2008-2009

The

Amanda-Clearcreek FFA

January

Newsletter

FFAfact of the month: In 1993 the FFA mission was adopted.

*Monthly Chapter Meeting*

Themonthly chapter meeting will be on Monday, January 26th, 2009 at    7:00 P.M. in the Ag.Center. Members are required toattend and stay until the Ag. Challenge is done. The Ag. Challenge is the Feed Bag Hold.  The seniors won the Peanut Butter Facelast meeting. New point standingsare listed in Mr. Tilley and Mr. Sharp’s room. The Chapter FFA Degree Ceremonywill be conducted at this meeting.

*Spotlight*

State Agricultural Communications CDE

The Agricultural Communications CDE is a competitive activitythat tests students’ skills in all areas of the agricultural communicationsfield and evaluates how well they can apply classroom knowledge to real-lifesituations. This year the teamconsisting of: HannahChenetski, Andrea Hollett, Sarah Vannoy, Kelsie Sharp, and Emily Cordle participated at the State CDEafter earning the right by winning the District 7 CDE. Thisgroup of talented young women won the State CDE. This is the third year in-a-row for our chapter’sAgricultural Communications team to win state! Kelsie Sharp placed 4th in the individually!!! HannahChenetski placed 18th, Sarah Vannoy placed 23rd, Andrea Hollett placed 29th and Emily Cordle placed 39th!!!! Congratulations to these ladies on a wonderfulaccomplishment. This is the fifthtime our chapter has won the State CDE. We have only placed out of the top five in the contest one year and eventhen we were a top ten team. Agricultural Communications within the Amanda-Clearcreek FFA has becomea dynasty! Participants attend asimulated news conference and use the information gathered to completeindividual practicums in news story writing, press release writing, radiobroadcasting, web design, and graphic design. Prior to the event, students compile a communication projectproposals related to innovative agricultural practices, management techniquesand marketing tools. Each teamthen creates a 15-minute presentation based on their proposal.  Members also compete in an editingexercise and a general communications knowledge quiz. This team will compete in the National CDE next Octoberduring the National FFA Convention.

Columbus Zoo Trip

Starting in 2007, the A-C FFA had over 20 members take the inauguraltrip to the Columbus Zoo during December to see the holiday lights. This tripis used to promote chapter bonding while doing an enjoyable activity. FFAmembers get a chance to ice skate, buy souvenirs and socialize after eatingsupper together on their way to the zoo. The members walked around the zoovisiting the exhibits for a few hours before heading back to Amanda. Our second annual zoo trip this yearwas on December 17th, 2008, consisting of 44 members. Members that attended were: Zach Hill, Kennedy Hardman, Reba Hyme, KaylaPoston, Kayla Porter, Nate Seitz, Caitlin Robinson, Matthew Wamsley, SarahVannoy, Brianna Parrish, Amber Foreman, Amber Gartin, Kylea Schlosser, MakalaBlackburn, Jessica Henderley, Jonathan Wampler, John Miller, Aaron Miller,Tyler Dunn, Kyla Drake, Curtis Hayes, Steven Brumfield, Shala O’Hara, ColtonKougher, Becca Bentz, Michael Hite, Kendra Lama, Nick Rader, Devan Picklesimer,Morgan Baldwin, Erin Heistand, Cythia Cruit, Josh Hampshire, Jacob White, TylerLewis, Justin Strittmatter, Tiffany Hayman, Cassie Brown, Tyler Genders, EdJohnson, Ariel Brooks, J.D. Stover, Randy Forrest, and Pat Foley.

Upcoming CDEs

Those members interested inAg. Sales, Job Interview, and Public Speaking need to sign-up ASAP.

Ag. Sales: The marketing of agricultural products is key toprofitability in today’s competitive economy, and agricultural sales play amajor role in the marketing process. Through this CDE, students will save theopportunity to demonstrate skills in sales by participating in a wide range ofactivities oriented around the total sales process. This consists of a team of4.

Job Interview: The Ohio Job Interview CDE is designed for FFA members topractice and demonstrate the skills needed in seeking employment in all areas of agriculture. Eachpart of this event simulates realworld experiences that students will have when seeking employment in thefuture. One person per grade levelfor this CDE.

Public Speaking:  This CDE is used to developagricultural leadership by providing FFA members the opportunity to participatein agricultural public speaking activities. Also one per area for this contest.

Degrees & Awards

All State & American FFA Degree Applications are due by January27th. Along with the degrees, AllProficiency Award Applications are due. The State FFA Degree is the highest degree a state association can awardan FFA member. State FFA Degree winners represent the top 2% of the FFA membersin the state in the given year. The American FFA Degree is the highest degree a FFA member can earn.American FFA Degree winners represent the top 1/2% of the FFA members in thecountry in the given year. Proficiency awards are based upon a member'sSupervised Agricultural Experience Project(s). Applicants must complete andsubmit their project books and a detailed application. Project books areevaluated for accuracy and neatness while the applications are also evaluatedfor these factors plus numerous others such as the description of skillslearned, supporting pictures, etc. Currently each February, applications arereviewed for accuracy at the District level and submitted to the State levelfor further evaluation and placing. Those applicants deemed to be in the topfew (generally the top four) in the state in their respective area are theninterviewed. From these final applicants, three are then selected as the topthree in the state, receiving their final placing and award plaques at the StateFFA Convention in May.

Top Fall Fundraisers Trip

Inthe Fall of each year, the Amanda-Clearcreek FFA chapter hold's it's annualFall Fruit Sale. As an incentive, any member who sells 25 or more of anycombination of fruit gift baskets or boxes of fruit has the opportunity toattend the National Farm Machinery Show and Tractor Pulls held annually inLouisville, Kentucky in February. Also the top fall flower bulb sales peopleget to attend. Attending memberswill leave on Friday morning and return on Sunday evening. Members on the trip will see themachinery show, the tractor pulls and enjoy Louisville's hospitality. Eachyear, Mr. Sharp, one of the chapter's two advisors, also plans an educationaltour for the weekend in addition to the other activities. In past years, thechapter has visited the Louisville Slugger Plant, Churchhill Downs and theDayton Airforce Museum. This is an excellent educational opportunity for thechapter's members and a great reward for those hard working fruit/flower bulb sellers.

National FFA Week

National FFA Week is a week inFebruary dedicated to recognize the FFA. FFA Chapters have their studentsparticipate in various activities that relate to agriculture and the FFAthroughout the week. Some of the activities our chapter has done are: FFA ShirtDay, Official Dress Day, Teacher Appreciation Day, Bib Day, Truck & TractorDay, and Ag Awareness Day. Thisyear the officer team has come up with some new ideas, but if any member hasany other ideas, please bring them up at the committee meetings.

Agricultural & IndustrialDiagnostics CDE

This Career Development Event (CDE) is an extension of theAgricultural Education classroom and laboratory. Additionally, this CDE servesas an authentic assessment designed to evaluate students knowledge inrecognizing and repairing malfunctions in agricultural and/or industrial powerequipment. The skills AgriculturalEducation students employ in this CDE are the same skills required byagricultural and industrial technicians. If anyone is interested in this CDE please see Mr. Tilley or Mr. Sharp.

Ag. 1st Grading Period Honor Roll

Ag.Science I: Hannah Carpenter,Amber Gartin, Reba Hyme, Ellie Johnson, Sarah Vannoy, Sierra Jepsen, MirandaMetzger, John Miller, Seth Sayre, Kylea Schlosser, Nate Seitz, Cody Smith,Madison Ball, James Black, Emily Cordle, Amber Foreman, Brianna Parrish,Chasity Pinkstock, Kayla Porter, & Kayla Poston.

AgScience II: MorganBaldwin, Lindsey Alexander, Steven Brumfield, Holly Castle, Hannah Chenetski,Austin Conte, Cynthia Cruit, Bo Finney, Josh Hampshire, Erin Hiestand, TylerLewis, Aaron Miller, Shala O’Hare, Justin Strittmatter, Jacob White, SarahHarmon, Micheal Hite, Andrea Hollet, Hayley Moss, Kelsie Sharp, Brett Sisson,Titus Disbennett, Kyla Drake, Cheyenne Jepsen, Devan Picklesimer, TrishaRussell, & Colleen Trapp.

Ag.Science III: Tyler Genders, Eddie Johnson, David Sams,Josh Cordle, Alyssa Jenkins, & Brittany Pinkstock.

Ag.Economics/Business: C.J. Broaddus,Maleeya Kay, Tara McCalla, Brittany Pinkstock, Cara Thaxton, & DustinCox.

Ag.Prod. I: Andrew Bennett,Tyler Genders, Eddie Johnson, Scott Loudermilk, C.J. Mets, Shelby Sizemore,& Tyler VanHorn.

Ag.Prod. II: RyanDavis, Tara McCalla, & David Sams.

February Events

Tuesday, Feb. 3rd: All OfficerBooks are due

Wednesday, Feb. 4th: OfficerInterviews starting at 5:30 P.M.

Monday, Feb. 9th: MonthlyChapter Meeting at 7:00 P.M.

Tuesday, Feb. 10th: CountyPublic Speaking CDE at 3:00 P.M. at A-C

Friday, Feb. 13th- Sunday, Feb.15th: Top Fall Fundraiser’s Trip

Monday, Feb. 16th- Friday, Feb.20th: National FFA Week

Friday, Feb. 20th- Saturday,Feb. 21st: MFE Conference

Wednesday, Feb. 25th: Ag. &Industrial Diagnostics CDE at 4:00 P.M. at Westfall