KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — Growing up, Ryan Hensley was surrounded by 4-H. His parents were 4-H’ers and so were his brothers. Now he’s making the youth development program his career. Hensley has been appointed the new executive director of the Tennessee 4-H Foundation.

As executive director of the Tennessee 4-H Foundation, the financial arm of 4-H, Hensley will lead fund raising efforts so that other youth can have the same experience that he enjoyed. He will work with private donors, 4-H alumni and corporations in development work. 

In 2011, Hensley completed a Master of Business Administration and a Master of Science in Agricultural Economics from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville. He earned a Bachelor of Science from the University of Tennessee in 2009, while serving as a student assistant in the state 4-H Office at the UT Institute of Agriculture.

Hensley has several ambitious goals for the Foundation, including a plan to double its endowment in the next four to five years. Even in these economic times, he believes this is possible by tapping into the vast array of 4-H alumni statewide – reminding them of their 4-H memories, and encouraging them to provide this experience for other youth. 

Hensley would also like to ease the financial burden on Tennessee counties to pay for statewide events such as 4-H Congress and Roundup. Currently individual counties pay about half the expenses to hold these events, and Hensley would like to see counties use all their money for local programming.

$48K raised for Angus youth, education, research programs

LARKSPUR, Colo. — “Angus Night on the Mountain,” hosted by Tom and Lois Ames of Spruce Mountain Ranch, Larkspur, Colo., was held Jan. 11, 2012.

Seven exclusive packages, an elite heifer pregnancy and a raffle generated nearly $48,000 in gross proceeds for the Angus Foundation’s education, youth and research efforts and the 2012 National Junior Angus Show (NJAS), set for July 15-21 in Louisville, Ky.

“Angus Night on the Mountain,” a fundraising event to benefit the Angus Foundation and 2012 NJAS, was hosted and underwritten by Tom and Lois Ames at their beautiful Spruce Mountain Ranch, Larkspur, Colo., on Jan. 11. The event was held in conjunction with the National Western Stock Show (NWSS) in Denver.

“‘Angus Night on the Mountain’ was another fundraising success for the Angus Foundation because of the steadfast commitment and dedication our Angus breeders and friends have to helping our organization advance the Angus breed through education, youth and research,” says Milford Jenkins, Angus Foundation president. 

CRAWFORDSVILLE, Ind. — The Southmont FFA senior crops judging teams placed first, third and 12th at the state crops contest at Purdue University on Saturday, Dec. 10th, giving the school its 22nd state title in crops judging. 

There were 49 teams and 187 individuals in the contest. The first place team members were Cory Hutchison, Courtney Redenbaugh, Ashley Kincaid and Trey Wilbur. The third place team members were Natalee Brann, Brooke McDaniel, Cody Smith and Sam Shaver. David McClure, Brooke Rice, Kaitlyn Brogan and Andrew Chapai made up the 12th place team.

Each member of the state champion team will receive a $500 scholarship given by the Southmont FFA Chapter and Cory Hutchison will receive an additional $500 scholarship from the Purdue University Agronomy department for placing first individually.  

The Southmont senior team had five members in the top 10 at the contest. Hutchison placed first with 939 points out of a total of 1000, Redenbaugh received third with 886 points, Kincaid placed fourth with 885, Wilbur placed fifth, Shaver placed eighth, Brann placed 18th, McDaniel placed 20th and Smith placed 21st.

The Southmont FFA Junior High Crops team also won the state championship. There were a total of nine junior teams and 39 individuals. The team members on the first place team also placed first through fourth individually including Caylie Leclercq who placed first, Cierra Williams who placed second, Drake Davis placed third and Joel Record placed fourth. 

Crops judging requires participants to identify 25 crop and weed plant specimens out of a list of 69; 25 weed and crop seeds out of a list of 72 that are common in Indiana. They also learn to grade eight grain samples according to the U.S. grain grading standards and recognize grain diseases and damage factors that might lower grain quality and therefore, market value. The final part of the contest consists of a multiple choice quiz over weed control, crop production practices and pesticide application techniques.

During the last 33 years Southmont has won the State contest 22 times and placed second in the state eight times.

AMANDA, Ohio — Every year, the Amanda-Clearcreek FFA chapter sells fruit in the fall of the year as a fundraiser. This is the main source of funds for the chapter and a common fundraiser for most FFA chapters across Ohio. 

The chapter starts up their annual fruit sale fundraiser as the Fairfield County Fair kicks off and comes to a close the second week of November.

After all members turned in their orders, the final count was 1,780 boxes and baskets of fruit. 

The top two sellers this year were Chapter President Nathan Seitz with 92-1/2 boxes and Chapter Reporter Emily Cordle with 59 boxes. The chapter sells over 23 different combinations of fruit and two different sizes of fruit baskets. If anyone compares the chapter’s fruit baskets to local grocery stores, the Amanda-Clearcreek FFA chapter gives customers more for their money. As the biggest fundraiser the chapter is involved in, success is vital. 

The success of this fundraiser allows the Amanda-Clearcreek FFA members to fully participate in local, state and national FFA activities. 

Amanda-Clearcreek would like to express its appreciation for everyone who ordered fruit and continues to support the school, chapter and most importantly education.