Davis named Ohio Dorset Sheep Queen

EATON, Ohio — Jenna Nicole Davis, of Chillicothe, Ohio has recently been named the 2007 Ohio Dorset Queen. The Ohio Dorset Breeders Association crowned Davis during the 47th annual Ohio Dorset Show and Sale on March 16-17. This year’s national show and sale had over 263 polled and 63 horned Dorset sheep in attendance.

As the newly crowned queen, Davis, 15 will represent all Ohio Dorset sheep breeders at various shows and events throughout the year. She will also represent the junior association as the president, while continuing to exhibit her own Dorset sheep in Ohio and at other national venues.


FFA chapters compete in Earth Day Challenge

INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. — FFA chapters around the United States are developing and implementing reforestation and conservation projects as part of the National FFA Organization’s first-ever Earth Day Service Challenge in partnership with Timberland

“With the support of Timberland PRO, the Earth Day Service Challenge will award a $3,000 Best Civic Engagement grant to the chapter with the most volunteer involvement, and a $7,000 Best Impact grant to the chapter which demonstrates the most powerful impact to the community,” said Joe Martinez, education specialist at National FFA. “We will make our award selections in May,” he said.

Projects must include at least 50 volunteers and take place during April. A reforestation project includes planting trees, which removes pollutants from the air, lowers energy consumption levels and prevents erosion. A conservation project can include a waterway cleanup project in a nearby lake or river, park or trail refurbishing and more.

The following is a roundup of some FFA environmental service projects currently underway.

The Clay Center FFA chapter from Clay Center, Kan., planted a three-row, 600-foot windbreak for their new industrial park in the town on April 19. Agriculture education students from Kutztown High School in Kutztown, Pa., are working on a nearby family farm in Virginville, Pa., to assist in a stream bank fencing and planting project. And in Mena, Ark., the natural resources management class at Mena Public Schools is building wildlife food plots in the school’s 40-acre outdoor classroom to enhance the whitetail deer population on campus and within the safety of the city limits.


Swine youth attend national leadership conference

INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. — The race was on for the nation’s top youth swine leaders as they gathered to discuss ideas and at the 2007 National Junior Swine Association (NJSA) National Youth Leadership Conference, “The Race is On,” April 19-22 in Indianapolis, Ind.

More than 70 young leaders from 17 states listened to keynote speaker Corey Flournoy of Champaign, Ill. – the first African-American and non-rural president of the National FFA Organization.
Flournoy encouraged participants to discover the purposes of their lives and to strive for integrity, success and fulfillment.
A variety of swine industry leaders provided insight and motivation for NJSA members. Participants learned about the impact of swine welfare in a panel discussion conducted by Erik Risa with the National Pork Board of Des Moines, Iowa; and National Pork Board consultants Kellye Pfalzgraf, D.V.M., with Tyson Foods of Springdale, Ark., and Hugh Dorminy of Russellville, Ark., who spent many years overseeing live hog production for Cargill Pork.

Eric Farrand, Pfizer Animal Health, of New York, N.Y., educated participants on proper swine health protocol. Participants were challenged to maintain integrity, passion for success and respect for others in a presentation by Andy Rash with Showmaster Feeds of Kewanee, Ill.  Nicole Boettger with the National Pork Board educated participants on how to effectively work with the media in her “Operation Mainstreet” workshop. Jodi Sterle with Texas A&M University of College Station, Texas, combined swine reproduction basics with challenges for participants’ everyday lives in her “Swine Repro 101” presentation. Leaders of the NJSA also provided training during the conference. Past NJSA president Katey Brattain of West Lafayette, Ind., encouraged participants to make a difference in the lives of young NJSA members by becoming a mentor through the NJSA MVP program. NJSA board member Aimee Shaffer of West Lafayette, Ind., challenged participants to become successful self-starters.