PETTISVILLE, Ohio — Dylan Weirauch, of the Pettisville FFA is the 2012 Pettisville FFA Alumni college scholarship recipient. This scholarship is given to a former Pettisville FFA member to assist them in their continuing studies of agriculture. Weirauch is studying diesel technologies at the University of Northwestern Ohio. He is very pleased with the business and finance skills he learned through his agricultural classes and the FFA.

Weirauch was active in FFA raising sheep, participated in the ag mechanics CDE (Career Development Event) and served on the Jr. Fairboard. His parents are Jackie and Doug Weirauch, of rural Pettisville.

Zach Pursel, of the Pettisville FFA is the 2012 Pettisville FFA Alumni Senior Scholarship recipient. This scholarship is given to a Pettisville FFA member to assist them in advanced schooling. Pursel will be attending Trine University and studying business administration. Pursel has been an active FFA member serving as many committee chairs and also a member of the basketball and baseball teams. He is the son of Amy and Terry Miller and William Pursel, of rural Pettisville.

INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. — Indiana’s Family of Farmers (IFOF) will continue to offer grants for local communities, and new this year – a category for youth organizations that want to do more to promote agriculture in Indiana. 

This is the second year grants of up to $2,000 will be made available to improve educational agriculture-related events around Indiana. The funds, made possible through the IFOF Ag Resource Committee, may be used by local event organizers to fund educational or outreach events focused on food and fiber. This can include Ag Days, Community Agriculture Days, County Fairs and school events to name a few. Grant applicants may also request monies to make capital improvements (like buying demonstration equipment) or safety upgrades (such as purchasing hand-washing stations).

Something new to the grant program this year:  A portion of the funds have been set aside specifically to fund projects executed by youth organizations such as FFA chapters, 4-H clubs, collegiate groups, youth commodity organizations, etc. This category emphasizes youth leadership in the program (not necessarily a program targeted at youth or children). The deadline to apply for the grant is May 15. Applications and guidance may be found online at: www.indianafamilyoffarmers.com/partnership.html

DELPHOS, Ohio — In February, the Parkway FFA Chapter sent four members to the sub-district public speaking contests in Delphos. Kayla Walls, Whitney Rollins, Sierra Fent and Caden Hellwarth all participated in the contest. 

Walls and Rollins presented the FFA creed. In this contest, the contestant recites the creed by memory and when the member is finished presenting he or she is asked questions about the creed. Whitney placed seventh and received a gold rating while Kayla placed proceeded to districts; she also received a gold rating. 

Fent participated in the prepared speaking contest. She had to prepare a three-to-five minute long speech ahead of the contest and then present it to a judge. Fent placed fourth overall and received a gold rating.

Hellwarth took part in the extemporaneous public speaking contest. Participants in this contest are required to select a random agriculture related event from a hat. They are given thirty minutes to research the topic and write a four-to-six minute long speech. Hellwarth placed first and received a gold rating.

Hellwarth and Walls represented Parkway in Hardin Northern at the district contest. They both received gold ratings, but will not advance to the next round. The Parkway FFA chapter would like to congratulate all of the contestants on their hard work and success.