Parkway FFA members attend National Convention INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. — The Parkway FFA Chapter sent 17 students to the National FFA Convention, which was held Oct. 18-22. The members included Clay Thomas, Tiffany Ricketts, Jordan Strader, Kayla Walls, Colby Walls, Rachel Hesse, Cami Hellwarth, Caden Hellwarth, Terra Walls, Rachel King, Jared Rollins, Jack Roth, Devin Adams, Seth Houts, Kameron Roehm, Destinee Guggenbiller and Erin Weirrick.
During the trip, the students got to enjoy many educational tours. On Tuesday, they went to Wilson Football Factory in Ada, Ohio. Additionally, the chapter visited a dairy farm and learned about the business of running a dairy farm.
Then the students went to Universal Lettering in Van Wert, Ohio. At Universal Lettering, the students got to see how the FFA jackets are made. The last tour of the day was DeBrands Chocolate Factor in Fort Wayne, Ind.
On Wednesday, Parkway FFA members visited the Heritage Farm Suri Alpacas and then later on that night was the Buckeye Bash. The Buckeye Bash is a dance for all Ohio FFA members during National FFA Convention.
On Thursday, the group went to a Veneer Manufacturing in Edinburgh, Ind. They also got to enjoy the career show at the convention center in Indianapolis. On Friday and Saturday, the students and advisors got to enjoy many of the keynote speakers and the American FFA Degree ceremony.
Ropp finishes Top 10 at National Dairy Judging Contest URBANA, Ill. — Illinois 4-H dairy judge Samantha Ropp of Strawn, Ill. placed in the Top 10 at the 2011 National 4-H Dairy Cattle Judging Contest at the World Dairy Expo in Madison, Wis., on Oct. 3.
Ropp finished seventh out of 109 contestants and received an “All-American” plaque presented to the Top 25 judges overall. She also placed fourth overall in Guernsey, tenth in Holstein, tenth overall in total placings, and 12th in oral reasons.
The Illinois 4-H dairy judging team placed ninth overall among 29 teams from across the nation. The team also finished fifth in Ayrshire, fifth in Guernsey, and eighth in Holstein. Illinois team members included Ropp, Dylan Reed of Beecher City, Sarah Sheehan of Huntley and Erik Sheppelman of Bloomington.
Applications available for Esri’s GIS Grants for 4-H Program REDLANDS, Calif. — Esri is now accepting applications for its 2012 GIS Grants for 4-H Program. All 4-H Clubs in the United States, as well as 4-H and Operation Military Kids clubs on American military bases around the world are eligible. Now in its ninth year, the program is designed to help expand the club’s twenty-first century mandate for science, engineering, and technology activities. The grant levels include Getting Started with GIS, ArcGIS Youth Club, and ArcGIS Educator programs. Each grant level has its own eligibility criteria and required activities. Grant recipients receive GIS software, data, and curriculum materials. The grants help introduce 4-H youth to GIS technology, explore careers that use the technology, and conduct a local service project using GIS.
Through the increased use of GIS technology, 4-H youth across the United States are participating in GIS-related projects of importance to them. Club members in Iowa, Minnesota, and Kansas are partnering with the US Fish and Wildlife Service on local projects, while a club in Idaho is working with local emergency management officials to assist with an emergency preparedness plan. The application period for the 2012 Esri GIS Grants for 4-H is Oct. 1 to Dec. 1, 2011. Specific grant guidelines and the related application links can be found at esri.com/4-H
Wisconsin native crowned National Jersey Queen
REYNOLDSBURG, Ohio — Cassandra Krull, Lake Mills, Wis., has been crowned the 57th National Jersey Queen.
Cassy was presented the Charlene Nardone Crown by 2010 National Jersey Queen Lena Sweeney on Nov. 5 during the Jersey Junior Banquet in Louisville, Ky.
She will represent Jersey breeders for the next year with her participation in events such as the Annual Meeting of the American Jersey Cattle Association, World Dairy Expo and The 60th All American Jersey Shows & Sales.
The National Jersey Queen contest lasted two days with 10 outstanding young women from across the country competing for the coveted crown. Participants had to pass a general dairy knowledge test, were interviewed by a panel of judges, and prepared a two-minute video presentation that demonstrated their ability to represent the Jersey breed through public speaking.
On the tanbark trail, in the classroom, in 4-H and FFA and in her community, Cassy is a tireless promoter for the dairy industry and agriculture.
These activities were recognized by a top 10 ranking in the 2010 National Jersey Youth Achievement Contest, being selected for the 2010 Garland Bastin-NAILE Scholarship, and her selection to the second Jersey Youth Academy this past July. She was an honor roll student all through high school, and is a freshman at Allen County Community College in Iola, Kansas.
The Queen and her court presented awards for the National Jersey Jug Futurity and The 59th All American Jersey Show, plus assisted with the clerking of The All American Jersey Sale.
The Charlene Nardone National Jersey Queen Fund provided scholarships of $500, $300 and $200 to the Queen and two alternates. |
