by Jessie Berisford, Reporter

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State FFA Convention

        Twenty-nine members recently attended the State FFA Convention. There were two FFA members who received their State FFA Degrees at the convention. These members were Brian Bussert and Ashley Lamb . Brian is a graduate member of the Amanda Clearcreek FFA. This is a prestigous award placing. Brain and Ashley are in the top 3% of all FFA members in the state. The chapter was also recognized for the officer books. Ashley Lamb received a Bronze rating for her Reporter's scrapbook, Crystal Covell received a gold rating for her Secretary's book, and Jessica Caisse received a gold rating on her Treasurer's book. Members also participated in one of the following CDE areas at the State Convention. In the Cooperative Education CDE the team placed 22nd. In the Agricultural Mechanics Technology CDE event the team placed 28th. In the Greenhand Quiz CDE the team placed 30th.  Members in attendance were: Jessie Berisford, Jodi Roush, Brittany Pinkstock, Alyssa Jenkins, C.J. Broaddus, Crystal Covell, Ryan Davis II, Josh Cordle, Kayla Notestone, Judd Ellinger, Greg Bowers, Stacey Sams, Ben Ball, Ray Spence, David Sams, Ashley Lamb, Chelsea Polt, Christine Bussert, Christine Boso, Courtney Cox, Laurie Segovia, Kyle Kennedy, and Dylan Branham. 

Baby Animal Farm

        The Baby Animal Farm was held on Friday, May 12th. Thank you to all of the FFA members who brought in their pets so the elementary children could enjoy them.

Mulch Trip

        Fourteen members recently went on the mulch trip. These members went to Pennsylvania and participated in many activities. Crystal Covell said “It was the most fun of all of the FFA trips that I have been on!” The members took a 22 mile bicycle ride, went white water rafting, enjoyed a climbing wall, went wild caving, rappelled, and visited Frank Lloyd Wright’s  Fallingwater. We would like to send out a huge thank you to all of the A-C FFA Alumni chaperones that went on this trip. Those members were Amanda Cassidy, Ben Blosser and Jon Singleton. It would not have been possible without you!

 

Alumni Scholarship Recipient

            The Amanda-Clearcreek FFA Alumni decided in 2003 to provide scholarship money for graduating seniors planning to continue their education after high school at a trade school, technical college or university. This years scholarship recipient was Dani Sowers. Dani will receive $250 for books and other college supplies at the completion of her first term of college. Congratulations Dani on this accomplishment!

Chapter Awards Banquet

            The Chapter Awards Banquet was held on Saturday May, 20th. There were 42 freshmen members who attended, 34 sophomore members, 24 junior members, 25 senior members, and the 3 graduate members were Christian Hoffman, Brad Bowers, and Brian Bussert . Numerous  awards were given out to recognize our members accomplishments. The Star Greenhand award went to Josh Cordle, Alyssa Jenkins, David Sams, and Ryan Davis II . The Memorial Award went to Jessie Berisford and Ryan Davis II . The DeKalb Leadership award went to Debbie Pickleseimer and the Star Chapter award also went to Debbie .   We would also like to send out a big thank you to all of the school board members and school staff that attended; it was greatly appreciated!

Officer Retreat

            This years officer retreat is going to be White Water Rafting on the New River in West Virginia.  The officers will also be traveling to Oak Hill, WV to the ACE Adventure Center. All assistants and committee chair persons are invited to attend, while officers are expected to attend. At the officer retreat, the officers will  have a chance to get to know one another better and also plan out the chapters activities for the upcoming year.

    

Washington Leadership Conference

The Memorial Award was originally called the Rusty Bowers Memorial Leadership Scholarship setup in the memory of Rusty Bowers, an Amanda-Clearcreek FFA member who was killed in a hunting accident in 1983. With the loss of Becky Strickler in 1997, the award was renamed to the current name. The Memorial Award pays for the cost of the Washington Leadership Conference, previously known as the Washington Conference Program, is a week-long FFA sponsored leadership conference held each summer in Washington, D.C. These two members will be going to Washington D.C. for this trip July 25th- 30th. This years award winners were freshman Ryan Davis II , and sophomore Jessie Berisford. Congratulations to these members.

 

FFA Camp

            FFA Camp is coming up soon and once again it is going to be held at Camp Muskingum. Camp is going to be July 10th-14th. FFA Camp gives members a chance to meet other members from all around the state of Ohio. If you haven’t signed up, there might still be room for you, contact Mr. Tilley ASAP!  

            At FFA Camp there are activities such as extreme soccer, rifle and shotgun ranges, dances, games, canoeing, boating and there were many more.

County Fair Exhibitors

            Any members who are planning to exhibit a project at the county fair need to contact Mr. Tilley ASAP. All entries are subject to the same rules as 4-H members such as ear tagging, weigh in’s, etc. It will be all members responsibility to make all deadlines.

Graduating Seniors

            We would like to wish the best of the graduating seniors of the class of 2006. This years graduating seniors are: Andrea Brumfield, Amanda Campbell, Jennifer Fletcher, Dan Flowers, Erika Hardman, Kelsey Johnston, Lindsay Lama, Tiffany Miller, Chelsea Polt, Brent Poston, Alex Reid, Daniel Wampler, Nic White, Samantha Reid, Dani Sowers, Cerene Kilbarger, Debbie Pickleseimer, Holli Arledge, Heather Cox, Jimmi Gordon, Alisha Kougher, Alex Ogan, Ashley Darfus and Zac Saum.

Summer Hours

        Eight hours of time are required for the summer activities, but there is no limit. Each hour will be worth 50 points to the FFA part of your grade for the 1st grading period, totaling 400 points. Members can also gain 100 bonus points for extra hours. There will be more than enough activities for members to get in all 8 hours. This years activities are as follows: Cross Mound Park Clean-Up, Tarlton Firemen’s Fish Fry, Ag Breakfast, FFA Camp, Canoe Trip, Host the FFA Center at the Ohio State Fair, Poultry Association’s Food Booth, Adopt-a-Highway Clean-Up, Ohio Cattleman Association’s Food Booth, Industry Tour, School Work Days, and the Washington Leadership Conference. This gives members a chance to start the year off with a good grade and also have a bit of summer fun! If any member did not get to sign up for an activity in time and is still interested you can sign up by calling and letting Mr. Tilley know at 681-9590.

 

Tarlton Fire Department Fish Fry

            The following people signed up for the Tarlton Fire Department Fish Fry on June 22nd at 3:00 p.m. meeting at the Tarlton Town Hall: Josh Ayers, Dustin Baxter, Lacey Price, Megan Underhill, Tiffany Brown, Christine Bussert, Bobbi Edwards, Matt Nestor, Anthony Wampler, Betsy Bowshier, Laklyn Neal, Matt Miller, Dustin Cox, Nathan Brumfield, Larry Sahr, Haylee Shaw, Max Noll, Kruize Reid, JR Rogers, Dylan Branham, and TJ Miller.

Cross Mound Park Clean-up

            The following people signed up for the Cross Mound Park Clean-up on July 6th meeting at the park at 11:00 a.m.: Josh Ayers, Ashley Lamb, Jessica Caisse, April Senften, Lacey Price, Matt Nestor, Anthony Wampler, Joe Smith, Tiffany Brown, Josh Bivens, Larry Sahr, Haylee Shaw, Alyssa Brainard, Holly Brown, Bill Davis, Brittany Manson, Josh Cordle, TJ Miller, and Andrew Gobel.

 

Canoe Trip

            This years Canoe Trip will be worth 3 hours. It will cost about $18 plus the cost for lunch. The bus will leave at 9 a.m. and will return by 4 p.m. Once again the trip will be to the Hocking River. 

           The following people signed up for the Summer Canoe Trip on July 17th meeting at the school: Courtney Cox, Josh Ayers, Dustin Baxter, Matt Nestor, Ashley Lamb, April Senften, Lacey Price, Megan Underhill, Christine Boso, Tiffany Brown, Christine Bussert, TJ Hines, Heather Stevens, Anthony Wampler, Stacey Sams, Bobbi Edwards, Joe Smith, Tony Johnston,  Matt Taylor, Larry Sahr, TJ Miller, Brittany Manson Shelbey McManes, Holly Brown, Ethan Mathias, Cody Thomson, Max Noll, Greg Bowers, Bill Davis, Alyssa Jenkins, Josh Cordle, Matt Hill, Seth Farmer, Roger Sisler, Alyssa Brainard, David Sams, DJ Hopkins, Gene Brown, Scott Daniels, and Brittany Pinkstock. If you are still interested in attending the Canoe Trip you can call Mr. Tilley.

 

School Work Days

          The following people have signed up for general work days at school that will most likely be held in August: Ashley Lamb, Jessica Caisse, Ben Ball, Josh Bivens, Matt Taylor, Shelby McManes, JR Rogers, Alyssa Jenkins, Josh Cordle, Cameron Shaw, Brett Bentz, Randy Forrest, Kyle Carver, Cassie McFarland, and Brittany Pinkstock.

Ohio FFA Center Hosting

            The Ohio FFA Center Hosting is held at the Ohio State Fair on August 2nd. This activity will count as 7 summer hours or 5 hours if you return early. There will be a 10 member maximum and official dress is going to be needed. Members attending will work one shift and will be able to enjoy the fair the other shift. Spending money will be needed. There are still spaces for members to go and these spaces need to be filled so if you are interested in going please let Mr. Sharp know ASAP. 

           The following people who signed up for the Ohio FFA Center Hosting  need to meet at the school on August 2nd at 8:30 a.m. : Ray Spence, Fantasia Applegarth, Alyssa Jenkins, Josh Cordle, Cameron Shaw, Kayla Richmond, David Sams, DJ Hopkins, Gene Brown, and Brittany Pinkstock. Official dress and casual clothing are both needed for this activity.

 

Ohio Cattlemen and Poultry Association’s Food Booths

  The following people signed up and will meet at the school to work at the Cattlemen Association’s Food Booth on August 2nd at 8:30 a.m.: April Senften, Courtney Cox, Betsy Bowshier, Laklyn Neal, Tony Johnston, Matt Miller, Dustin Cox, Nathan Brumfield, Haylee Shaw, Alyssa Brainard, Cody Thomson, Max Noll, Bill Davis, Alyssa Jenkins and Emerson Martin. The two members who signed up for the Poultry Booth were Ryan Watkins and Gene Brown; more members are needed to help with this activity!!!

 

 Summer Adopt-a-Highway Clean-up

            The following people signed up for the Summer Adopt-a-Highway Clean-up on August 3rd at 11:00 a.m.: Ashley Lamb, Jessica Caisse, April Senften, Ryan Daivs II, Larry Sahr, Alyssa Brainard, Haylee Shaw, Holly Brown, Josh Cordle, Seth Farmer, David Sams, Ryan Watkins, TJ Miller, Andrew Gobel, Roger Sisler, Sarah Rogers, Cassie McFarland, and Brittany Pinkstock. Members who have not signed up but would like to attend can contact Mr. Sharp at 477-3233.

Ag Industry Tour

            The following people signed up for the Ag Industry Tour on August 4th at 9:00 a.m.: April Senften, TJ Hines,  Cody Thomson, Ray Spence, Alyssa Diltz, Sheena Clevenger, Alyssa Jenkins, Josh Cordle, Cameron Shaw, Emerson Martin, Seth Farmer, Dylan Branham, Alyssa Brainard, David Sams, DJ Hopkins, Ryan Watkins, Heather Stevens, TJ Miller, Brittany Manson, and Sarah Rogers.Members who have not signed up but would like to attend can contact Mr. Tilley.