Fort Recovery hosts 80th annual FFA banquet
FORT RECOVERY, Ohio — The Fort Recovery FFA held its annual banquet on April 8 at 6:30 p.m. at the Fort Recovery Middle School Auditorium with well over 275 members, parents, and agribusiness leaders in attendance. The banquet serves as public display of all the hard work done by the members in the past year. Fort Recovery Chapter President Cody Kaiser called the banquet to order. Chapter Sentinel Nathan Fortkamp gave the invocation, and the buffet meal was served. Remarks were given by Fort Recovery Superintendent Pat Niekamp and Principal Jeff Hobbs.

With 116 members, Fort Recovery FFA participates in numerous events including Career Development Events, fundraisers and community service projects. This year, 14 members will receive their State FFA Degree, which include Laura Braun, Riggs Florence, Craig Fortkamp, Nathan Fortkamp, Craig Fullenkamp, Zach Guggenbiller, Stephanie Heitkamp, Dustin Homan, Jessica Link, Megan Rammel, Emily Schoenlein, Aaron Sutter, Alan Vogel and Stacy Will. Four other members, Chris Gehret, Beverly Lennartz, Kelly Thien and Tom Will will receive their American FFA Degree. Only one-half of one percent of all members receive the American FFA Degree.
Many other awards were given out to members for dedicated service and commitment to the chapter and all its activities. The Star in Agribusiness Award was given to Cody Kaiser, the Star Farmer Award went to Mark Post, the Star Greenhand Award went to Eric Brackman, and the Dekalb Award was given to Kelsey Brockman. The chapter also awarded Steven Gower as an Honorary FFA Member for his dedicated service to the chapter.

Among other events at the banquet, the chapter held its annual Pie and Cake Auction that raised $3,200. All proceeds from the auction are returned to the students to allow them to participate at the State FFA Convention, FFA Camp, and the National FFA Convention.
Turkey Run FFA team wins district equine judging contest
MARSHALL, Ind. — Turkey Run High School FFA Horse Judging Team was awarded first place at the Area 5 4-H/FFA Horse & Pony Judging Competition on Saturday, April 17 in Greene County. Members included: Kailey South, who also received third place in the individual competition, Katie Laughlin, Michaela Long, and Delilah Thomas, who also received fourth place in the individual competition. The team will compete in the State Competition on May 1st at Hendrick’s County.

Indiana 4-H, ISDA honor scholarship recipients
INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. — The Indiana State Department of Agriculture (ISDA) recently congratulated the following 4-H members who received a $250 Indiana 4-H Foundation/ISDA Youth Scholarship. Based solely on 4-H achievements, these scholarships are for post-high school education and serve also as an incentive to 4-Hers to make their best better. Applications were accepted through the Purdue University Extension Office in the 4-Hers’ home county this January. Foundation scholarships are awarded at the county level and are often supported by individuals, Extension groups and companies in that county.

Scholarship recipients include: Lorelei Seip, Carroll County; Hillary Holland, Daviess County; Molly Schwab, Franklin County; Theresa Weidner, Franklin County; Laura Homan, Jay County; Joshua T. Mahoney, Jefferson County; Holly Kolberg, Kosciusko County; Katie Brumbaugh, Noble County; Cassandra Allen, Noble County; Cody Riecke, Noble County; Becca Dusing, Owen County; Elizabeth Schneck, Owen County; M. Stacy Gudas, Pulaski County; Meghan Newman, Pulaski County; Evan Criswell, Pulaski County; Jessica Osborne, Ripley County; Douglass Wicker, Rush County; Derick Shipe, Steuben County; Cora Carter, Washington County; and Allison Gooding, White County.

Alexander FFA awards members at banquet
ALBANY, Ohio — The Alexander FFA hosted its annual FFA banquet on Sunday, April 25. The banquet is held every year in order to award members for their participation and accomplishments within the last year. CDE (Career Development Event) pins are also handed out to those who took part in the various events. As well as members from each class being selected according to their overall performance to become the star of each class.

This year the Star Greenhand was awarded to Courtney Keefer. The Star Sophmore was awarded to Caitlyn Stotts. The Star Junior was awarded to Kim Holcomb, and the Star Senior was awarded to Noelle Eveland. In addition to the excelling members being awarded, the new officers for the 2010-2011 school year were installed.

The new chapter officers include: President Jacob Smith, Vice President Kim Holcomb, Secretary Jessie Sinclair, Treasurer Alan Stalder, Reporter Whitney Mullins, Sentinel Damen Estes, Student Advisor Jed Anderson, Community Development Chair Courtney Keefer, Student Development Chair Shelby Ervin and Chapter Development Chair Lyman Kennedy.

Dairy checkoff to provide scholarships to future leaders
INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. — Dairy producers, through their checkoff investment, will once again award 20 academic scholarships to students currently enrolled in programs that emphasize dairy, and who have shown potential to become future dairy leaders.
The National Dairy Promotion and Research Board (NDB), the 36-member dairy producer board that oversees the national dairy checkoff program, through Dairy Management Inc., which manages the national dairy checkoff, annually awards up to 19 $1,500 scholarships and one $2,500 scholarship to eligible undergraduate students.

Eligible majors include journalism, communications/public relations, marketing, business, economics, nutrition, food science, or agriculture education.

Scholarship applications are available for download at www.dairycheckoff.com In addition to the application, an official transcript of all college courses and a short statement describing career aspirations, dairy-related activities and work experiences are due by May 31.

Illinois Soybean announces scholarship winners
BLOOMINGTON, Ill. — The Illinois Soybean Assoc. (ISA), in partnership with the University of Illinois College of ACES and Southern Illinois University Carbondale College of Agricultural Sciences (SIUC), have created ISA-funded scholarship programs at both schools.

The goal is to open students’ eyes to opportunities in crop sciences and fill much-needed professional positions. At the University of Illinois, the scholarship may be used for tuition, fees and other educational expenses with a potential total value of $50,000 over four years. Freshmen recipients at SIUC can receive up to $10,000 over four years, while transfer students can receive up to $5,000, provided academic and work experience standards are met. ISA congratulates the first class of Illinois Soybean Assoc. Scholars for the 2010-11 school year. University of Illinois recipients are Jarai Carter, Champaign, Ill., Centennial High School; Kristine Droste, Nashville, Ill., transferring from Kaskaskia College; Ronald Dymerski Jr., Beecher, Ill., Marian Catholic High School; Corey Johnson, Monee, Ill., Peotone High School; and Nathan Waldeck, Farmersville, Ill., Lincolnwood High School. SIUC recipients include Hunter Adams, Dewey, Ill., Saint Thomas More High School; Lauren Arteman, Bellflower, Ill., Blue Ridge High School; Ian Kessler, Ingraham, Ill., Clay City High School; and transfer students Nick Harre, Nashville, Ill., Kaskaskia College; Rebecca Hoene, Neoga, Ill., Lake Land College; and Taylor Zurliene, New Baden, Ill., Kaskaskia College.