BLANCHESTER — It was a night to remember for the Blanchester FFA as they celebrated another year at their 2018 banquet.
The night began with a catered meal followed by the 2017-18 officer team performing their opening ceremonies. The FFA officers then proceeded to the awards portion.
First-year FFA students who met requirements of an SAE plan as well as having knowledge of FFA history were awarded the Greenhand degree: Kyle Adams, Dylan Allen, Brett Bandow, Bryan Bandow, Bryce Bandow, Noah Barnes, Katelyn Beam, Gage Berwanger, Angela Brown, Sydney Brown, Katie Butler, Olivia Caplinger, Alison Carson, Madison Creager, Haley Faries, Tamie Gadzinski, Chelsie Garner, Jordan Gray, Tristan Hedge, Josh Helton, Bryce Highlander, Kyle Hopkins, Xavion Johnson, Kristin King, Becca Kratzer, Jillian Lewis, Makenna Maddix, Emma McHenry, Autum Medley, Spencer Orth, Madison Pembleton, Cameron Short, Brayden Sipple, Rylee Spears, Chloe Taylor, Aleah Wells, Madison Wells, Evan Williams, Colton Wilson and Emma Winemiller.
The Chapter degree is the highest award a chapter can honor a member. Recipients were: Logan Adams, Faith Barnes, Caili Baumann, Ashlin Benne, Tom Black, Alex Burkle, Jasper Damewood, Brianna Haun, Logan Heitzman, Dylan Highlander, Matt Holland,Tony Hopper, Claude Light, Brian Miller, Matthew O’Neill, Ashleigh Osborn, Jillian Richardson, Emma Rumpke, Holly Scott, Abby Spurling, Noelani Tangonan and Destiny Waldron.
At state convention this month we will have seven members who will be receiving the highest award at the state level, their State degrees, and recipient are Ian Heeg, Lane Heeg, Sally Schafer, Tim Rannells, Brighton Morris, and Felicity Richardson.
Few members receive the American FFA Degree; this year’s recipient is Lindsay Shell.
One award the Blanchester FFA locks forward to grant each year is top scholarship awards. The student with the top class average for each agriculture course offered received the top scholar for their class. Awards included: Agriculture Food And Natural Resources: Olivia Caplinger; Animal and Plant Science: Caili Baumann; Plant Horticultural Science: Sally Schafer; Ag Business Management: Destennie Hupp; Animal Anatomy and Physiology: Brighton Morris; Mechanical Principals: Matthew O’Neill; Livestock Selection, Nutrition and Management: Erin Wilson; Structural Engineering: Jacob Miller
The chapter is proud to honor those who commit nearly all of their spare time to the organization with a Leadership award,. with an award for each grade were awarded: Star Eighth Grade Leader: Makenna Maddix; Star Freshman Leader: Logan Heitzman; Star Sophomore Leader: Jillian Richardson; Star Junior Leader: Felicity Richardson; Star Senior Leader: Tim Rannells
In CDE recognition, we were proud to have participation in Advance Parliamentary Procedure, Novice Parliamentary Procedure, Equine Management, Livestock Evaluation, Dairy Cattle Evaluation, Agronomy, Meats Judging, Public Speaking, Greenhand Quiz, Farm Business Management and Grain Merchandising. A brief description of these events includes successfully running a business meeting, livestock judging, and information on various ag industries.
Advance Parliamentary Procedure participants were Tom Black, Audrey Heitzman, Brighton Morris, Felicity Richardson,Jillian Richardson, Lilly Tedrick, Erin Wilson
Novice Parliamentary Procedure similar to the advance version is for eighth- or ninth-grade members. This year the team placed second at sub-districts and third at districts, just 30 points short of state. Participants were Caili Baumann, Olivia Caplinger, Makenna Maddix, Ashleigh Osborn, Madison Pembleton, Noelani Tangonan, Destiny Waldron, Maddie Wells.
Equine Management participants were Brighton Morris, Brady Robinson and Sally Schafer.
Livestock Evaluation participants were Emma Case, Tristen Hedge, Ian Heeg, Logan Heitzman, Jessica Jones, Brian Miller, Jacob Miller, Wesley Mitchell, Ashleigh Osborn, Felicity Richardson, Jillian Richardson, Holly Scott, Cora Shattuck, Rylee Spears, and Abby Spurling.
Dairy Cattle Evaluation participants were Faith Barnes, Caili Baumann, Destennie Hupp, Makenna Maddix, Autum Medley and Maddie Wells.
Agronomy participants were Tommy Black, Taylor Cochran, Matthew O’Neill, Tim Rannells and Jordan Stroud.
Meats Judging participants were Audrey Heitzman, Felicity Richardson and Jillian Richardson.
Public Speaking was Chloe Taylor.
Also awarded was our top salesperson for each fundraiser this year, the mum, citrus and strawberry sales.
Daniel Davenport was top mum salesperson, Tim Rannells was top in the citrus sale and top strawberry salesperson was Tristen Hedge.
We would like to thank all members for participating in each of these fundraisers and all those who bought from our chapter for your continued support.
FFA Officer Book Awards will be recognized at State Convention this May: Destennie Hupp with a gold rated secretary’s book; Jordan Stroud silver rating treasurer’s book; and Jacob Miller and Ian Heeg bronze rated scrapbook.
Also awarded were five college scholarships available for seniors; recipients were:
BDK Feed & Supply: Erin Wilson and Audrey Heitzman; Blanchester FFA Alumni Blue & Gold: Destennie Hupp; Villars: Tim Rannells; and Winkle Memorial: Tim Rannells.
FFA members who stand out not only in their SAE but in leadership and scholarship have a chance at a star chapter award, this year’s winners were Star 1st Year FFA Member: Makenna Maddix; Star Freshman: Logan Heitzman; Star 2nd Year FFA Member: Ashleigh Osborn; Star 3rd Year FFA Member: Jacob Miller; and Star 4th Year FFA Member: Tim Rannells.
Supervised agricultural experiences are important for members when being in FFA, especially when earning degrees. SAE’s can be anything ag-related from showing at the fair, gardening, or working at a farm. Those individuals who go above and beyond and invest themselves in their SAE can possibly be awarded a proficiency award for a particular field of interest.
Proficiency awards and recipients were: Ag Processing: Tom Black; Ag Sales: Tim Rannells; Ag Services: Tim Rannells; Beef Production: Ashleigh Osborn; Dairy Cattle Production: Caili Baumann; Diversified Crop Production: Jacob Miller; Diversified Livestock Production: Jillian Richardson; Equine Management: Claude Light; Fiber and Oil Crop Production: Jacob Miller; Fruit Production: Destennie Hupp; Goat Production and Management: Erin Wilson; Nursery Production: Destennie Hupp; Poultry Production and Management: Jillian Richardson; Sheep Production and Management:Brighton Morris; Small Animal Production and Care: Felicity Richardson; Swine Production and Management: Audrey Heitzman; and Turf Grass Management: Tim Rannells.
Beyond chapter proficiencies students who have exceptionally excelled in their SAE may apply for state proficiencies. This May our chapter will be represented at the Ohio FFA State Convention by Lindsay Shell who is a finalist in Small Livestock Production and Care as well as Diversified Livestock Production. Good luck and congratulations Lindsay!
To bring the banquet to a close was the revealing of the 2018-2019 officer team: President: Brighton Morris; Vice President of Communities: Matthew O’Neill; Vice President of Agriculture: Caili Baumann; Vice President of Leadership: Ashleigh Osborn; Secretary: Felicity Richardson; Treasurer: Tommy Black; Reporters: Jillian Richardson and Abby Spurling; and Sentinel: Chloe Taylor
This year’s Honorary Chapter Degree recipient was Dan Shell, one of our own FFA advisors,
This was a small way in showing our appreciation for all of his commitments to our chapter since he will be retiring at the conclusion of this school year. Thank you Mr. Shell!
