| Spotlight on Youth - Jan. 5, 2011 |
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Miss America Katie Stam awards Hoosier scholarship
INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. — Miss America 2009 Katie Stam has been speaking out about her experience in Indiana 4-H. Stam was a 10-year 4-H member from Jackson County.
“4-H not only taught me responsibility, leadership and how to give back to my community, it also gave me a great sense of self,” Stam said. “I use the skills I learned in 4-H everyday.”
Stam was active in completing several projects, but beyond that, she developed leadership skills and cultivated a strong passion for community service.
Stam is an outstanding example of a 4-H success story, but not because she went on to earn national recognition. Her strong leadership skills, civic-mindedness, and commitment to improving her community are what make her a success, and she’s not the only one.
A former 4-H member from Warrick County, Mallory Wood is an Indiana 4-H success story in the making. Wood was the 2010 recipient of the Katie Stam Accomplishment Scholarship, and she’s living up to standards of 4-H excellence.
“Over the course of my nine years in 4-H, I learned many life skills such as leadership and communication,” said Wood. “4-H has brought me closer to my community by participating, leading and promoting service learning. The lessons I have learned and the friends I have made through 4-H will be with me forever.
While in 4-H, Wood completed more than 70 projects, ranging from Computer Science to Foods and from Photography to Electric. She was a 2010 State Junior Leader Council member and was the recipient of a 4-H Accomplishment Scholarship in Communication, a 4-H Foundation Scholarship and the Warrick County Outstanding Achievement Award.
Like, Stam, Wood is also actively involved in serving her community through her church, food pantries and organizations like Habitat for Humanity.
Local Indiana community claims national degree recipients
INDIANAPOLIS, IND. — Kelli Fulkerson, of Union City, Ind. and Allison Harwell, of Quincy, Ind. recently received the American FFA Degree. Earning the degree means Fulkerson and Harwell are from a select group of individuals to be recognized for years of academic and professional excellence. The honor was presented on October 24, 2010 at the 83rd National FFA Convention, held in Indianapolis, Ind.
The American FFA Degree recognizes demonstrated leadership ability and outstanding achievements in agricultural business, production, processing or service programs. To be eligible, members must have earned and productively invested $7,500 through a supervised agricultural experience (SAE) program in which they start, own, or hold a professional position in an existing agriculture enterprise. Recipients must also make it their mission to demonstrate outstanding leadership abilities and community involvement.
Each award recipient receives a gold American FFA Degree key, and certificate in a blue leatherette frame. Of more than 520,000 FFA members nationwide, Fulkerson and Harwell are of only 3,448 to be recognized in 2010. The degree recognition program is sponsored by Case IH, DTN, Farm Credit, Pioneer Hi-Bred, and Syngenta as a special project of the National FFA Foundation.
Visit www.ffa.org for more information and details on other award recipients.
Illinois 4-H livestock judging team wins national title
URBANA — The Illinois 4-H Livestock Judging Team bested a field of 34 state teams to become the national champions at the 2010 National 4-H Livestock Judging Contest. The contest was held in conjunction with the North American International Livestock Exposition in Louisville, Ky. Team members included David Ammann of Highland, Jon Heaton of Toulon, Adam Helregel of Willow Hill, Tyler Loschen of Kempton, and Dillon Lemenager of Clifton.
“The National 4-H Livestock Judging Contest is the premier event of education and competition for youth involved in livestock evaluation programs,” said Dan Jennings, University of Illinois Livestock Extension Educator.
The Illinois team placed first in swine, first in oral reasons, second in sheep and goats, fourth in cattle, and first overall. Helregel won high individual overall, high individual in sheep and goats, and high individual in oral reasons. He was also fourth in swine and fifth in cattle. Loschen was first in swine. Heaton was 12th in oral reasons. Ammann finished eighth in swine, and 11th in oral reasons.
The team was coached by University of Illinois graduate students Travis Meteer and Justin Adcock. The team was sponsored by the Illinois 4-H Foundation and the Illinois State 4-H program.
Parkway FFA members attend Greenhand conference
ROCKFORD, Ohio — Parkway students attended the Greenhand conference, held at Versailles High School on Oct. 2. The conference is held for first year agricultural education students, also called greenhands. Attending from Parkway was Rachel King, Courtney Dicke, Colby Walls, Nick Hoehamer, Sam Valentine, Jared Moses, Cami Hellwarth, Sierra Fent and Brant Barna.
The Greenhand Conference is organized and put on by the State FFA officer team. It is designed to help students learn teamwork strategies and leadership skills. FFA members that were there played games and participated in fun activities demonstrating team-building and communication.
“The Greenhand Conference was very fun and educational,” said Freshman Sierra Fent. “We all had a great time and wish we could go back next year.” |
| 1/5/2011 |
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