KANSAS CITY, MO. — Victor Technologies today announced its 2012 “Innovation to Shape the World” contest for students in welding and cutting programs at secondary and post-secondary schools. Three beginning (first or second year) students will win $250 by submitting a 500-word essay supporting the contest theme, and members on three intermediate/advanced teams will each win $500 for completing a welding and cutting project. 

“The six schools associated with the winners will receive a comprehensive cutting, welding and gas control package valued at $4,000,” said Martin Quinn, CEO, Victor Technologies. “The contest, along with our regular 35% discount to educational institutions, demonstrates our commitment to giving students and schools the inspiration and tools they need to shape their future.”

The Innovation to Shape the World contest began on June 25 and ends on Oct. 30. Winners will be announced at the 2012 FABTECH Show in Las Vegas. Contest rules, entry forms and submission guidelines are available at www.victortechnologies.com/innovationcontest. 

Victor Technologies made the announcement during the 2012 SkillsUSA National Skills & Leadership Conference in Kansas City, where more than 5,600 outstanding career and technical education students—all state contest winners—are participating in 94 different trade, technical and leadership championships, including cutting and welding.

ROCKFORD, Ohio — In July, Parkway FFA Student Sierra Fent attended Camp Muskingum, which is located in Eastern Ohio. The camp is a week long, and is filled with activities such as boating, trap shooting, team-building games, fishing, swimming, dances, and more. Sports competitions were held between camp chapters daily. These competitions included beach volleyball, basketball, wiffleball, cornhole, ping pong, and horseshoes. While at camp, students are able to meet people from other FFA Chapters all over Ohio. The camp is run by the Ohio State FFA Officers, so students are able to meet them as well. 

Sierra Fent said of her FFA Camp experience, “FFA Camp was a fun time. I met a lot of new friends and made memories that I will never forget.” 

Overall, Camp Muskingum is a great learning experience for young leaders.

Burtch Seed Company together with Syngenta, one of the world’s leading companies, participated in a program through the National FFA Foundation for an opportunity to recognize and support the Parkway High School FFA. 

Syngenta issued a challenge and made a generous offer to its seed dealers: contribute $1,000 to the National FFA Foundation, which is the fundraising arm of the National FFA Organization, and Syngenta will match it. In recognition, of each dealer’s contribution, a local FFA chapter that has been designated will receive $200 credit from FFA for chapter use. 

Syngenta, with more than 26,000 employees in more than 90 countries, is dedicated to one purpose: Bringing plant potential to life. Through world-class science, global reach and commitment to customers, Syngenta helps to increase crop productivity, protect the environment and improve health and quality of life.

MOWEAQUA, Ill. — The National Junior Angus Association (NJAA) is fortunate to involve hundreds of outstanding youth leaders in the Angus industry. For the first time, this year the NJAA selected one junior member to represent the organization at cattle events and meetings throughout the United States and Canada. The winner – Lauren Adcock, Moweaqua, Ill. – is thrilled to begin her duties as the Angus Ambassador.

“The Ambassador program will give me the opportunity to bring together the junior and the adult organizations as one, and become a stronger front as an Association to educate the public about the Angus breed,” says Adcock, a senior at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign studying agriculture and consumer economics.

She gained an appreciation for agriculture through her family’s operation, Adcock Land and Livestock, which has raised Angus and Simmental seedstock since 1972. She continues to play an active role in the business. Adcock also currently serves as president of the Illinois Junior Angus Assoc. and is a past Illinois Angus Queen.

When asked why she wanted to become the Angus Ambassador, Adcock says she wants to inform others about the benefits of using Angus genetics and how production agriculture feeds the world. During an internship this summer at Farm Credit Services of Mid-America in Vincennes, Ind., she was able to deepen her industry knowledge and educate herself on how to better communicate agriculture’s positive message with others.

And it is a title that did not come easily. Seven applications were received and the top five were invited to the American Angus Assoc.  in Saint Joseph, Mo. On Aug. 21, the finalists and their families toured the Association and gave a 15-minute presentation addressing current beef industry challenges. Topics ranged from the historic drought to genetic technology, and beef advocacy to forage management.

Competing in the top five were: Esther McCabe, Elk City, Kan.; Tyler Ottensmeier, McLouth, Kan.; Hannah Wright, Spring City, Tenn.; and Blaine Novak, Fordville, N.D.

Adcock begins a year-long term as the Angus Ambassador, traveling to events such as the National Angus Conference and Tour in Wichita, Kan.; a Certified Angus Beef® Building Blocks Seminar in Wooster, Ohio; the Beef Improvement Federation in Oklahoma City, Okla.; the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association Cattle Industry Annual Convention in Tampa Bay, Fla.; and the Guiding Outstanding Angus Leaders (GOAL) Conference in Canada.

Funding for Adcock’s travel expenses and registration fees are provided by the Angus Foundation, thanks to the generous donations it receives from Angus breeders and friends. For more information, 816-383-5100.