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Spotlight on Youth - November 22, 2017
 

National FFA announces Agricultural Proficiency winners

INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. — Winners of the 2017 National Agricultural Proficiency Awards were announced on Oct. 27 during the sixth general session at the 90th National FFA Convention & Expo. Awards were given in 47 categories, including the following students from the Farm World region:

Agricultural Communications – Entrepreneurship/Placement: Kolt Buchenroth of the Kenton-OHP FFA Chapter in Ohio began his career in agricultural communications when he was offered a job at WKTN Radio as the ag news reporter. He also manages the Hardin County Fair website and other social media outlets. He plans to attend The Ohio State University at Lima and pursue a degree in agricultural communications and eventually become a farm broadcaster.

Agricultural Mechanics Repair and Maintenance – Entrepreneurship: When Aaron Lane Hendrich of the Eaton-MVCTC FFA Chapter in Ohio was 7 years old, his parents gave him an old push mower that did not run; he repaired it. He was eventually selected to represent Ohio in the National 4-H small engine competition, placing second. He hopes to have a career in small engine maintenance and repair and eventually become a mechanical engineer.

Agricultural Mechanics Repair and Maintenance – Placement: Drake Logan Davis of the Southmont FFA Chapter in Indiana started in agricultural mechanics by helping his father on the farm. He has restored four classic tractors and competed in a Chevron Delo restoration contest, placing third and being named the reserve national champion. He plans to graduate from Parkland College with an associate degree in applied science, becoming an ag mechanics technician.

Agricultural Sales – Entrepreneurship: Hannah York of the Caldwell County FFA Chapter in Kentucky creates autumn displays in her community for private homes and businesses. After local fields have been combined, she gathers leftover cornstalks and sorts them into groups of 12-15 for display purposes. She uses mums, pumpkins and gourds as well.

Dairy Production – Placement: Jared T. Dickman of the Eastland FFA Chapter in Illinois milks 150 registered Holsteins and one Jersey. At the operation he works for, tasks include everything related to the production and care of the dairy animals and the quality of the milk that they produce. He plans on majoring in dairy science at the University of Wisconsin Platteville.

 Diversified Agricultural Production – Entrepreneurship/Placement: Nole Gerfen of the Ridgemont FFA Chapter in Ohio has supervised agricultural experiences (SAEs) in swine, sheep, beef, corn and silage, hay and some placement experiences on the family swine farm, including his own swine breeding enterprise. Nole plans to attend OSU, majoring in agricultural business.

Diversified Livestock Production – Entrepreneurship/Placement: Adam Daniel Blumenschein of the Fairbanks FFA Chapter in Ohio raises and manages a herd of 100 commercial Dorset ewes, 111 market lambs, 18 commercial Angus females and 13 market and replacement cattle. He markets his sheep and cattle to local customers as freezer meat. He hopes have the largest commercial flock in central Ohio and increase his cattle to 40 head.

Food Science and Technology – Entrepreneurship/Placement: Ann Marie Shelby of the Zane Trace FFA Chapter in Ohio has an SAE program that consists of food science projects related to developing new products and solving problems. Through the World Food Prize, she also became interested in food insecurity issues. She plans to study chemical engineering or food biological and environmental engineering.

Fruit Production – Entrepreneurship/Placement: Dillion Gerome Givens of the McMinn County FFA Chapter in Tennessee works on his father’s muscadine vineyard, assisting in growing 1,400 plants that produce 25 tons of grapes. His responsibilities include pruning, working within the limits of the weather, controlling weeds and making the vineyard aesthetically pleasing.

Goat Production – Entrepreneurship/Placement: Thomas William Woelfie of the Munford “Big Boll” FFA Chapter in Tennessee began his interest in goat production when his grandfather purchased two Boer/Kiko mixed does and a buck. By the time he started high school, he had five registered Boer does, which increased to 30 over the next five years. He is attending Austin Peay State University, pursuing a degree in agriculture and animal sciences.

Nursery Operations – Entrepreneurship/Placement: Darin Paul Knobloch of the West Lyon Community FFA Chapter in Iowa loved spending time in his parents’ greenhouse when he was a child. Today, he is involved in the production of plants, including mixing soil, seeding, cuttings, transplanting, potting, labeling and more. He also works in the retail store. He plans to pursue a degree in horticulture and business management, eventually taking over the family business.

Specialty Crop Production – Entrepreneurship/Placement: Ryan Conway Patrum of the Paris FFA Chapter in Tennessee works on a 40-acre burley tobacco farm. While he typically helps with setting the tobacco, he also hoes ground to keep weeds back, tops and oils the plants, removes buds off the top of leaves and hangs tobacco in the barn. He hopes to one day take over management of the operation.

Swine Production – Entrepreneurship: Collin Dunaway of the Felicity Franklin FFA Chapter in Ohio has an operation of 47 market hogs, marketed in five-month intervals, which he has purchased and managed by himself. He uses his operation to produce fresh, locally raised pork to market to consumers in his community and has earned pork quality assurance certification.

Vegetable Production – Entrepreneurship/Placement: Liam Ludwig of the Batesville FFA Chapter in Indiana works on his family’s 200-acre vegetable farm, growing cantaloupe, watermelon, tomatoes, corn, peppers, eggplant, squash, pumpkins, gourds and more. The business includes a greenhouse. He plans to become a co-owner or farm manager of the operation, working with his older brother.

Ag-related classroom projects win CHS Foundation funding

PALM COAST, Fla. — Students in grades K-12 will learn their reading, writing, math, science and social studies lessons with an agricultural twist, thanks to $500 in grant funding from the CHS Foundation, funded by charitable gifts from CHS, Inc. and the National Agriculture in the Classroom Organization (NAITCO).

Sixteen projects involving pollination activities, innovative hydroponics growing systems and classroom embryology initiatives were selected for funding from more than 90 highly competitive applications submitted.

“We proudly support the innovative projects these teachers are creating using hands-on agriculture as the vehicle for higher level classroom learning,” said Willie Grenier, president of NAITCO and executive director of Maine Agriculture in the Classroom.

“The CHS Foundation is committed to developing the next generation of agriculture leaders,” said Nanci Lilja, CHS Foundation president. “By supporting the Classroom Grant program, students are learning agriculture concepts in unique ways that will introduce them to the industry and spark interest in agriculture careers.”

The projects funded will reach students around the country and will cover a variety of subjects. This region’s projects include:

•Indiana – Sugar Creek Elementary School’s “Which Came First: The Chicken or the Egg? Embryology in Kindergarten” will allow students to observe eggs hatch in a classroom incubator, care for the chicks afterward, participate in read-aloud activities and write in personal journals.

•Iowa – Northeast High School’s “Agricultural Podcast Series” will help juniors host a weekly agricultural podcast series with local and state leaders in the agricultural industry. Students will develop questions for the interviews, speak with industry leaders, record their responses and manage the production and social media of the project.

Elkhart Farm Bureau earns award for Cowboy Ethics program

INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. — Indiana’s Elkhart County Farm Bureau was selected by the American Farm Bureau Federation as one of this year’s County Activities of Excellence (CAE) Awards program winners. Elkhart County Farm Bureau won for its involvement in a robust Cowboy Ethics program.

The CAE Awards celebrate unique, volunteer-driven programming at the local level. Elkhart County’s Cowboy Ethics program is coordinated by volunteer Dwight Moudy and has been an active program in that area for nearly five years.

“I learned that James Owen, a retired Wall Street professional, had created a program based on years of research that focuses on what he called ‘The Code of the West,’” explained Moudy. “Knowing that children are often fascinated by stories of cowboys, we created a local program with that theme to teach youth about principles, values and self-sufficiency.”

With Elkhart County Farm Bureau’s support, he coordinates 25 elementary and middle school classes in the county each year. But the program’s reach continues to grow. “All told, we will have about 95 classes in the area this year,” estimated Moudy. “Neighboring counties are adapting the program for the children.”

But the program doesn’t stop with ethics. County Farm Bureau leadership and volunteers also use the time in the classroom to teach students about agriculture.

“We speak to Elkhart Community School students who have no farming background to teach them about farming and to show them how important math and science are in our line of work,” explained Bert Egging, Elkhart County Farm Bureau president.

As Egging explains, many of the children seem surprised to hear the farmers speaking about the math involved in milk production or the science of caring for animals.

“Over the years, we’ve created a lot of opportunities for the kids to experience farming without leaving school grounds,” he explained. “We bring baby farm animals to the school and this year we are hoping to help them grow vegetables that they can harvest at the end of the year. The farming side of the program is mostly about teaching them where their food comes from.”

Elkhart County Farm Bureau competed against county Farm Bureaus across the country for the annual award. Elkhart County is the only Indiana county winner. Submissions were grouped by membership size. Cowboy Ethics won in the 5,000-and-more member group, the largest single-county award grouping.

Elkhart County Farm Bureau will be recognized and will exhibit its program during AFBF’s 99th Annual Convention and IDEAg Trade Show, Jan. 5-10, 2018, in Nashville. Winning counties receive a $2,250 stipend to apply toward the cost of travel and exhibition.

Hoosier Ag Today awards 4-H communications scholarship

ZIONSVILLE, Ind. — For the 12th consecutive year, Hoosier Ag Today (HAT) has awarded a scholarship to a high-achieving Indiana 4-H member for their communications skills.

Presented at the Scholarship Recognition Luncheon at the 2017 Indiana 4-H Congress, the award was made to Crystal Xue of Hamilton County. She is a senior at Carmel High School who plans on a career in public service. Xue was the 2016 Public Speaking Achievement Award winner in Hamilton County and was the Professional Persuasive Presentation Sweepstakes winner at the 2016 Indiana State Fair.

Xue said good communication skills, both oral and written, are vital in both one’s personal and professional lives. She said her 4-H experience given her the chance to develop her communications skills and the self-confidence to use them. “She is a very impressive young woman who has the talent and drive to do great things,” said Gary Truitt, president of HAT.

Forty-two 4-Hers received scholarships during the program, held Oct. 14 at the Indiana State Fairgrounds. The scholarship luncheon was sponsored by CountryMark and the Indiana State Department of Agriculture.

Tractor Supply fundraiser raises nearly $1 million for 4-H

BRENTWOOD, Tenn. — More than 14,500 4-H youth will have the opportunity to attend county-level development programs, camps and leadership conferences as the result of Tractor Supply’s fall Paper Clover campaign. The 12-day initiative raised more than $980,000 and is now the most successful fundraiser in the company’s history.

“Our partnership with National 4-H Council is extremely important to us and we can’t thank our customers enough for contributing to the unparalleled success of this fundraiser,” said Jessica Holmes, marketing manager at Tractor Supply Co.

Between Oct. 4-15, Tractor Supply stores across the country accepted donations on behalf of 4-H. The money raised will provide members with countless opportunities to learn valuable skills in the areas of agriculture, science, technology, outdoor recreation and more.

“The Paper Clover campaign has always served as a great source of camaraderie in our stores,” said Christi Korzekwa, senior vice president of marketing at Tractor Supply. “Both our team members and customers have seen the impact 4-H programs can have on youth and by supporting the Paper Clover fundraiser, they have helped ensure more kids will have an opportunity to experience the incredible benefits 4-H has to offer.”

This marks the eighth consecutive year of the semi-annual campaign. The combined donations from this year’s spring and fall fundraisers totaled more than $1.8 million. Since 2010, Tractor Supply and its customers have generated more than $13 million, which has impacted 4-H groups throughout the country.

“Thanks to the generous support from Tractor Supply Company and their customers, thousands of youth across the country have access to hands-on, interactive 4-H programming,” said Jennifer Sirangelo, president and CEO, National 4-H Council.

 

11/23/2017