January 2005Newsletterby Heather Hines, Reporter
Next MeetingThe January FFA meetingwill be held on Monday, January 24that 7:00 p.m. in the Ag Center. Atthis meeting those members who are eligible to receive their ChapterFFA degree will be recognized. This is the highest degree that thechapter can bestow on itÕs members. It is an honor to receivethis award. This will also be the last meeting before we elect your2004-05 officer team. We would like to see you all there.
January AgBreakfastThe January Ag Breakfastwill be held on the 6th at Tee Jaye's at 6:30 A.M. This is a greatway to socialize before school and to start your day off right withbreakfast.
Greenhand FFADegreesThe A-C FFA Chapterawarded 21 members the Greenhand FFA Degree at its December meeting.These members were awarded the bronze pin for this award by thechapter officers. The Greenhand FFA Degree is the first degree FFAmembers can achieve. To earn this degree, members must demonstrateknowledge of FFA history, the FFA Creed, motto, salute, and othergeneral FFA information through a written test. They also must recitethe five paragraph FFA Creed in their Agricultural Education class.This is the 1st degree of achievement an FFA member can earn. Thisyears recipients are: LarsAbel, Jessie Berisford, O'neal Blackburn, Greg Bowers, RachelCarroll, Jordan Collins, Judd Ellinger, Madison Fausnaugh, AndrewGobel, Kelsey Goodman, Taylor Griebel, Ryan Hartley, Kyle Kennedy,John Linton, Josh Mathes, T.J. Miller, Max Noll, Kayla Notestone,J.R. Rogers, Jodi Roush,AmieSchwalbaugh andCodyThomson
Congratulations to the AgCommunication Team!Congratulations to thisyears Ag. Communications CDE team for placing fourth in the state.CortneyCollins also placed ninthindividually. The teamconsisted of Cortney ,Amanda Cassidy placing43rd individually, LindseyCarpenter placing 41stindividually, and AdamBaldwin placing 21stindividually. Lindsey and Amanda have both competed for three yearsand this was there final Ag Comm. contest. Their leadership will bemissed. In the six times that our chapter has participated in thiscontest we have placed in the top ten all six times, winning thecontest twice in 2000 and 2001. Congratulations to this years teamfor carrying on our chapters strong traditions.
Fruit SaleOnce again, theAmanda-Clearcreek FFA Chapter held a Fall Fruit Sale as a fundraiser.This year, the chapter sold over 1,550 boxes/baskets. The chapter'stop seller was NataliePalmer, who sold 75.5boxes/baskets. The second place seller was Judd Ellinger, selling 67.5 boxes/baskets. All members sellingover 25 boxes are eligible to attend the National Tractor Pulls andMachinery Show in Louisville KY. The trip departs on February 18thand returns on February 20th. Mr. Sharp will get information toeligible members after the holiday break.
What are ProficiencyAwards?Proficiency awards arebased upon a member's Supervised Agricultural Experience Project(s).Applicants must complete and submit their project books and adetailed application. Project books are evaluated for accuracy andneatness while the applications are also evaluated for these factorsplus numerous others such as, the description of skills learned,supporting pictures, etc. Each February, applications are reviewedfor accuracy at the District level and submitted to the State levelfor further evaluation and placing. Those applicants deemed to be inthe top four in the state in their respective area are theninterviewed. From these final applicants, three are then selected asthe top three in the state, receiving their final placing and awardplaques at the State FFA Convention in May. Second, third, and forthyear members who are interested in applying for a proficiency awardneed to see Mr., Sharp or Mr. Tilley ASAP.
Made for ExcellenceConferenceThe Made for ExcellenceConference is a large leadership workshop usually held in either ahotel or at a hosting FFA chapter's school. This workshop is anovernight leadership training activity put on by a group of State FFAOfficers and influential speakers from around the country. The maingoals of the conference are to promote leadership in FFA chapters,individuals, and communities, as well as meet other FFA members fromaround the state. It is an excellent opportunity to interact withother chapters in the FFA Organization. The Amanda-Clearcreek FFAChapter selects members who have shown great potential to becomeleaders to attend this yearly conference. The chosen members at theannual awards banquet this year were: Christine Bussert, Stacey Sams, ErikaHardman, andAshleyLamb.
UpcomingContestsThere are many upcomingCareer Development Events that start in January and February. If youare interested in any of these contests, contact Mr. Sharp or Mr.Tilley a.s.a.p. We are starting to prepare for: Public Speaking,Tractor Troubleshooting, Small Engines, Poultry, Meat, EquineManagement, Agronomy, General Livestock, Dairy Cattle, WildlifeManagement, and Nature Interpretation.Public Speaking- The public speakingcontest consists of four categories: Creed Speaking, BeginningPrepared Speaking, Extemporaneous Speaking, and Senior Prepared. Eachcategory is represented by one member from our chapter. Each categoryhas a given amount of time that their speech must reach, and aregiven that amount of time to present it. Good Luck to thosecompeting.TractorTroubleshooting - TheTractor Troubleshooting team consists of two members. The contestconsists of a test and 3 to 6 tractors that have two problems eachthat you must pinpoint. The team must place first or second in thedistrict to proceed to the state level. One qualification to do thiscontest is that the members must join the Tractor Maintenance orSmall Engines 4-H club. If you haven't already done so, pleasecontact Mr. Tilley a.s.a.p.SmallEngines -The SmallEngines contest tests student knowledge and understanding of smallgasoline engines. At present, the contest consists of a multiplechoice test and various stations ranging from installing valves, toparts I.D., to questions dealing with lubricants. Currently, achapter may enter up to three team members at the district level,with the top two teams advancing to the state level. Onequalification to do this contest is that the members must join theTractor Maintenance or Small Engines 4-H club.Poultry -Each member grades eggs, live birds, and chicken carcasses. Themembers also take a written test. AC FFA Alumni memberHeatherMakarius will coach thisyear's teamMeats - Participants judge quality and identifycuts of meat and places classes of meat.EquineManagement- Each membertakes a written test, an equipment identification test, judges fourclasses of horses, and judges a class of hay. Practice for thiscontest will start late January or early February. Mrs. Ellinger will coach the team again this year.Agronomy- This contest designed to assess the student's knowledge ofagronomic practices for the production of field crops. A practicalexamination requires the student to identify specimens of crop andweed plants and seeds, diseases, and insects or their damage. Twowritten tests cover the use of soil tests, county soil surveys,current agronomic practices, fertilizer, sprayer calibrationproblems, and their solution. A-C FFA Alumni member Ben Blosser will coach this year's team.General Livestock- Each participant judgesa class of sheep, hogs, and cattle. AC FFA Alumni Member EricValentine will coach this year's team.Dairy Cattle- An educational activitydesigned as a practical method of teaching students to select qualitydairy cattle. Students will be challenged with pedigree evaluation,sire selection, linear evaluation, a written test, placing classes,and written class reasons.Wildlife Management- Each member identifiesdifferent types of wildlife by track, feather, wing, etc and takes awritten test.