Melissa Houttuin, Hallsville, Mo., led the grand champion female. MA Lady Erica 885-207 is a February 2005 daughter of Sitz Tradition RLS 8702.

Nathan Frost, Tallula, Ill., showed the reserve grand champion female and reserve early junior champion. Werner Falcon Jilt 356R is a February 2005 daughter of BR Midland. Isaac Taber, Cameron, Ill., led the grand champion steer. B&J New Design 5538 is an April 2005 son of B&J New Design 3006.

Jacqueline Walters, Hebron, Ill., showed the reserve grand champion steer. Thornberry Ladue is an April 2005 son of Northern Improvement 4480 GF.

FFA members participate in district public speaking contest
BOWLING GREEN, Ohio — The Ohio District I FFA Public Speaking contest was Bowling Green High School on March 18.

In the Extemporaneous Speaking category, Stacey Wenig of the Bowling Green chapter placed first. Other top contestants include Amy Harrum of Anthony Wayne in second; Jennifer VanPelt of Wauseon in third; and Alison Coe of Otsego in fourth. Perry Andre of Wauseon won first place in the Creed Speaking contest. Kyle Benschoter of Elmwood placed second, followed by Megan Limes of Otsego and Jennifer Behnken of Oak Harbor.

Hanna Clark of West Unity took first place in the Beginning Prepared Speaking contest, with Nick Barney of Anthony Wayne taking second. Katie Sattler of Bowling Green finished third and Robyn Sundermeier of Patrick Henry fourth. In the Advance Prepared Speaking contest, Suzi Saunders of Bowling Green placed first. Juli Lacumsky of Oak Harbor was in second place; Hanna Lemle of Anthony Wayne was third and Courtney Moenter of Eastwood was fourth.

Teens pitch in to help military kids during 4-H volunteer forum
LEXINGTON, Ky. — They came, they saw, they conquered. A group of about 20 4-H teenagers from Boyd County made quick work of putting together 200 “HERO Pack” backpacks for the children of Kentucky National Guard and Army Reservists who soon will be deployed.

The teens were among hundreds attending the biennial Kentucky 4-H Volunteer Leader Forum, an event that provides opportunities for people not only to learn but to do.

In assembly-line fashion, the 4-H’ers stuffed backpacks with books, puppets, stuffed animals, journals and other items designed to provide a little comfort to children when their parents leave home to serve their country.

“We have 5,000 National Guard troops and 2,500 Reserve deployed in Kentucky right now. We expect to have 2,500 more deployed this year,” said Wendy Stivers, UK Cooperative Extension specialist for 4-H Youth Development, as the young people worked around her. “If you multiply that times two children per family, we have 15,000 to 20,000 military children in Kentucky - not counting what’s at Ft. Knox and Ft. Campbell.”

Longtime 4-Her Justin Harned, a senior at Paul G. Blazer High School in Ashland, was just content to be helping other people. But he readily admitted that this project is a special one. “We did this at state teen council in November, and it’s a really good project to do,” he said.

Pettisville FFA members hosted a number of FFA Week activities
From Feb. 21-24, the Pettisville FFA chapter celebrated National FFA Week with several activities. Throughout the week, students were awarded with bonus points if they wore FFA or agriculture apparel. The reward for participating was beef sticks, pencils and various small prizes.

On Wednesday, the chapter kicked off its Hoop Shoot. In the Hoop Shoot, if a person made at least one shot, they were put in a drawing for a donated prize. The companies and individuals that donated items were Rupp Seed, Archbold Equipment, Michael Lane, Eicher Farms, various FFA members, and Mrs. Poulson.

Sauder Woodworking Co. donated the grand prizes. Isaac Weber and Taylor Short won the grand prizes by making a half court shot. Through the Hoop Shoot, the FFA made $281. The money was split between CROP-Church World Services and Children’s Hospital, both charities of the Ohio FFA Assoc.

The chapter had a pancake breakfast for FFA alumni, facility, staff and parents of the FFA members. Members served breakfast to 110 people.

The FFA Chapter also had an educational baby animal day for the kindergarten, first, second and third graders. There was a lamb, four Siberian husky pups, two calves - a Holstein and a Jersey, three pigs, tilapia and two pygmy goats.

The Pettisville FFA Chapter had five people that competed in the Fulton County public speaking contest. Two students recited the FFA Creed - Rebekah Meller received a gold rating and Tim Spiess received a silver rating. Libby Eicher and Heaven Randolph competed in the Beginning Prepared speeches and both received silver ratings.

Reuben Nofziger competed in the advanced prepared speech category and won second place and a gold rating. -Submitted by Mike Bruner, Pettisville FFA reporter

This farm news was published in the April 5, 2006 issue of Farm World.