Each student’s application is then evaluated at district, then at state, and then the top four in each proficiency are interviewed and placed accordingly. Three members of the Parkway FFA have excelled in their SAE and have made it to the state level.

Ashley Gamble competed in the Floriculture Proficiency and received a gold rating. Over the past three years Ashley and her sister Amanda have raised chrysanthemums on their family farm.

Katie King’s proficiency includes working at her family’s produce stand. She took a Gold Rating in Vegetable Production. Katie, along with her three younger sisters, manages their produce stand from July to November.

Felicia Quaintance received a Gold Rating in Small Animal Production and Care. Felicia raises Mini Lops and Californian rabbits on her family farm. She also raises dairy cows.

Merc awards pork industry scholarships to 4 college students
WASHINGTON, D.C. — The Chicago Mercantile Exchange (CME) awarded at the recent annual business meeting of the National Pork Producers Council scholarships to four college students who intend to pursue careers in the pork industry. NPPC administers the scholarship selection process.

The winners of the $2,500 Lois Britt Memorial Pork Industry Scholarships – named after the late NPPC vice president from Mt. Olive, N.C. – are:

•Jess Waddell, Sutton, Neb., senior, Oklahoma State University.
•Sarah Wells, Cumberland, Ohio, junior, Ohio State University.
•Susan Wulf, Lafayette, Ind., senior, Purdue University.
•Wrevenna Phipps, Kearney, Neb., junior, Oklahoma State University.

This is the 16th year of the CME scholarship program, which recognizes outstanding youth in the pork community. To be eligible, students must be undergraduates in a two-year swine program or a four-year college of agriculture, provide a brief letter describing their expected role in the pork industry, write an essay on an issue affecting the pork industry and submit two letters of reference from professors or industry professionals.

“These young people represent the future of the U.S. pork industry,” said NPPC President Joy Philippi, a pork producer from Bruning, Neb. “They are the next generation of leaders, and NPPC and the Chicago Mercantile Exchange are pleased to recognize their commitment to the pork industry with these scholarships.”

Ft. Recovery FFA holds Food For America Program
FT. RECOVERY, Ohio — The Ft. Recovery FFA Chapter recently held its Food For America Program at the elementary for all third grade students.

Food for America is a nationwide program in which FFA members present the importance of agriculture. It helps to educate elementary students about where food comes from and how agriculture affects their lives.

Twelve Ft. Recovery FFA members helped to present information through hands-on learning activities. Specific items shared with the students were agricultural careers, where food comes from, and agricultural products.

Members who helped with the presentation were Joel Bey, Emily Crouch, Beth Fortkamp, Beth Lennartz, Lori Osterholt, Betsy Overman, Alicia Schmackers, Bruce Schoen, Lindsay Sudhoff, Matt Tobe, Mary Will and Rachel Will.

Fourman is the March FFA Member of the Month
CASSTOWN, Ohio — The Miami East FFA Chapter March FFA Member of the Month is Katelyn Fourman, a freshman at Miami East High School. She is the daughter of Tim and Jenny Fourman of Fletcher.

She has attended the National FFA Convention and was a member of the state qualifying Ag Sales Team. Her Supervised Agricultural Experience Program consists of market hogs and job placement at a horse farm.

Each month the officers of the Miami East FFA Chapter select one member that has actively participated in FFA activities and been a positive role model for fellow FFA members. The member selected is announced at the monthly FFA meeting, receives a certificate, and choice of a FFA T-shirt.

This farm news was published in the May 3, 2006 issue of Farm World.