Local Farm Bureau donates to FFA chapter at Beech Grove
INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. — As part of the agri-science program at Beech Grove High School, an FFA chapter has been established at the school. Thanks to the generosity of the Marion County Farm Bureau, who provided a $5,000 donation to the chapter, Beech Grove City Schools is one of the first urban schools to launch an FFA chapter for its students. Mike Honeycutt, board president; and Raylee Honeycutt, education and outreach leader, presented a $5,000 check to the chapter at the school’s Sept. 11 Board of Education meeting.  

“We are thrilled to be able to partner with Beech Grove City Schools to bring this important program to it students,” said Mike. “The FFA provides assistance to young people to help them develop their own unique talents and explore their interests in a broad range of career pathways. We strive to be an effective advocate for farmers and, through its policies and programs, promote agriculture and improve the economic and social welfare of member families.  Helping to establish this new FFA Chapter at Beech Grove City Schools allows the Marion County Farm Bureau to fulfill its mission of promoting agriculture and improving the quality of life of its members.

Superintendent, Dr. Paul Kaiser, remarked “Beech Grove City Schools is excited to enter into this relationship with the Marion County Farm Bureau to strengthen our high school’s new agriculture program and provide future opportunities to our students.  We greatly appreciate Farm Bureau’s generous donation.”

Students were recently elected as FFA chapter officers.  The officers include:  Veronica Rubadue, president; Stefanie Ingram, vice president; Zach Merritt, secretary; Desiree Thomas, treasurer; Tiffany Bryson, reporter; and Delaney Mitchell, sentinel.  Chris Kaufman, agri-science teacher at BGHS, serves as the chapter’s advisor.

SPRING CITY, Tenn. — Hannah Wright believes the National Junior Angus Assoc., (NJAA) and Angus breed have molded her into the person she is today. And the strong work ethic instilled in her by growing up on a farm is now guiding her toward professional achievements.

“The calices on my hand and the sore muscles all make me realize that my success depends upon me, and with a good work ethic I can move mountains,” said Wright, who grew up on Wright’s Angus Farm.

A junior at the University of Tennessee majoring in animal sciences and food and agriculture business, Wright recently participated in the first-ever Angus Ambassador competition, hosted by the NJAA. On Aug. 21, she and her parents, Tim and Connie Wright, visited the American Angus Assoc., (AAA) headquarters in Saint Joseph, Mo., along with the four other finalists and their families.

“I am always impressed by the caliber of youth in the Angus community,” said Robin Ruff, AAA director of junior activities. “All of our Ambassador candidates are well-spoken, confident representatives for our industry. They have bright futures ahead of them.”

A new program this year, the Angus Ambassador will represent the breed at industry events throughout the United States and Canada, including the National Angus Conference and Tour in Wichita, Kan.; a Certified Angus Beef Building Blocks Seminar in Wooster, Ohio; the Beef Improvement Federation in Oklahoma City, Okla.; the National Cattlemen’s Beef Assoc. Cattle Industry Annual Convention in Tampa Bay, Fla.; and the Guiding Outstanding Angus Leaders (GOAL) Conference in Canada.

To be considered for the position, each junior member had to submit a cover letter, resume and two essay responses. Then the top five candidates were invited to the Association to give a 15-minute presentation addressing current beef industry challenges.

Topics ranged from the historic drought to genetic technology, and beef advocacy to production strategies. Wright’s presentation, “Mission Impossible,” discussed the differences between grain-fed and grass-fed production methods, as well as the environmental impacts of each practice. She cited Certified Angus Beef (CAB) LLC as the “cattlemen’s emerald city,” because to be successful in the future, producers need to pay attention to value-added programs that supply high-quality product for consumers.

Judging the competition were Larry Corah, vice president of CAB; Sally Northcutt, AAA genetic research director; Becky Hays of Centralized Ultrasound Processing (CUP) lab; Chris Sankey, Association board member; and Wes Tiemann, AAA regional manager.

Following the presentations, the judges selected Lauren Adcock, Moweaqua, Ill., as the 2012 Angus Ambassador. Adcock is a senior at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign studying agriculture and consumer economics.

Even though Wright was not selected as the ambassador, she says the program is a great way to give back to the Association that has given her so much.

Joining Wright in the top five were: Lauren Adcock, Moweaqua, Ill.; Esther McCabe, Elk City, Kan.; Tyler Ottensmeier, McLouth, Kan.; Blaine Novak, Fordville, N.D.