Professional Development and Leadership classes, the recruitment event included a slideshow presentation highlighting this year’s FFA activities, an informational segment on the courses offered, and small group activities which included a question and answer session  where 8^th graders could clear up any questions that they may have about the Ag program or FFA.

One of the students’ goals for the event was clear up any misconceptions about who an Ag student can be, and to impress upon potential members that learning to farm is not the focus of the courses offered or the FFA. Since 1988, what was known as the “Future Farmers of America” has changed to be officially titled The National FFA Organization, to reflect the fact that the majority of members are no longer involved in production agriculture.… Continue reading

As an extension of its sponsorship with the National FFA Foundation, Tractor Supply Company has recently announced a new scholarship program to assist FFA members in their pursuit of a college degree.

The Growing Scholars program will be supported nationally by each of the more than 1,150 Tractor Supply stores Feb. 15-24, which includes National FFA Week. Tractor Supply customers can donate $1 at store registers during the checkout process to support local FFA chapters and their members. Ninety percent of funds raised through Tractor Supply’s Growing Scholars program will be utilized to fund scholarships for FFA members. The remaining 10 percent of donations will benefit state FFA organizations.

“This program will provide critical funding to FFA members who intend to pursue a college degree and local FFA chapters that enrich the lives of young members by teaching life skills, citizenship and leadership qualities,” said Tractor Supply President and CEO Greg Sandfort.… Continue reading

Madison Plains FFA is representing the Howard G. Buffett foundation to educate the community on hunger issues locally and globally through the program Invest 2 Fight Hunger.

At the dinner FFA members will present attendees with information about hunger in the Madison Plains school district, Madison County, Ohio, nationally, and globally.  Members will also inform attendees of opportunities with local Feeding America Food Banks and Archer Daniels Midland (ADM) grain elevators.  Representatives from ADM and FAFB will also be attending to answer questions.

INVEST 2 FIGHT HUNGER BENEFIT DINNER

WHEN:           Thursday, February 21^st @ 6:30PM

WHERE:         Gwynne Conservation Cabin located at Farm Science Review

640 Arbuckle Road

London, OH 43140

DINNER:        Free Will Donation (all proceeds benefit the Feeding America Food Bank)

Following the presentation, dinner will be served and attendees will have

the opportunity to speak with ADM and Feeding America Food Bank Representatives.

RSVP by February 14^th

RSVP by phone, email, or mail

Checks can be made payable to: Madison Plains FFA

Mrs.… Continue reading

Columbus, OH – Jack Mason of Anthony Wayne was named the Ohio FFA Alumni Association Outstanding Member.

Jack Mason of the Anthony Wayne FFA Alumni Affiliate was awarded a clock trophy for being named the Outstanding Member of the Ohio FFA Alumni Association during the 41^st Ohio FFA Alumni Convention held in Columbus, Ohio on Jan. 26, 2013.   The FFA Alumni Association is an organization that supports and serves agricultural education programs and the FFA in Ohio and across the nation.

Jack has been an active alumni member for12 years.  He has attended and chaperoned many state & national FFA conventions.   He has worked many hours at the alumni shopping mall, golf outing and attended state alumni meetings and has served as a national delegate for 4 years.  He has coached numerous CDE areas and has served as a judge at local, district and state contests.  Jack has been on state council serving as Vice President and President.

Submitted by Hannah Robinson, Reporter

Community service projects are a big part of the Amanda-Clearcreek FFA’s annual activities. In addition to the Holiday Food Drive discussed below, the chapter regularly helps with the Pelotonia and conducts multiple Adopt-A-Highway clean-ups.

The Amanda-Clearcreek FFA Chapter helped gather more than 1900 pounds of food from Stoutsville and Amanda. Each year, the FFA chapter goes to the houses in Amanda, putting bags on the doorsteps asking community members to fill the bags with non-perishable food items if they are able to. The items that were collected were used to put together holiday food baskets for the needy families in the community. After the school day, FFA members then traveled to Stoutsville to repeat the process. The FFA members then pick a day to go around Amanda and Stoutsville to collect all of the bags that were filled. The chapter also sent home bags with all of the FFA members asking their families, if they did not live in the villages, to donate food items.… Continue reading

Recently the Miami East FFA Agricultural Communications team competed in the District 5 competition. The team consisted of Kendra Beckman, Corrine Melvin, and Rebekah Eidemiller. The team placed 2nd out of 6 teams. Corrine Melvin placed first in the entire contest. Kendra Beckman placed third in the entire contest. Both girls receive a plaque sponsored by the District 5 FFA Chapters.

During the contest the team presented a media plan on a Farmer’s Market. They also took an online general knowledge test on agricultural communications and an editing quiz on their knowledge of Associated Press style writing.

The team now advances to state competition in February where they will demonstrate their knowledge of agricultural communication.

The Miami East Agricultural Education program is a satellite program of the Miami Valley Career Technology Center. Respectfully submitted, Rebekah Eidemiller, Reporter

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Ft. Recovery, OH – The Ft. Recovery FFA Chapter recently held a canned food drive with the entire high school student body and staff called the “Canning Hunger Campaign.”  Classes competed to see who could bring in the most cans.  A total of 2,450 canned good and non-perishable items where collected.  Congratulations to Mr. Evers’s class for winning the competition by collecting 50 cans per person. The food was delivered to local food banks to help needy families in the Mercer County area.  The Ft. Recovery FFA Chapter would like to thank entire high school student body, the staff, and the sophomore FFA members for coordinating this great activity.

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On January 14, 2013, the Benjamin Logan FFA had an “ag tour.” The tour consisted of going to Henry Dairy Farm and Marmon Valley Farm. At the Henry Dairy Farm, Jerrod Henry (a partner with his father) and Rick Crumm (Dairy Herdsman) talked about how much time, effort, and hard work it takes to run a dairy farm. Members got to see the milking parlor, equipment room, cow barn, and calf barn. At Marmon Valley Farm, Matt Wiley and his son Josh showed members around the farm.

They shared history with the members about their farm. They showed every area of the farm and explained how it was used to be not only a productive farm, but to share the farm to the public. FFA Members would like to thank these two very supportive farms. Following the tour FFA members had a sausage feast cooked by FFA moms.… Continue reading

By Jessica Shanahan

At the 212 and 360 leadership conferences this weekend, 388 Ohio FFA members gathered develop their leadership skills. Those in attendance collaborated with other students from across the state as they worked to enhance their leadership abilities.

High school juniors and seniors attended the 360 Conference where they attempted to “seize the day” and develop themselves as a complete leader, just as 360 degrees makes a complete circle. They also worked to develop a vision for their chapter that they can take home and put into action.

“If you work as a team and everybody puts thought into what the group is doing, you will accomplish a lot more,” said Cole Hefner, 18, of the Spencerville FFA chapter.

Students learn from the presentations, but they also have the opportunity to learn from each other.

“You get to meet a lot of people that are interested in hobbies or professions that you are interested in,” Hefner said.… Continue reading

CASSTOWN, OH – The Agricultural Promotions Committee of the Miami East FFA Chapter recently sponsored a coloring contest at Miami East Elementary. Students in first grade were given a farm picture to color. FFA members evaluated the pictures and awarded first place to each homeroom. The results are as follows:

Mrs. Rhea Kirk – Abigail Kadel
Mrs. Carmen Richters – Kynlee Patton
Mrs. Mary Simmons – Jadyn Bair
Mrs. Ashley Demmitt – Brooklyn Taylor

Each student participating received a pencil, agricultural color pad, and candy. The first place picture in each homeroom was awarded a collectable FFA bear. This contest is an annual event. Congratulations to the winners!

Respectfully submitted by Rebekah Eidemiller, Chapter Reporter… Continue reading

Genoa FFA submits “I Can Be Your Farmer.”… Continue reading

Oak Harbor High School/Penta Career Center offers up their video What, What What.… Continue reading

On January 15^th, the West Holmes FFA sent members to compete at the State Nursery Landscaping contest in Columbus, Ohio. During the contest, members are required to read blue prints, identify annual, deciduous, and evergreen plants, read labels, and take a general knowledge test on the horticulture and landscaping industry.

The team placed 19^th, out of 34 teams. Individually Logan Brannon placed 31^st, Clay Armstrong placed 84^th, Grayson Miller placed 102^nd, Audrey Ivers placed 115^th, and Dylan Arnold-Harsh placed 168^th. Congratulations on a job well done to the Nursery Landscaping team.

The Ohio Nursery Landscape Association sponsors this contest.

 … Continue reading

Ripley Union Lewis Huntington High Schools FFA shares “Something About Ag.”… Continue reading