FFA News

By Jessica Millenbaugh, chapter reporter

On Friday May 18th, seventy second graders from Colonel Crawford traveled to the high school to learn about farm animals, tractors, plants, and many more aspects of agriculture.  Each of the kids we’re asked to bring a canned food item that was given to the Bucyrus Salvation army. The group collected 85 cans of food that was donated.

Second graders visited 12 stations that educated them about farm life. Among the stations were: pigs, sheep, horses, poultry, goats, dairy, steers, tractor safety, plants, and woodworking.  At these stations students learned about quality assurance, breeds, show practices, what food and by products come from each animal, and general care for the animals.

While at the horse station, they each took a ride down the driveway which was a highlight for most.  At the tractors they learned safety, parts, the use of the electronic GPS equipment, and what tractors are used for. … Continue reading

On May 14, 2012 The Benjamin Logan FFA had a leadership meeting. This meeting was based on the Creed “I Believe.” The newly elected chapter officers did different games and activities. The officers asked each member to bring in canned food items, if they brought in any cans they were put in a drawing to pie an officer in the face. Following all the activities all eleven officers where pied in the face.

On May 19, 2012 the 2012-2013 Benjamin Logan FFA officer team had an officer outing. The outing consisted of hiking at John Bryant St. Park and Clifton Gorge. After the beautiful hike officers went to Clifton Mill where they had lunch and fellowship. Officers then discussed ways to improve the chapter. Once officer discussed certain things officers then traveled to Young’s Dairy where they had a golf outing.… Continue reading

Nutrients for Life Foundation today announced Pettisville High School and Ridgemont High School’s FFA chapters each earned $5,000 in a tie for first place in the first year of the “Helping Communities Grow” FFA chapter recognition program in Ohio.

Both chapters displayed creative projects that effectively expressed the importance of crop nutrients in feeding the world. Pettisville FFA chapter grew fresh greens and herbs for the school’s cafeteria salad bar. Additionally, FFA students taught eighth grade classes about soil nutrients with activities in growing plants, quizzes and lecture sessions. Finally, FFA members hosted a Jeopardy-style adult education program about fertilizer and crop nutrients.

Ridgemont FFA in Ridgeway, Ohio, also earned the first place award by hosting a Hunger Banquet for more than 140 students. During the Hunger Banquet, student participants linked the popular book Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins to the realities of global food insecurity. Additionally, students wrote articles about how fertilizer helps to nourish our world and studied plants in the FFA chapter’s container gardens.… Continue reading

By Audrey Ivers, chapter reporter

Members of the West Holmes FFA came together in front of the school Thursday, May 5^th, at six o’ clock a.m. to depart for the 84^th annual State Convention. The following members made the trip, Marshall Overholt, Clay Armstrong, Megan Miller, Derek Reutter, Tawnya Eckerle, Elizabeth Overholt, Beth Klein, Dylan Holloway, Travis Campbell, Garrett O’Donnell, Matt Schlegel, Brandon Miller, Grayson Miller, Brandon Bowles, Atlee Miller, Casey Schlauch, Maggie Raber, Becca Chamberlin, Kayla Chandler, Sam Krejci, Elise Neville, Shyann Kick, Madee Brewer, Audrey Ivers, Tristan Ramseyer, Wyatt Gardner, Haylee Mackey, Mandy Taylor, James Friend, Bailey Boughman, Alexis Bird, Chris Patterson, and Corey Phillips.

Members Travis Campbell, Garrett O’Donnell, Aaron Clark, and Shane Gardner had proficiency interviews to kick start the morning. Travis competed in Outdoor Recreation, Shane competed in Agriculture Services, Garrett competed in Fruit Production, and Aaron competed in State Star Farmer, Diversified Crop Production Placement, and Diversified Agriculture Production.… Continue reading

Event Launches Long-Term Commitment to Fight Hunger

The National FFA Organization announced plans for an “FFA Rally to Fight Hunger” at the 2012 National FFA Convention and Expo, Oct. 24-26, to help feed children and adults suffering from food insecurity. Launched as part of the organization’s “Feeding the World–Starting at Home” initiative to fight hunger, the rally will engage as many as 10,000 FFA members from across the country and local volunteers. Their goal is to package one million meals at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis to combat hunger.

Working with Kids Against Hunger, a humanitarian food-aid organization, FFA members from across the nation will assemble meals and gather additional supplements to provide relief from hunger and malnutrition. Approximately half of the meals will be distributed in the Indianapolis area. Others will be shipped to designated locations domestically and internationally.

Distributing a portion of the meals in Indianapolis has special significance.… Continue reading

The Preble Shawnee FFA Chapter attended the Ohio FFA State Convention. The Chapter was recognized numerous times. The PSFFA Chapter donated money to two charities including CROP and Children’s Hospital. The Chapter also had five students compete in the State AgriScience Fair. Layne Brown and Aaron Lewis received gold ratings. Katie Bratton received her  State Chapter degree. Preble Shawnee also received a gold rating for their treasurer, reporter, and secretary officer books. The theme for this year’s convention was I Believe. We listened to motivational speakers and learnt valuable lessons about how to believe in yourself and others, while we learnt about believing we also learned not to let people down and how to help people feel better about themselves and just be an all around better person by being the best you can be. This experience allows our members to become great leaders in the future.… Continue reading

The National FFA Organization awarded a $1250.00 Anderson Foundation Scholarship to Erika Coldiron of the Mohawk FFA. Anderson Foundaiton, as a special project of the National FFA Foundation, sponsors the scholarship. Erika plans to use the funds to pursue a degree at Ohio State University- Marion.

This scholarship is one of 1,539 awarded through the National FFA Scholarship Program this year. Currently, 130 sponsors generously contribute more than $1.9 million to support this program. This the 28^th year that scholarships have been made available through the National FFA Foundation by individuals and business and industry sponsors to reward and encourage excellence and enable students to pursue their educational goals.

Scholarship recipients were selected from 8,050 applicants from across the country. Selections were based on the applicant’s academic record, FFA and other school and community activities, supervised agricultural experiences (SAE) in agricultural education and future goals.… Continue reading

Students from Zane Trace traveled to Ohio State FFA Convention on Thursday, May 3. Students spent Thursday and Friday in Columbus at the Ohio State Fairgrounds for the Convention’s activities. Throughout the weekend, FFA Members took part in activities such as Agriscience Fair, the FFA Career Show, touring grocery stores, rock climbing, hearing from many speakers, and meeting other FFA members from all around Ohio.

Thursday morning, the group took a tour of Giant Eagle Market Place in Upper Arlington. Throughout this tour, students had the opportunity to try many foods such as buffalo, crepes, sandwiches, and salted caramel. Students also learned a bit about healthy living and where their food comes from.

The students traveled from Giant Eagle back to the fairgrounds, where they celebrated the achievements of their gold rated officers Stephanie Glass, Audrey Hoey, and Amber Ginter, as well as agriscience fair winners. They also heard from speaker Brooks Gibbs, who shared the importance of showing others love in order to overcome hate.… Continue reading

By Jessica Davis, chapter reporter

Hiland FFA participated in the District 8 FFA Ag Sales contest. The contest was held at West Holmes. The members were Mac Cordle, Cameron Cordle, Ethan Spencer, and Zachary Wilcoxon. Mac Cordle placed 5^th as individual and they placed 5^th as a team.

The purpose of this contest is to get students to demonstrate their skills in sales by participating in many activities based on the total sales process.  For the contest, kids will be scored on different things such as sales demonstration, which shows the team’s ability to properly sell an Ag related product to customers and include the sales transaction with the sales invoice and also proper change. They will also be scored on approach, demonstration, handling customer objections and closing the sale. Points will be scored individually and as a team. The students made their own agriculture product to sell including the label, brochure, and business cards.… Continue reading

On the evening of May 14, the Zane Trace FFA celebrated their annual chapter banquet. The banquet is held every year in order to celebrate the chapter’s achievements from throughout the school year. This year, the banquet included many special guests, including FFA State Treasurer Aaron Miller. It also included chapter favorites such as the year in review slideshow, and an installation of new officers for the coming year.

FFA Members received awards at the banquet according to their participation in certain activities from throughout the year. Some of the awards include: chapter leadership award, scholarship award, and awards for outstanding students in broad categories such as AgriScience, farming, and placement. Zane Trace’s lone retiring officer, Vice President Sarah Cox, was also honored at this banquet with a scholarship to be put towards her degree in bioengineering.

Perhaps the greatest highlight of this year’s banquet was a speech given by FFA State Treasurer Aaron Miller.… Continue reading

On the morning of Thursday May 3, twenty-three students competed in the Ohio AgriScience Fair at Ohio FFA Convention in Columbus. Zane Trace FFA was very successful within the science fair this year, with twelve students receiving a gold rating. The teams of David Glass and Audrey and Stephanie Glass and Jessie Proehl placed first and third in the Food Science and Products category, respectively. This is David and Audrey’s third consecutive year with a win at the state level, and they will again advance to the National level in the fall. Sarah Cox and Eva Bugg both placed first in their categories of Plant Systems and Natural Resources. Zane Trace also had two teams placing second within their categories. The second place teams include: Maleah Calhoun and Lauren Smith in Social Systems, and Hunter Hardman and Camden Everidge in Animal Systems.

“It has been amazing to see the AgriScience participation grow into such a big thing within our school,” said Stephanie Glass.… Continue reading

College students will serve as industry advocates

Collegiate FFA, a program of the National FFA Organization, is now accepting applications for its National Collegiate Agricultural Ambassador program. Twenty selected students will serve during the 2012-2013 school year.

During their term, ambassadors will deliver presentations to elementary, junior-high and high school classes, community organizations and other groups interested in learning about the industry of agriculture. The presentations will focus on food safety and security, sound science, sustainable agriculture as well as other current agricultural topics. Ambassadors will earn scholarship money during their year of service.

College students ranging from sophomores to graduate students who have the desire to promote agriculture may apply to be an ambassador. The application deadline is June 1, 2012. Visit www.FFA.org/collegiate for more information.

The National Collegiate Agricultural Ambassadors program is sponsored by BASF, Syngenta, CSX Transportation and the National Pork Board as a special project of the National FFA Foundation.… Continue reading

Recently, on May 3^rd and 4^th, the Miami Trace FFA Chapter attended the State FFA Convention held at the Ohio State Expo Center. The Chapter attended convention sessions, and listened to three speakers Brooke Gibbs, Jon Petz, and Ryan Best, National FFA President. All the speakers gave great messages, and caught everybody’s attention.

The Judging teams excelled  this year in State Career Development Events. The Agronomy team received 1^st out of 30 teams participating and 122 individuals, team member Evan Schaefer(1^st) Judith Straathof (2^nd), Landon Gibbs (4^th), and Rachel McClish  (5^th). The Dairy Foods placed 5^th out of 35 teams participating and 125 individuals team consisted of Nicole Straathof (15^th), Abby Schwenk (18^th), Daniella Straathof (23^rd), Theresa Elrich (30^th), Abby Hidy (45^th), and Rebecca Elrich (82^nd).… Continue reading

Anthony Wayne FFA members held the first annual 3rd grade Ag Day at Monclova Primary School on Monday, May 7. Ag Day was arranged by the Agriscience II class, with the idea that the could teach the 3rd graders how crops and animals went from seed to products that we use every day.

The FFA members used products, display boards, and other demonstration techniques to show the students the process of growing, harvesting, and processing from seed to the product on the grocery store shelf. The 3rd graders were divided into three groups and rotated through three different stations.

The first station taught students about grain production, while the second shared how fruits and vegetables were raised. The third station included a live chicken along with baby chicks and discussed livestock and poultry production. Finally, students had the opportunity to eat a snack of beef sticks, cheese, and apple juice after learning where each food came from and how it got to their snack table that day.… Continue reading

On May 3rd and 4th, 24 members of the Mt. Gilead FFA chapter traveled to the Ohio State Fairgrounds for the 84th annual state convention.

On Thursday morning Amanda Evans, a senior member competed in the Poultry judging finals, finishing at 4th in the state! While she was at judging other members toured the Ohio State Agriculture campus and the Parker food science building.

After lunch, members returned back to the convention center for the first two sessions. Brooks Gibbs and Jon Petz were the keynote speakers. During these sessions members were awarded for their hard work throughout the year. Senior, Mariah Carey was awarded 2nd place in the state for her equine proficiency, this was a huge accomplishment for her. Congratulations Mariah!

Also being recognized at judging was the chapter’s Food for Thought challenge. Students educated the school on the healthier food choices available to them throughout the school year.… Continue reading

Thursday, May 10th, 50 fifth grade students traveled to Hubschmans farm to join the Mt. Gilead FFA members in an event-filled day called Food for America.

Students were put into groups and learned about large animals, small animals, agronomy, natural resources, and food products. They were able to pet and hold animals like rabbits, chickens, goats, llamas, pigs and a calf.

Other things they were able to participate in were activities like making butter, test their knowledge on animal tracks and naming types of animal skins.

After a quick lunch students played a game of kickball, sac raced, 3-legged race, and tested Dolly the llama’s patience seeing how close they could get without her spitting on them. To end the day the 5th graders were rewarded for their good behavior with an all time favorite, popsicles!

After talking with the high school kids, making new friends and learning a lot about where their food came from, they loaded the buses back to the school.… Continue reading

By Katelyne Ackley, chapter reporter

In the Mt. Gilead invitational the equine team placed third, leading the teams with the two highest individual scores; Haley Powers third place and Taylor Miller with seventh place. The General Livestock team placed ninth while Tyler Myers had the highest score placing sixth individual. The Poultry team placed eleventh with Taylor McNamara having the highest score.

In the Marysville invitational, the equine team placed first with three top scores being in the top ten, Lane Bowman placed fifth, Haley Powers placed sixth, and Tabitha Schmucker placed seventh.

Members that contributed to the teams were: Hayden Ackley, Katelyne Ackley, and Chance Coil; dairy judging, Taylor Miller, Kelsey Savage, Cassondra Coil, Tabitha Schmucker, Lane Bowman, Haley Powers; equine team, Cayleb Harpest; Wildlife Management, Jessica Skidmore, Taylor McNamara, Ashley Wilson; poultry team, Tyler Myers, Troy Selhorst, Tyler Mullins, Cody Logan, Jacob Willis, Delanie Barns, Wes Shephard; general livestock.… Continue reading

Shania Baker a member of the Marietta FFA Chapter competed in the Animal Health Career Development Event (CDE) at the Ohio Expo Center in Columbus, Ohio on Tuesday, April 17, 2012. The Animal Health CDE is designed for students who are interested in a career in the field of veterinary medicine and consists of a written test of 75 questions online prior to the event, as well as a set of four practicums or hands on tests.

The first practicum consisted of how to properly handle animal, determine the gender of the animal, and identify blood sampling site to draw blood from the animal. The second practicum tested the procedure of properly removing a surgical glove from a surgeon without touching the surgeon thereby, contaminating the surgeon, or touching the tip of the glove. The third practicum dealt with calculating the proper dosage of medicine to give to the animal, choosing the proper instrument for administering the medicine, and how to correctly drawing up the correct amount of medication to administer to the animal.… Continue reading

By Katelyne Ackley, chapter reporter

On May 3^th and 4^th, 2011 Benjamin Logan FFA had nine members receive their state degree, at this year’s State FFA Convention. To meet the requirements of the state degree, the member must be a junior, senior, or a high school graduate, must have an approved supervised agriculture experience program, must have at least one-year instruction in agriculture education, and be a dues paid member.

Members must be familiar with the state and national FFA constitutions and they must have assisted in the development of the program of activities for their chapter. They also must have completed at least 30 hours of home or community development projects, at least three activities that promote Agriculture Education and/or FFA, and in at least two different state sanctioned Career Development Events.  Members must demonstrate ten abilities of Parliamentary Procedure and must have presented a six minute speech on an agricultural topic.… Continue reading

The Marietta FFA Chapter attended the 84th Ohio FFA Convention. The following members attended: Shania Baker, Gregory Berg, Spencer Duckworth, Zachary Hearn, Sam Love, Lynn Myers, Allison Robinson, Clasey Schaad, Derek Schaad, Kelsey Stevens, Tanner Thompson, Josh Westfall, Samantha Wheeler, Ashley Wilson, Breanna Wilson, Caytlin Zimmer, Eric Zimmer, and Advisor Brian Welch.
On May 3rd they visited the Columbus Zoo. That night that had dinner at Buffalo Wild Wings and then attended Second Session of Convention. At Second Session they listened to keynote speaker Jon Petz, who is a Comedian Magician. The following day they went ice-skating at the Ohio Health Ice Rink. That night they had dinner at Red Lobster and then attended Final Session of Convention. At Final Session they listened at State FFA President Jessica Shanahan gave her retiring address. Then watched as fellow member Spencer Duckworth received his State FFA Degree.… Continue reading