Pendleton County FFA members celebrated another year of accomplishments at the chapter’s banquet held May 17 at Pendleton County Middle/High School.
After Katie Keyser led the invocation, FFA members and guests enjoyed a meal provided by Dean’s Gap Farm.
The opening ceremony was presided over by Pendleton County FFA officers, Cole Harper, president, Ty Heavner, vice president, Jessica Parker, secretary, Sam Eason, treasurer, Katie Heavner, reporter, and Keyser, sentinel, and Ron Hudson, FFA advisor.
After a video presentation of the year’s highlights, special awards and presentations were made.
Honorary membership is bestowed upon individuals who are helping to advance agricultural education and the FFA and who have rendered outstanding services. Honorary chapter membership was presented to Trey Kesyer.
William Waddy of Petersburg, state FFA president, stated that it was a privilege to be close to Pendleton County FFA members for the past five years. He first met Hudson at the ham, bacon and egg show and shared that he had mixed emotions about Hudson, but came to the conclusion that he was “blunt.” He congratulated Hudson on his retirement and the chapter on its many accomplishments. He told the members they were very lucky to have Mr. [Zach] Tennant as their new advisor and that he was excited to see what the future holds for the chapter.
FFA Greenhand Degrees were awarded to Ava Bowers, Kayla Harper, Tia Heavner, Elijah Ruddle, Jaxon Simon, McKenzie Vandevander and Landyn Warner. To earn a Greenhand Degree, FFA members must enroll in an agricultural education program and have plans for a Supervised Agricultural Experience, learn and explain the FFA creed, mission and motto and salute, describe and explain the meaning of the FFA emblem and colors, demonstrate an understanding of the FFA Code of Ethics, the proper use of the FFA jacket, the history of the organization, chapter constitution and bylaws and the chapter’s program of activities, have access to the official FFA manual and student handbook and submit a written application for the degree.
Tia Heavner was awarded the FFA Star Greenhand Award. She participated in chapter meetings, FFA breakfast and sold fruit. Her SAEs include working for Brushy Mountain Tree Farm, showing goats and sheep at various fairs and shows, and raising and selling sheep. She is the daughter of Travis and Teresa Heavner of Franklin.
Recipients of the Chapter FFA Degree were Ty Armentrout, Jax Bennett, Lucas DiFalco, Callie Dunn, Sam Eason, Lani Fertig, Mason Harper, Katie Heavner, Tanner Hedrick, Aubriana Holloway, Katie Keyser, Phoebe Pownell, Kaylee Teter and Layton Vandevander.
Chapter degrees are awarded to FFA members who have completed 180 hours (or the equivalent) of systematic school instruction in agricultural education, have an approved SAE, enrolled in an agriculture course, participated in the planning and implementation of at least three FFA activities, earned and productively invested at least $150 or have worked at least 45 hours outside of class time, or a combination of the two, through their SAE, lead a group discussion for 15 minutes, demonstrated five parliamentary law procedures, show progress toward achievement in FFA award programs, have satisfactory academic record, completed a minimum of 10 hours of community service and submitted a written application for the degree.
Awarded to an FFA member who excels in the field of agriculture, the FFA Star Chapter Farmer Award went to Katie Keyser. She owns 16 breeding sheep and produces market lambs for sale and personal use. She has traveled the country showing her market lambs. She is very active in the chapter participating in poultry judging, conduct of chapter meetings, parliamentary procedure and land judging. She is the daughter of Kami and Trey Kesyer of Upper Tract.
The FFA Star Chapter Agribusiness Placement Award, which is given to an individual who excels in the field of agricultural business, was presented to DiFalco. He works at T&K Markets and has gained more than 700 hours of experience by working in the produce department and stocking shelves. He is the son of Brian DiFalco and Jamie Difalco.
FFA members eligible to receive their State FFA degrees are Alex Adams, Cole Harper, Ty Heavner and Emily Schell. In order to earn a State FFA Degree, members must have received a chapter degree, been an active member for at least two years, earned and productively invested at least $1,000 or have worked 300 hours outside of the classroom through an SAE, demonstrated leadership ability by performing 10 parliamentary law procedures, given a six-minute speech on a topic relating to agriculture or FFA, served as an FFA officer or committee chairperson or committee member, maintain a satisfactory academic record, helped plan the chapter’s program of activities, participated in at least five different FFA activities above the chapter level and completed at least 25 hours of community service in a minimum of two different activities.
The Farm Credit Award, which is presented to an FFA member who excels in recording keeping and management, was earned by Adams. The award was presented by Trey Keyser.
JD Heavner presented the annual Brandon Waggy Memorial Scholarship to Schell.
Fifteen FFA members participated in the annual South Branch Ham, Bacon and Egg Show and Sale. Members receiving checks from the sale were Adams, Armentrout, Dunn, Cole Harper, Mason Harper, Katie Heavner, Ty Heavner, Holloway, Jameigh Miller, Phoebe Pownell, Vivian Pownell, Emily Schell, Hannah Schell, Lexie Tingler and Layton Vandevander.
The Smith Golden Orange Award was presented to Adams who sold more than 160 units of fruit.
McKenzie Vandevander placed first place in the FFA Creed Speaking Career Development Event and will represent the eastern region at the state convention in July at Cedar Lakes. She delivered the creed from memory and responded to three questions.
Placing third in the regional prepared public speaking leadership development event was Adams. He wrote and delivered a six-to-eight-minute speech about a current agriculture-related topic.
Ty Heavner placed first in the regional extemporaneous public speaking leadership development event and will represent the eastern regional at the state convention. Participants are given 30 minutes to deliver a speech on one of three assigned agricultural topics. Students must learn to think on their feet and develop an argument quickly and persuasively.
The parliamentary procedure team consisting of Bennett, Dunn, Eason, Fertig, Katie Keyser and Teter, placed first in the regional competition. The team will be representing the eastern region at the state convention.
Members of the land judging team were Adams, Katie Heavner, Ty Heavner and Katie Keyser. Land judging is a program that teaches basic principles of soil science and helps FFA members understand practices that can protect and conserve land, water and the environment.
The poultry judging team consisting of Armentrout, Cole Harper, Katie Keyser and Miller placed second in the state FFA career development event. Individually, Cole Harper placed third in the state. Team members test their skills in the production, processing and marketing of chickens, turkeys, processed poultry products and eggs.
Six members participated in the tractor driving contest where they took a written test, did a parts identification and drove either a large or zero-turn tractor through a course. Placing first on a large tractor was Ty Heavner with Wyatt Hinkle placing first on the zero-turn tractor. Also participating were Adams and Hedrick.
American FFA Degrees will be awarded to Caleb Armentrout, Lydia Heavner and McKenna Hedrick in October at the National FFA Convention.
Chapter leadership awards were present to Aiden Shirk, Gary Smith and McKenzie Vandevander, ninth grade; Dunn, Katie Heavner and Katie Keyser, 10th grade; Adams, Cole Harper and Ty Heavner, 11th grade; and Madison Arbaugh, Miller and Emily Schell, 12th grade.
Community service awards were presented to Adams (31.5 hours) Katie Keyser (25 hours) and Emily Schell (20 hours).
During FFA Week, members traveled to the county elementary schools talking about the importance of agriculture and FFA. Students in grades preschool to third were given coloring contest sheets. Winners of the coloring contest were awarded a medal at the banquet. Receiving this honor were pre-kindergarten –Maggie Waters, North Fork Elementary School, Lucas Raines, Brandywine Elementary School and Tyler Clifton, Franklin Elementary School; kindergarten – Lynleigh Glover, NFES, Will Marsh, BES, and Jeremiah Botkin, FES; first grade – Brody Nelson, NFES, Alyssa Deavers, BES, and Oliver Mowery, FES; second grade – Gracie Thompson, NFES, Dylan Hensley, BES, and Violet Vanmeter, FES; and third grade – Oakley Dahmer, NFES, Jacob Wheeler, BES, and Jase Mitters, FES.
To conclude the presentations, Hudson thanked administrators and stated that he always tried to do his best every time. In times of sorrow, he was thankful for his wife, Jamie, and his girls. He said that he was thankful for the 30 years at the school and appreciated it.
