GREENFIELD, Ind. — The Greenfield-Central FFA chapter hosted its annual awards banquet on May 18 in the Greenfield-Central High School (GCHS) Cafeteria.

After an invocation by Robin Armentrout, a pork barbeque dinner was served, prepared by Phil and Sharon Hunt. 

Special guests included David Beal and Dan Jack of the GCHS Administrative team. Other special guests included Danny, April, and Sammy Naegeli, Trisha and Blake McCain, Janet and Tommy Batt, Kathy Logan of Harvest Land Co-op, Paula McCain, Casie Conley-State FFA President and her parents.

Opening ceremonies were conducted by President Kelly Beeker and the rest of her officer team. This was followed by the recognition of seniors and their parents. This included: Bruce and Rhonda Beeker, Brian and Cathy Evans, Doug and Michelle Hogue, Deryl and Penny Hunt, Thomas and Arlyne Layton, Kory Pegan’s parents, Melisa Needham, along with Dale and Cathy Needham, Charles and JoAnne Turner, Susan Stillenger.

Casie Conley, State FFA President gave a presentation on FFA opportunities and helped in passing out awards. Chase Layton presented her with a special gift at the end of her speech.

A silent auction was held to benefit Edelweiss Equine-Assisted Therapy Center and the Indiana FFA Foundation. Donations were collected from Harvest Land Co-op-Greenfield Store, Tractor  Supply Company of Greenfield, Bunge Soybean Processing of Morristown, Riley Park Tire, Hunt’s 4 Corner Meat Market, Beck’s Seed Company, and Smith’s Implements, Miller’s Jewelry, Riley Park Tire, Cheryl Reynolds, of Capello Hair Designs, Orscheln Farm store, Strike Force Bowling Lanes, McCleerey’s Sporting Goods, Thomas Visnack, T’Nails, Bronze Bay Tanning Center, Lawrence and Amy Leeman, Metal works, Stephanie Jones and Family, Mrs. Siobhan Schaefer , Maggie Bodenreider , Michaela Bova, Courtney Heller, Claudia Pope, Debbie and Duane Vansickle and Donna Price, Huck’s of Fortville. The silent auction raised $800 for the FFA Foundation and $250 for Edelweiss Equine Assisted Therapy. A raffle basket was won by Michelle Hogue.

Members were recognized for the various FFA activities, Career Development Events and leadership contests they participated in throughout the year. As the Chapter officers went through the monthly activity report, the freshman, sophomores, juniors, and seniors were recognized with plaques summarizing their individual efforts this year. Fifty members received plaques this year which is a record for the Greenfield-Central chapter. The 2011-2012 officers received a large gavel plaque in recognition of their service to our FFA Chapter.

The chapter recognized Michael and Kris Maroska along with Dale and Cathy Needham, former GC FFA members and grandparents of a current member, for their assistance in the last few years with the Ag Booster Committee and helping with chapter activities throughout the year with an Honorary Chapter Degree. Leonard and Elizabeth Haines of Miller’s Jewelry were presented with a plaque for their continued support of the Chapter’s Silent auction. Polly Young, manager of our local Tractor Supply was also presented with a plaque for their continuous support of our silent auction. TSC supported us in a fundraiser which raised $800 for the Jessica Barnhart Foundation. 

Highlighted awards of the evening included the Star Greenhand, which is an award given to an outstanding freshman member. 

This year’s award went to Jessica Jones, daughter of Jay and Stephanie Jones. This year’s Star in Agribusiness Award was given to Kelly Beeker, daughter of Bruce and Rhonda Beeker. She is employed at Tuttle’s Orchard. She will be attending Purdue University in the fall majoring in ag communications. Jacob Fair earned the Star Farmer award. He is the son of Jim and Vicky Fair. 

New officers for the 2012-2013 year were installed including President Savannah Hudson; Co-Vice President Robin Armentrout; Co-Vice President Michaela Bova; Secretary Ben Kahl; Treasurer-Corrine Hibbert; Reporter-Hunter Helsley; Sentinel-Matt Riddle; Co-Historian-Courtney Heller; Co-historian-Allison Abel; Assistant Treasurer-Madison Williams and  Assistant Secretary Jessica Jones.

AVON, Ind. — For the fifth consecutive year, local students received a significant boost to their college funds. Farmer-owned Co-Alliance LLP, which serves energy and agribusiness customers across Indiana, Ohio and Michigan, has awarded 22 Solutions Scholarship awards to students in the company’s trade area. 

Co-Alliance created the scholarship program to benefit the children and grandchildren of local cooperative members who belong to Midland Co-op, IMPACT Co-op, LaPorte County Co-op, Frontier Co-op and Excel Co-op, and announced the award recipients recently. 

The one-time awards are for $1,000 each, and recipient families have been notified by mail or at school award programs. While the company pledges to deliver 20 awards every year, this year, 22 students were awarded due to the exceptional level of achievement, and also the understanding that advanced educational costs have become even more challenging for local families in recent years. Co-Alliance CEO Kevin A. Still views the investment as another example of the company’s commitment to community and also to rural youth. 

Students from all over the Co-Alliance service area received awards. The list and their home schools are provided: 

Baily Altman  (parents Andy and Lisa) Frontier High School, White County; Zack Anderson (Schlichter Family), Miami Trace High School, Fayette County, Ohio; Kaitlyn Arnold  (parents Michael and Cathy) Cloverdale High School, Putnam County; Armenda Boyer  (parents Tom and Carrie) Clinton Central High School, Clinton County; Richard Burns (parents Richard and Beth) Carroll High School, Carroll County; Mikayla Conrad (parents Greg and Judy) Westfall High School, Pickaway County, Ohio; Sarah Garst (parents Joe and Wanda) Western Boone High School, Boone County; Jordan Goodwin (parents Jeff and Tammy) South Central High School, LaPorte County; Chad Griffin (parents Dale and Christina) Carroll High School, Carroll County; Alexandra Henderson (parents Monty and Kandi) TriCentral High School, Tipton County; Holly Hopkins (parents Todd and Sandy) Turkey Run High School, Parke County; Kyle Horlacher (parents Thomas and Dawn) Clinton Prairie High School, Clinton County; Matthew Kincaid (parents Brian and Janet) Brownsburg High School, Hendricks County; Michaela Long (parents Todd and Audra) Turkey Run High School, Parke County; Cameron Mann (parents Rob and Malinda) Cloverdale High School, Putnam County; Victoria Mills  (parents Gordon and Audra) Southmont High School, Montgomery County; Will Morgan (parents Bill and Jody) Frontier High School, White County; Skyler Pardue (Keith Family) Owen Valley High School, Owen County; Paige Pearl (parents Jim and Vicki) Harrison High School, Tippecanoe County; Emily Pucel (parents Terry and Lori) Oregon Davis High School, Starke County; Emily Ratliff (parents Lamar and Stephanie) Miami Trace High School, Fayette County, Ohio; Nolan Sampson (parents John and Dawn) South Central High School, LaPorte County.