ALBANY, Ohio — Early on the morning of Oct. 24, 18 Alexander FFA members and six Federal Hocking FFA members departed for the 85th National FFA Convention in Indianapolis, Ind.

Over the course of the three days, members attended five sessions which included two national officer speakers and three keynote speakers. Not only did these members start out their first day with a inspirational session they ended it with a rocking Brantley Gilbert and Band Perry concert held at the Lucas Oil Stadium. Thursday morning the chapters toured the Umbarger Feed Mill. Umbarger Show Feeds is a fourth generation family owned and operated business used by many cattle, swine and horse owners. Throughout the rest of the day, members walked through the career show. This year the career show had a new station, the Sea World Adventure Station which consisted of penguins, snakes, and beavers.

To end the second day of the trip, members went to an overnight bowling alley. During the last day in Indianapolis, the chapters attended the final session, toured the Soldiers and Sailors memorial, went to the career show for one last time and made a safe return home. 

CASSTOWN, Ohio — Recently, the Miami East FFA Food Science and Technology Team and Agricultural Communication Team competed in the District 5 Contests hosted by Miami East High School.

In the Food Science and Technology Contest, contestants included Kolin Bendickson, Daniel Bodenmiller, Alex Brewer, Lindsay Brookhart, Tanner Church, Matt Davis, Rebekah Eidemiller, Amber Elsass, Colin Hawes, Stevee Hazel, Andrew Kowalak, Corrine Melvin, Brandon Nales, Sarah Pyers, Shane Richardson, Kelly Rindler, Lindsey Roeth, Austin Rush, Jenifer Slone, Devin Staley and Macaleh Thompson.

The team placed first out of 30 teams. The highest placing individuals from Miami East were Kelly Rindler and Tanner Church, who placed first and second respectfully in the contest. There were more than 120 individuals in the contest.

During the contest the team members were asked to complete a product development scenario in which they calculated the nutritional facts for a new food product and design a new package. Also they completed an aroma identification section, took a written test, responded to a mock customer complaint letter, identified sanitation errors in the food industry, and completed a taste sensory test.

The Miami East Agricultural Education Department is a satellite program of the Miami Valley Career Technology Center.

Additionally, Ohio FFA State President Shelby Faulkner recently visited members of the Miami East FFA Chapter. She spent the day in their classroom teaching them about personal values and FFA opportunities in the agriculture, food, and natural resources classes. In the animal science classes and the business management classes she taught a lesson on using personal strengths, but understanding personal weaknesses.

Faulkner is taking a year of leave from The Ohio State University where she is majoring in agricultural education. She is a graduate of Graham High School and has earned her American FFA Degree. She will spend one year serving the members of the Ohio FFA Assoc. via camps, conferences and conventions.

Faulkner’s visit was a result of the “purchase” of Shelby at the 2012 Ohio FFA Camp Muskingum Children’s Hospital Benefit Auction. The Miami East FFA Chapter made a donation to Children’s of Dayton and Shelby conducted a chapter visit.

The December 2012 Miami East FFA Members of the Month are Rian Kingrey and Olivia Edgell both of Fletcher. 

At the 2012 National FFA Convention Kingrey and Edgell competed in the National Agriscience Fair with their project entitled, “How Clean Are Your Hands.” The girls placed third in the nation in the area of Food Science, Division 3. They earned a cash prize and certificate for their accomplishment.

Rian Kingrey is the daughter of Brad and Tanya Kingrey. She is a sophomore and second year member of the FFA Chapter. Kingrey has attended the State and National FFA Conventions. Her Supervised Agricultural Experience program consists of raising meat chickens.

Edgell is the daughter of Brian and Jamie Edgell. She is a second year member of the FFA and sophomore. She has attended FFA Camp and competed in soils judging. Her Supervised Agricultural Experience program consists of show market lambs at the county fair.

Every month of the school year the Miami East FFA will select a student to be the FFA Member of the Month.  The officer team will nominate one student that has been actively involved in the FFA chapter, school and community activities.  If selected, the member will be recognized at the monthly FFA meeting, have their picture displayed in the Miami East Ag Room, and will receive a special accolade in celebration of their accomplishment.

On Monday, Nov. 26, the Miami East FFA awarded 27 new members their Greenhand FFA Degree. The Greenhand Degree is awarded to first-year members of the FFA, and is the first award that can be received. Each member awarded received a pin to be worn on their FFA jacket and a certificate of achievement.  Shelby Faulkner, State FFA President of the Ohio FFA Assoc., was the guest speaker.

In order to receive the Greenhand FFA Degree the members must be enrolled in an agriculture class, have plans for a Supervised Agricultural Experience Program, learned and explained the FFA Creed, motto, salute, mission statement, code of ethics and uses of the FFA jacket, colors, and emblem, and demonstrated an understanding of the FFA’s history, chapter constitution and by-laws. The Greenhand FFA Degree is the first of four degrees that an FFA member can earn.

Members receiving their Greenhand FFA Degree included Emily Beal, Katrina Bendickson, Cody Calicoat, Trent Church, Hannah Davis, Madeline Davis, Braxton Donaldson, Haley Etherington, Daniel Everett, Chase Fulghum, Kayden Gustin, Eliza Hershberger, Johnny Inman, Jordan Inman, Bradley Jenkins, Kelsey Kirchner, Miranda Maggart, Haleigh Maggert, Stephanie Millhouse, Dylan Moore, Sydney Oakes, Levi Reid, Samantha Sands, Hunter Sharp, Seth Tamplin, Nathan Teeters, and Hannah Wilson.