by Josh Cordle, Reporter

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Jodi Roush Becomes State Reporter!

     On Saturday May 5 th , Jodi Roush was elected State Reporter for the Ohio FFA Association and she received her State FFA Degree.  She is currently President of our chapter and a junior in high school.  Jodi was last year’s chapter secretary.  She has participated in the Dairy Cattle, Rural Soils, Public Speaking, and Agricultural Communications CDEs.  Her SAE projects include Dairy Production Placement and Entrepreneurship.  Jodi works on her family’s dairy farm and raises Jersey heifers and steers.  Jodi is also a member of the A.C.H.S. National Honor Society, Foreign Language Club, and Art Club.

    Here is what Jodi had to say about her experience of running for a State officer prior to election results: "Running for a state FFA office is very challenging. To be considered, one must complete the application, write an essay, submit a written recommendation from your advisor, and receive a 65% on their interview. The interview consists of six parts including a 100 question written test, an extemporaneous speech and other tests of your skills as a speaker and leader. We'll see how it turns out, but it definitely has been a very rewarding experience because I have met a lot of good people and learned a lot about myself during the process."

    Jodi’s response to becoming the State Reporter:  “After waiting two months, it was so exciting to finally hear the results.  It was unreal to be up on the stage as the State Reporter.  ABN Radio interviewed us backstage and we already started getting to work.  I will be very busy in the next year!”

  We are very proud of Jodi and all the hard work she has put into the FFA and this chapter.  We wish her luck as State Reporter.   She is only the 6 th person in the Amanda-Clearcreek FFA Chapter to become a state or district officer.  Congratulations Jodi!

 

Upcoming Meeting!

        The meeting is Friday June 1st, 2007.  Please note this change!  It was made  to fit schedules.  The Ag. Challenge winners (class of 2009) will be rewarded with steak and ice cream, while the other members sulk in their hot-dogs and chips!! Pop will also be available.  Also the assistant officers will run the meeting.  Members are encouraged to keep the good attendance up and have fun as it is the last meeting of the year!

 

Ag. Challenge

  The sophomores win for their second year in a row with 103 points!  The juniors came in second with 99.5 points.  The seniors got third with 84.5 points and in dead last the freshman with 80 points.  Can the sophomores stay on top and three-peat or will a new champion arise?  We shall see next year.  

 

Officer Retreat

  The retreat is July 17th through the 19th at the ACE Adventure Center.  Details will be told to the leadership team on Friday June 1st during our last leadership team meeting for the school year.

 

Summer Hours

  Members need to get there 8 hours in.  You have hopefully signed up for these in advance and planned your summer accordingly.  Summer hours are just that, THEY OCCUR IN THE SUMMER.

 

Tarlton Fish Fry

  The Tarlton Firemen's Fish Fry is an activity that the FFA has participated in for the past few years, starting in 2002. The Firemen put on a fish fry as a fund raiser each year where anyone in the community can come and have a sit down dinner and enjoy an all-you-can eat fish meal. The FFA members sit, serve and assist the people that come. We serve them their food, drinks and clean up after they are done. The FFA volunteers to help the firemen and help out the community while having a good time.  Members need to meet at the town hall  at 3 P.M. on June 28th.  Those members who signed-up to help are:

Judd Ellinger, Tara McCalla, Cory Tedrow, Brittany Pinkstock, Nathan Brumfield, Brett Bentz, Matt Taylor, Josh Bivens, Ron Luck, Dustin Cox, Cody Frank, Sierra Dennis, Chris Sparkman, Zach Underhill, Brandon Bresler, Brittany Stevens, Jessica Herron, Josh Templeton,Tyler Genders, Cody Sharp, Tyler VanHorn, Jordan Forquer, Brock Rose, and Ed Johnson. If you cannot attend this activity please contact Mr. Tilley at 740-969-7381.

 

Ag. Breakfast

  Ag. Breakfast will be on July 5th at 8 A.M. & August 9th at 8 A.M. The locations will be decided at the June meeting and will be posted on the web page on the calendar of events link.  When school resumes they will return to being held at the school.

 

Crossmound Park Clean-up

  Members on July 5th and August 9th will do a general clean-up and repair (fence & trail repair, painting benches, etc.) of the park.  It is near Talton on Sixteenth Road and will last probably 2-3 hours.  Those members are:

Judd Ellinger, Tara McCalla, Brittany Pinkstock, Josh Cordle, Alyssa Jenkins, Nathan Brumfield, Brett Bentz, David Sams, Larry Sahr, Sierra Dennis, Kaleb Miller, Erin Evans, Ashlee Reynolds, Catelin Covell, Brandon Bresler, Travis Hart, Jordan Forquer, Brock Rose, and Ed Johnson. If you cannot go please contact Mr. Sharp at 740-969-7384.

 

Summer FFA Camp

  Ohio FFA Camp is a summer camp for FFA members from across the state. The Ohio FFA Association established a state camping program on October 4th, 1941 and moved into the current facilities in 1943. There are now five sessions of regular FFA camp, of which, the Amanda-Clearcreek FFA typically attends session five. Members that have submitted the required forms and fees are: Lars Abel, Greg Bowers, C.J. Broaddus, Josh Cordle, Randy Forrest, Jessika Harmon, Travis Hart, D.J. Hopkins, Damian Karcher, Holly Kidwell, Bridgitte Kyser, Matt Lamb, Scott Loudermilk, Chancey McMaster, C.J. Mets, Brittany Pinkstock, Teran Pinkstock, Ashlee Reynolds, Sarah Rogers, Brock Rose, Ray Spence, J.D. Stover, and Zack Spires .

 

Canoe Trip

  On July 16th, members will be canoeing down the Hocking River.  The cost is about $20 dollars and you need to be at the school at 9 A.M.  Members that signed up are:

Garren Dilley, Gene Brown, Kayla Notestone, Jessie Berisford, Billie Jo Matthews, Heather Stevens, Greg Bowers, J.R. Rogers, Max Noll, Judd Ellinger, Tara McCalla, Cory Tedrow, Adam Foster, Brittany Pinkstock, Matt Hill, Josh Cordle, Alyssa Jenkins, Nathan Brumfield, Brett Bentz, Megan Gierhart, Alyssa Brainard, Matt Taylor, Lars Abel, Sierra Dennis, Erin Evans, Catelin Covell, Brandon Bresler, David Sams, Ed Johnson, Brock Rose, Jordan Forquer, Matt Lamb, Ryan Watkins, Sarah Rogers, Seth Farmer, Ron Luck, Josh Bivens, Chris Sparkman, Zach Underhill, Scott Loudermilk, C.J. Mets, Jessica Herron, Brittany Stevens, Dalton Shreve, Jessica Jago, Ashlee Reynolds, Josh Templeton, Tyler Genders, Cody Sharp, Tyler VanHorn, Kati Beedy, and Andrew Bennett.

WLC

  The Washington Leadership Conference (previously known as the Washington Conference Program)  is a 5-day conference where FFA chapter leaders from around the country have the opportunity to go to our nation's capitol while learning valuable leadership skills and experiencing personal growth.

  Those attending are chosen through an application and interview process within the chapter. The Amanda-Clearcreek FFA awards all-expense paid scholarships at the chapter banquet to the two members who have completed the interview process and have proved they possess the characteristics of future chapter leaders.

  The conference is led by an inspirational and energetic staff of past state and national FFA officers who are currently in college. This staff is usually composed of 5 to 6 people who work with the FFA members to improve their communication and leadership skills as well as supply them with vital qualities for a future career. This is done in workshops involving all attendants of the conference, in small groups and in one-on-one teaching.

  When the FFA members have to eventually depart from the Washington Leadership Conference, they know they are taking home great memories. The skills and experiences that are earned can be brought back to the home chapter to inspire and teach all FFA members how to become better leaders. The WLC is something any member with desire to achieve should strive to attend.  Members this year are Madison Fausnaugh and Jodi Roush .

 

OLC

  The Ohio Leadership Camp is like FFA Camp but with a few differences.  OLC stresses leadership, public speaking, and organization.  It prepares you for a lot of everyday things in life like: job interviews, class presentations, and standing firm in tough situations.  OLC is June 22nd through June 25th, 2007.  Members attending are: Madison Fausnaugh, Ryan Davis, Stacey Sams, and Jessie Berisford .

Ag. Industry Tour

  On July 23rd members who have signed up for this activity will tour: Freshwater Farms in Urbana, Ohio (indoor aquaculture facility, specializing in rainbow trout, yellow perch, tilipia, and sturgeon); Robert Rothchild Berry Farm (specializes in gourmet foods- over 15 acres of raspberries);  and the Running Bare Ranch (specializes in raising American Bison).  Members who signed-up to attend are:

Kayla Notestone, Jessie Berisford, Billie Jo Matthews, Heather Stevens, J.R. Rogers, Megan Gierhart, Madison Fausnaugh, Scott Loudermilk, Emerson Martin, Seth Farmer, Ryan Davis, Chris Sparkman, Kaleb Miller, Dylan Thompson, Cody Epley, Brittany Stevens, Jessica Herron, Tyler Genders, Josh Templeton, Cody Sharp, Tyler VanHorn, Andrew Bennet, Gene Brown, Ryan Watkins, Kati Beedy, Ashlee Reynolds, Zack Spires, Aaron Wortman, D.J. McCoy, and Zach Underhill.

 

FFA Center Hosting

  Members will be in official dress  and will host the Ohio FFA Center on the Ohio State Fairgrounds on August 1st.  Members who signed-up to attend are: Chris Sparkman, Brittany Pinkstock, Josh Cordle, David Sams, Brittany Stevens, Jessica Herron, Bridgitte Kyser, Phoenix Queen, and Tiffany Hayman.

Members are still needed for this event so if you are interested contact Mr. Tilley at 740-969-7381.

Adopt-a-Highway

  The Amanda Clearcreek FFA has adopted a section of State Route 159 to clean-up as part of ODOT's Adopt-a-Highway program. The chapters section runs from just south of Tommy Wayne's Pizza to the south end of Oakland, comprising three total miles. The chapter holds an Adopt-a-Highway clean-up after school about two times a year and once during the summer months. During these clean-ups, members of the chapter walk along the highway and pick-up trash. After this is done, the ODOT workers come by and pick-up the bags of trash. This makes for a cleaner and healthier environment. This is one of the many community service projects provided by the Amanda-Clearcreek FFA.  On August 9th members need to meet at 10 A.M. at the school.  Members signed-up to help are:

Brittany Pinkstock, David Sams, Dylan Thompson, Cody Eppley, Catelin Covell, Erin Evans, Zach Underhill, Josh Holbrook, Tiffany Hayman, Aaron Wortman, and D.J. McCoy .

If you cannot attend please call Mr. Sharp at 740-969-7384. More members are also needed for this activity.

 

Ohio Cattleman  & Poultry Association Food Boothes

  Members on August 1st will be serving food at these two booths at the Ohio State Fairgrounds.  Those members need to be at the school at 8:30 A.M.  and they are: Max Noll, Judd Ellinger, Tara McCalla, Adam Foster, Matt Hill, Emerson Martin, Dustin Cox, Ray Spence, Larry Sahr, Sierra Dennis, Chris Sparkman, Raquel Jackson, Brittany Stevens, Jessica Herron, Kati Beedy, Travis Hart, Gene Brown, Ryan Watkins,Steven Young, Garren Dilley, Ashlee Reynolds, and Zack Spires.

Members are still needed for this activity so please contact Mr. Tilley at 740-969-7381 if you are interested.

Chapter Banquet

  The Chapter Awards Banquet was held on Saturday May 19th at 4 P.M.  There were 115 members and about 250 guests present.  Here are just a few of the accomplishments or awards that were given at the banquet:

Star Greenhand:

Teran Pinkstock & Scott Loudermilk

Outstanding Sophomore:

Ryan Davis II

Outstanding Junior:

Jodi Roush

Outstanding Senior:

Stacey Sams

Star Chapter Award:

Stacey Sams & Crystal Covell

DeKalb Leadership Award:

Stacey Sams

Memorial Award:

Jodi Roush & Madison Fausnaugh

 

State FFA Convention

The Amanda-Clearcreek FFA attends the State FFA Convention annually. The State FFA Convention lasts for three days on the first weekend of May at the State Fairgrounds and is made-up of several different sessions. At those sessions, state officers and well-known presenters speak about previous experiences and developing leadership skills. Other activities include the election and presentation of the new state officers, proficiency awards are presented for those with outstanding SAE projects and the top contest teams and individuals are recognized. Students get a chance to meet FFA members from all over Ohio.

At the State FFA Convention members participated in these four CDEs: Greenhand Quiz, Ag. Engineering Technology, Cooperative Education, and Farm Business Management.  Members that participated in the Greenhand Quiz which placed 52nd: Andrew Bennett, Catelin Covell, Garren Dilley, Erin Evans, Jessika Harmon, Travis Hart, Eddie Johnson, Scott Loudermilk, Chance McMaster, and Teran Pinkstock. Members that participated in the Ag. Engineering Technology which placed 32nd: Ben Ball, Judd Ellinger, Kyle Kennedy, Jodi Roush, Laurie Segovia, John Spellman, Ray Spence, and J.D. Stover.   Members that participated in the Cooperative Education CDE which placed 27th: C.J. Broaddus, Josh Cordle, Ryan Davis, Megan Gierhart, D.J. Hopkins, Alyssa Jenkins, Tara McCalla, Brittany Pinkstock, and Sarah Rogers.   Members that participated in the Farm Business Management CDE which placed 38th: Jessie Berisford, Christine Boso, Crystal Covell, and Kayla Notestone. Members did well at these CDEs.

State FFA Degrees

Four members, ( Judd Ellinger, Kyle Kennedy, Jodi Roush, and Kayla Notestone) , received their State FFA Degrees on Saturday May 5 th .  These members have committed a lot of time and effort into their SAE projects. The State FFA Degree is the highest degree a state association can award an FFA member. State FFA Degree winners represent the top 2% of the over 23,000 FFA members in the state this year.  This is a very important achievement for our chapter and these members.

Officer Books

    In the FFA, Reporters, Secretaries, and Treasurers are asked to turn in a chapter book compiling their records for their term in office.  The book is then evaluated for completeness and accuracy.  Our 2006-2007 Treasurer Kayla Notestone , Secretary Jodi Roush , and Reporter Jessie Berisford all submitted their books to the district.  All of them earned gold ratings. They spent many hours working diligently on these books.  Thanks for your outstanding effort in representing our chapter.  These members were recognized at the State FFA Convention in Columbus on May 5th, 2007.

The chapter was ranked 24 th out of 317 chapters statewide receiving a gold rating.  The chapter was also recognized for donating to the CROP/World Hunger fund, Children’s Hospital and received the Ohio FFA Foundation Service Award . Also, our Ag. Communications CDE team was recognized for winning the State contest and will compete in the National contest next fall at the National FFA Convention.

 

All in all, the State FFA Convention for our chapter was one to remember as the chapter and it’s members were recognized in many areas. Having Jodi be elected as State FFA Reporter was just the icing on the cake. We’ll have to work hard to top the convention next year.