Newsletter
*Top Spring Fund Raiser Trip*
Our FFA chapter sells mulch as a fund raiser each spring. In 1996, the chapter started offering a weekend camping trip for the top 15 mulch sellers and the top 2 spring flower bulb sellers. In order to be able to attend you must sell over 150 bags of mulch. This year the trip was held in Red River Gorge area in Kentucky. This year, we went overnight backpacking and the chapter tried a new activity - modified rock climbing! This year the trip attendees were: Brittany Stevens, Andrea Hollett, Emily Cordle, Dan Quincel, John Miller, Hunter Ricketts, Adian Willis, Allison Davis, Kayla Porter, Jared Dilley, Cheyenne Jepsen, Nate Sietz, Camron Drake,Taylor Mets and Alex Norris.
June FFA Meeting Wednesday June 2nd
A-C Banquet
Each year, the chapter holds it’s annual chapter awards banquet. This year the banquet was held on May 15th at 4 P.M. The chapter recognized it’s members for their participation and accomplishments for the past year. Members receive various awards in CDE’s (Career Development Events), to awards on SAE books and awards based upon their overall participation in the chapter. The banquet is for both members and parents to enjoy good food and to review the accomplishments of the members and all of what they have done in the past year. For all members this is a required activity and all family members were encouraged to attend. All past members and FFA supporters in the community were also welcomed to attend. Our award winners this year include:
The Star Greenhand winner was Nick Brumfield. The Outstanding Sophomore was John Miller. The Outstanding Junior was Aaron Miller. The Outstanding Senior was Brittany Stevens. The Star Chapter award went to Tyler Genders and Scott Loudermilk. The Leadership Camp Award went to Alex Norris, Becca Bentz and Aaron Miller. The Made for Excellence Conference Award went to Reba Hyme, Nick Brumfield, Nate Seitz and Caitlin Robinson. The DeKalb Leadership Award went to Scott Loudermilk. The Memorial Award went to Hannah Chenetski and Cheyenne Jepsen. Congratulations to everyone!
State FFA Convention
The A-C FFA attends the State FFA Convention every year. The Convention lasts for two days on the first weekend of May at the Ohio Expo Center 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. The are also other activities including 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. This is also a great way for our FFA members to meet other FFA members from all over Ohio.
This year we had 39 students attend the State FFA Convention. This year Brittany Stevens, Kaleb Miller and Tyler Van Horn received their State FFA Degrees. We also got a Silver Rating on the Ohio FFA Service Foundation Award. The following received awards for their proficiency projects at the state level. Kaleb Miller placed 2nd in Outdoor Recreation, Brittany Stevens placed 3rd in Accounting, Ryan Davis placed 3rd in Fiber and/or Oil Crop Production, 3rd in Grain Production - Entrepreneurship and 4th place in Diversified Crop Production - Entrepreneurship.
Liberty Union Olympics
We recently attended the Liberty Union FFA Ag Olympics. This is an activity held each year in May where FFA members from around the county compete in various fun activities. Our chapter had many members recently attend but sadly we didn’t win the competition this year. Better luck next year!
FFA Camp
Ohio FFA Camp is held annually every summer for FFA members across the state. There are five sessions of regular FFA camp, of which, the Amanda-Clearcreek FFA typically attends session five. The chapter has seen tremendous growth in attendance in the past few years. The session our chapter is attending this year in on July 12th-16th. The ones who are attending the 5th session this year include: Dusty Cornell, Madison Darnell, Allyson Davis, Camron Drake, Mikaila Drake, Sabrina Friend, Josh Hampshire, Dakota Hawk, Koty Huston, Sierra Jepsen, Ryan Kelley, Aaron Miller, John Miller, Brad Minnard, Alex Norris, Capitola Picklesimer, Daniel Quincel, Caitlin Robinson, Nate Seitz, Samantha Thompson, Jon Wampler, Josh Watkins, and Aundrea Wymer. The following people still need to pay in order to attend camp: James Black, Jared Dilley, Jenna Ferguson, Jacob Genders, Erin Hiestand, Dillon Pinkstock, Hunter Ricketts, Macy Riffle and Ike Sowers. If you do not know how much you owe contact Mr. Tilley 969-7381. This will be your ONLY reminder about camp. Students, you will leaving on Monday, July 13th at approximately 9:00 A.M. We will be arriving back at the school Friday, July 17th approximately 3:00 P.M. Don’t forget your stuff! Due to schedule conflicts, Michael Hite and Jacob White will be attending Session 4 the week before the main group attends.
Baby Animal Farm
The Baby Animal Farm is an opportunity for FFA members to show the younger students in our school district their animals. It is also a good learning experience for the young students to learn about animals they may not know much about. FFA members usually bring cattle, rabbits, goats, dogs and other typical farm animals to display. The students are allowed to view and generally pet these animals. This is an enjoyable opportunity for the elementary students and high school students as well. The Baby Animal Farm was held on May 18th this year.
Pelotonia Bike Tour Lunch
Again the year, Amanda will serve as a major stop for the Pelotonia Bike Ride, which is an activity being held to raise money for cancer research. The chapter will be again helping with this activity on August 20th and 21st. More information will be announced when school starts.
Officer Retreat
At the end of June, the officers and the assistant officers go on an out-of-state camping trip to plan the upcoming years schedule. It is a 2-3 day trip filled with different activities. This year the trip will consist of White Water Rafting on the Gauley River and tourist stops on the way!
Ag. Challenge Points
Ag Challenge is a competition between grade levels that involve various activities held throughout the school year and after meetings as well. The activities include: Feed Bag Hold, Scavenger Hunt, Peanut Butter Face, Volleyball Tournament, Straw Bale Toss, Pizza Eating, Tug-of-War, Marshmallow Stuffing and Egg Toss. Ag Challenge points not only can be earned from those activities but from Greenhand FFA Degrees earned, the class with the best GPA for a grading period, the class with the most fruit sold, etc. All of these points that are earned are totaled up at the end of the year. The class with the most Ag Challenge points gets steak and ice cream at the June cookout. The Ag Challenge was stated during the 2000-2001 school year. In the end, the Sophomores won with 196.25 points, to the Juniors with 187.75, Freshmen with 92.25 and Seniors with 82.75.
Washington Leadership Conference
The Washington Leadership Conference is a 5-day conference where FFA chapter leaders from around the country have the opportunity to tour the nations capitol while learning valuable skills and experiencing personal growth. Those that 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. While attending WLC, our two representatives will be rooming with other FFA members across the United State. At the beginning of the week, everyone will be strangers but by the end of the week friendships will be made that continue on even when the conference ends. The conference is led by inspirational and energetic staff of past FFA members who are currently in college. The 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. At the conference there are several workshops that are set up throughout the week that will be held in the hotel and in D.C as well! The conference is not all work. The students will have plenty of down time to rest and to tour the amazing sites of Washington D.C. including the Arlington National Cemetery, the U.S. Capitol, the Library of Congress and the Supreme Court. Some memorials visited include the Vietnam War Memorial, the Iwo Jima War Memorial, the Lincoln and the FDR Memorials. In their free time the FFA members went sightseeing throughout the capitol and visited a variety of places including the Smithsonian Institution, the Holocaust Museum, Ford’s Theatre and the Washington Monument. On the last day of the conference a dance is held is held for all of the members to enjoy their last night together. When the members have to depart for home they all go home with memories that will last a life time and friendships that will last a life time. 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. This year the Amanda-Clearcreek chapter is sending Cheyenne Jepsen and Hannah Chenetski as our representatives. It will be held on July 20th - 26th.
Ag Breakfasts
The June Ag Breakfast will be held in Circleville at 8:30 A.M. at Goodwins on June 3rd. July’s Ag Breakfast will be held in Circleville at Bob Evans at 8:30 A.M on the 1st and August’s Ag Breakfast will be held in Lancaster at IHOP at 8:30 A.M on the 5th. All of the Ag Breakfasts are worth 1/2 hour each for summer hours.
Canoe Trip
Canoe trip will be on the hocking river. This will be on July 6th, you will be leaving about 9 A.M. and get back around 4 P.M. Cost approximately $30 plus you will be stopping for lunch. Summer hours = 4 hours.
Summer Hours
June Meeting & Cookout - 7 P.M. | July 12th - 16th - 5th Session of FFA Camp |
June 24th - Tarlton Fish Fry | July 20th - 26th - Washington Leadership Conference |
July 1st - Crossmound Clean-up | August 2nd - State Fair Food Booth Work Day |
| August 3rd - Summer Trapshoot |
| August 5th - Ag Breakfast |
July 9th - 12th - Ohio Leadership Camp | August 5th - Adopt-A-Highway Clean-up |
Eight hours of time are required for summer activities, but there is no limit. Above are the activities. There are some activities that have a limit on how many can attend, you need to sign-up for a particular activity, so please do so as soon as possible. This will be the first grade of the first grading period for the 2010-2011 school year.
Trap Shoot
An additional Trap Shoot will be held this year at Mr. Sharp’s house. Come enjoy some fun with everyone. Get a bit to eat and shoot some clay pigeons with our chapters new thrower. This will be held on August 3rd at 5 P.M. All FFA members, parents, and Alumni are invited! Summer Hours = 2 hours
Misc. Work Days
If someone needs more hours, we will have a few days to clean main shop, organize shop etc. Summer Hours = Actual hours worked
Greenhouse Work Days
We are planning on taking quite a few days this summer to work on the greenhouse. We will need to call those that sign-up and schedule each person for individual days (only have a few people at one time.) Summer Hours = Actual hours worked
Tarlton Fish Fry
Everyone who signed up to help with the Tarlton Fish Fry will need to be at the Town Hall by 3 P.M. Must be school appropriate dress. 20 students max, no cost, you will also get a meal. This will be held on June 24th. Summer Hours=4. Members who signed up are: Sam Meenach, Nate Seitz, Dusty Cornell, Jessica Henderly, Makala Blackburn, Jenna Ferguson, Kennedy Hardman, Seth Sayre, John Miller, James Black, Kayla Porter, Kyle Klingler, Emily Cordle, Reba Hyme, Cappie Picklesimer, Jennifer Bivens, Jonathan Wampler, Morgan Baldwin and Tassie Harvey. The Alternate are: Kaelyn Whitesed, Heather Leddingham, Aaron Miller, Ryan Mundy and Miranda Metzger.
Food Booth Work Day at the Ohio State Fair
The Amanda-Clearcreek FFA members volunteer their time at various food booths run by the different agricultural commodity organizations found in Ohio. We have different groups of our members that go and work a shift by making and selling food. Members that are not working have the time to experience the fair. This activities is for our members to involved with volunteering and helping other organizations within the agricultural community. This year we will be working on August 2nd. Students are to be at the school at 9:00 A.M. 30 students max, work one shift, enjoy the fair the second half, spending money needed. Summer hours = 7 hours if all day, 5 hours if half day. The following members have signed-up to help with this activity: Dustin Merritt, Jessica Henderly, Makala Blackburn, Kennedy Hardman, Kylea Schlosser, Seth Sayre, John Miller, Becca Bentz, Colleen Trapp, Emily Cordle, Allyson Davis, Dakota Hawk, Cappie Picklesimer, Kaytie Entler, Arley Moss, Taylor McFarland, Jacob Genders, James Black, Kayla Porter, Sierra Jepsen, Cheyenne Jepsen, Shala O’Hare, Reba Hyme, Nick Brumfield, Jazmine Schorr, Macy Riffle, Josh Watkins, Brett Heaston, Jimmy Praither, and Sabrina Friend. The following members are alternates in case a member listed above is unable to attend: Kylie Dunn, Victoria Stone, Elanta O’Hare, Jared Dilley, Aaron Miller, Kaelyn Whitesed, Heather Leddingham, Ryan Mundy, and Miranda Metzger.
Adopt-A-Highway
The Amanda-Clearcreek FFA has adopted a section of the State Route 159 to clean-up as part of ODOT’s Adopt-a-Highway program. The section the chapter has to clean-up runs from Tommy Wayne’s Pizza to the south end of Oakland, comprising three total miles. Adopt-a-Highway is held two times throughout the school year after school and once during the summer months. The members walk along side the highway picking up trash. This is one of the many community service projects provided by the Amanda-Clearcreek FFA. Adopt-a-Highway is held on August 5th at 11:00 A.M. Summer hours = 3 hours.