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Spotlight on Youth
 
FFA donates meat to 
Family Abuse Shelter
CASSTOWN, Ohio — Recently the Miami East-MVCTC FFA Chapter donated 564 pounds of fresh chicken to the Family Abuse Shelter of Miami County located in Troy, Ohio. A total of 167 chickens were donated with an average weight of 3.4 pounds per bird.
The Family Abuse Shelter of Miami County is a non-profit shelter for men, women and children. They operate based completely on grants and donations from the community. According to Fawnda Cress, grant coordinator, “We rarely receive donations of fresh meat, so this is a real treat.”
Three Miami East-MVCTC FFA members, Eliza Hershberger, Hannah Davis, and Katie Bendickson, each raised groups of chickens for six weeks before they were butchered at King and Son’s Poultry Services, Bradford. King and Sons processed the chickens at a reduced cost.

Illinois 4-H Foundation awards $7,000 in scholarships
URBANA, Ill. — Six Illinois 4-H members were selected from a pool of 70 applicants to receive a $1,000 scholarship from the Illinois 4-H Foundation. The presentations were made during the Illinois 4-H Foundation Family Event on Aug. 9 at the Illinois State Fairgrounds. 
The Legacy of Leadership Scholarship is based on lifelong 4-H accomplishments, leadership, community service and educational goals of Illinois 4-H members. A seventh $1,000 scholarship, the Illinois 4-H Livestock Scholarship, was awarded to a 4-H member for outstanding work in the livestock project area.
The winners include Annie Geitner of Knox County, Paige Logan of Effingham County, Ryan Spangler of Fulton County, Lauren Parks of McLean County, Codie Geisz of Jo Daviess County, and Josephine Needs of LaSalle County. Spangler was also the recipient of the livestock scholarship which is sponsored by LA-CO Industries. 
Registrants sought for Michigan 4-H training workshops
EAST LANSING, Mich. — Each program year, Michigan 4-H offers volunteer trainings at sites across Michigan. Although each workshop covers an assortment of 4-H program areas, the goal of these trainings is to provide participants with the necessary skills to become experts in their subjects. 
Workshops being offered this October are:
•Michigan 4-H Goat Science Teen and Adult Volunteer Workshop, Oct. 4-5. 
•Michigan 4-H Telling Your Story Workshop, Oct. 11-12.  
•4-H Visual Arts, Crafts, Sewing and Textiles Workshop, Oct. 18-19. 
•4-H Proud Equestrian Program (PEP) Instructor Update, Oct. 25-26. 
Workshop participants can register through the Michigan State University ANR Events Registration system, at http://events.anr.msu.edu/ 
Michigan 4-H members should use their age as of Jan. 1, 2015 when selecting events to attend.
Group starts campaign to help documentary get screenings
BOONE, Iowa — U.S. Farmers & Ranchers Alliance (USFRA) is launching a campaign titled “I AM FARMLAND” geared to help support the expanded distribution of FARMLAND, a new feature-length documentary about the lives of young farmers and ranchers. Funds raised by the I AM FARMLAND effort will be used to bring the film to high school classrooms, college campuses, in addition to communities all across the country. 
USFRA invites others in agriculture to help spread the message that FARMLAND accurately depicts life as an American farmer and rancher. I AM FARMLAND is a group of friends of the film working to reach broader audiences and wider distribution.

Miami East FFA Chapter 
recognized by National FFA
CASSTOWN, Ohio — The National FFA Organization recently selected the Miami East-MVCTC FFA Chapter of Casstown, Ohio as a 3-Star National Chapter for the National FFA Chapter Award Program. A 3-star is the highest award a chapter can be recognized for in the National Chapter process. In order to be considered for such an honor, the Miami East-MVCTC FFA Chapter had to place in the top 10 percent in the state of Ohio. In May, the chapter learned that they were in the Top 10 in the state and would have their application forwarded to national evaluations. 
 The National FFA Chapter Award program recognized FFA chapters for developing and conducting a detailed Program of Activities (POA). These activities and projects provide opportunities for members to achieve in the areas of student, chapter, or community development. Every year, chapters are recognized as having earned a one-, two-, or three-star rating on their National Chapter application. 
This is the 14th straight year the Miami East-MVCTC FFA Chapter will be recognized at the National FFA Convention in their National Chapter Award program. Two students will receive the plaque on stage during the National FFA Convention on Oct. 30 in Louisville, Ky.
 Lauren Williams and Madeline Davis will compete and be recognized for being National Proficiency Finalists. They have placed in the Top 4 in the nation in their respective areas. Lauren is a finalist in the area of Specialty Crop production for her herb production and sales. Madeline is a finalist in the area of Equine Science - Entrepreneurship for her horse riding lessons and camps. Lauren and Madeline will interview for the title of National Proficiency Winner and a trip to Costa Rico in the summer of 2015.   
Emily Johnson will receive the American FFA Degree on Saturday, November 2nd. This is an honor that only 3,500 FFA members across the country will accomplish. Their applications were forwarded to the National FFA because they have been a successful leader, been involved in various community service activities, earned at least $7,500 from her Supervised Agricultural Experience program, and been an active member of the FFA. 
Livestock judging lets youth 
see through judges’ eyes
NAPOLEON, Ohio — During the Henry County Fair, a livestock judging contest was conducted to help Junior Fair members see what it is like from the judges’ point of view. Market hogs, steers, sheep and dairy cattle were judged.
Winning the Junior Division was the team of Ruth Wenzinger, Rylie Schuller and Grace Wenzinger. High Individual was Jonah Wenzinger, followed by Kacee Theisen, Sarah Millikan and Grace Wenzinger.
Winning the Senior Division was the team of Lynnsey Maassel, Karigan Blue and Larkin Giesige. High Individuals were Mackenzie Chamberlain, Lynnsey Maassel and Ben Eggers.
Winning the Adult Division was Andy Chamberlain. Second-high winner was Bob Wenzinger, third was a tie between Nick Weirich and Sara Wenzinger, and fourth was Sara Weirich.
Organizers thank those who judged and those who let their animals be judged.
9/19/2014