Riley receives American FFA Degree

HUNTINGTON, Ind. — Huntington University’s Haupert Institute for Agricultural Studies has announced that junior Madison Riley, an AgriManagement and AgriMarketing major from Goshen, Ind., will receive the American FFA Degree from the National FFA Organization at the National FFA Convention this month.

“FFA has been an influential part of my life. Through FFA I learned the many leadership skills that have shaped me into the woman I am today. It is an honor to have been chosen as a recipient of the highest honors awarded by FFA. I am thankful to have been a part of this organization that has truly impacted my life,” said Riley.

The American FFA Degree is awarded to members who have demonstrated the highest level of commitment to FFA and made significant accomplishments in their supervised agricultural experiences (SAEs). The Degree is awarded at the National FFA Convention each year to fewer than 1 percent of FFA members, making it one of the organization’s highest honors.

In addition to their degree, each recipient receives a gold American FFA Degree key. The top American FFA Degree recipients from each state may also be nominated for an American Star Award.

Some of requirements to earn the American FFA Degree include receiving the State FFA Degree; completing and maintaining records to substantiate an outstanding SAE program through which the member has exhibited comprehensive planning, managerial and financial expertise; possessing a record of outstanding leadership abilities and community involvement; and participating in at least 50 hours of community service from at least three different community service activities.

“Madison came into the program already having achieved much in FFA, as evidenced by her receiving this honor. She has further distinguished herself during her time at HU. She has truly been an advocate for agriculture and for FFA, and an ambassador for the Haupert Institute,” said Dr. Raymond Porter, director of the Haupert Institute.

“Whenever HU is involved in FFA events, Madison has been quick to step up to serve. Several of the new initiatives on campus have her fingerprints all over them. She has helped establish and lead the Collegiate Farm Bureau Chapter at HU. She was instrumental in bringing HU into partnership with Agriculture Future of America, as a platform for students to expand their horizons for future careers in agriculture.

“And, she has served as a Student Representative on the Agriculture Advisory Committee for HU, providing valuable insights from a student’s perspective to advise those leading the ag program. Madison is truly deserving of this award and we are proud of her.”

Miami East-MVCTC excels in FFA soils competition

CASSTOWN, Ohio — On Sept. 27, members of the Miami East-MVCTC FFA Chapter competed in the District 5 Soils Judging Contest in Mercer County, on land owned by the Saint Charles Seminary south of Celina.

The Urban Soils team consisted of Jarrett Winner, Carter Gilbert, Zach Kronenberger and Jeffery Blackford. The team placed seventh out of 22 teams. Jarrett Winner was the highest-placing individual from Miami East, placing 10 out of 131 students. Additional close placers was Carter Gilbert at 29 and Zach Kronenberger at 50.

The Rural Soils team consisted of Tyler Laycox and Camrey Jordan. Tyler Laycox was the high individual from Miami East, placing 30th out 227 contestants. The contest consisted of evaluating three soils pits for slope, erosion, drainage, depth and soil texture. Also, the contestants took a written test and answered questions from the soil survey.

RFD-TV supporting FFA with new fundraising opportunity

NASHVILLE, Tenn. — RFD-TV’s FarmHer is offering a new fundraising opportunity for FFA students, advisors and supporters to chapters across the United States. FFA chapters can make 15 percent for their area chapter for every sale of FarmHer apparel.

FarmHer’s vast array of apparel and accessories offers a line of FFA-inspired apparel for FarmHers, young and old. The line was unveiled at the 2016 National FFA Convention. Each sale will be tracked by their individual chapter’s unique code to attribute each order, and FarmHer will track each purchase made in the chapter’s honor.

This fundraising opportunity is available immediately to any interested chapters. A maximum of 50 chapters will be accepted for this first round of fundraising. Chapters will have two weeks to raise funds using their unique codes. A promotional guide will be provided to each chapter to support their fundraising efforts.

Any student or advisor who is interested in registering their chapter for this fundraising opportunity can email FarmHer’s Events and Merchandise Manager Carly Cummings, at carly@farmher.com

“FarmHer has been supporting FFA chapters in our local area for the past few years, but we are excited to extend our reach nationwide. This is a great opportunity for chapters to get their communities involved and requires very little coordination on their end,” Cummings said.

“We will take care of setting up each chapter’s unique code and delivering the products to their customers. All they have to do is share and encourage purchases in their honor.”

Learn more about FarmHer at https://farmher.com and for updates, follow @FarmHer1 on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

CHS strengthens partnership with National FFA Organization

INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. — The CHS Foundation, funded by charitable contributions from CHS, Inc. and a key National FFA supporter for more than 40 years, recently announced a $3.8 million commitment to the National FFA Organization, growing its support to a platinum sponsorship level.

This investment helps ensure the FFA continues to support members as they strive to become a workforce that understands the food and agriculture industry, and develop the leadership skills necessary to pursue careers in agriculture.

“Generous, broad and continued support from the CHS Foundation has an impact on our members and agriculture education teachers at the local, state and national levels,” said Molly Ball, president of the National FFA Foundation.

“With an estimated 60,000 jobs opening every year and with 27 percent of those being in agriculture, FFA is working to ensure that our career development events and proficiency award areas align with our students’ evolving interests and emerging challenge areas in food, fiber and natural resources. The continued contributions of the CHS Foundation help us achieve the FFA vision of growing leaders, building communities and strengthening agriculture, and supplying the talent pipeline to fill those needs.”

This new commitment provides ongoing support to the diversified crop, environmental and natural resources management proficiencies, the environmental and natural resources management CDE, increased support of teacher education and retention programs through National Teach Ag and CASE institute teacher scholarships. New funding is dedicated to developing cooperative education curriculum and sponsorship of the New Century Farmer program.

“The CHS Foundation is proud to continue our longstanding relationship with National FFA that began more than four decades ago,” says Nanci Lilja, CHS Foundation president. “Through our continued support of National FFA and Teach Ag, we are building on our commitment to develop the next generation of ag leaders and ensure ag education teachers have the resources they need to be successful teaching agricultural concepts in the classroom.”

Tractor Supply recognizes regional student winners

BRENTWOOD, Tenn. — This summer, Tractor Supply Co.’s Mobile Fair Tour visited 19 state and county fairs across the country and recognized FFA and 4-H youth who are making a difference in their communities.

Now in its third year, the nation’s largest rural lifestyle retailer sent its road team on a cross-country journey that began in June in Illinois and concluded on last weekend in Arkansas. New to the Mobile Fair Tour this year was Tractor Supply’s first “Great Neighbor” Essay Contest for FFA and 4-H students. The competition encourages youth to submit a short essay detailing how their participation in FFA or 4-H has empowered them to be a better neighbor.

“The ‘Great Neighbor’ essay contest has added a fun component to this year’s Mobile Fair Tour,” said Phil Reiter, vice president of marketing at Tractor Supply. “The students involved in 4-H and FFA play such important roles in the communities we serve, and we are privileged to have the opportunity to recognize them for their hard work and dedication.”

Tractor Supply reviewed more than 500 submissions and selected five local winners for each fair stop to be honored during a special ceremony at the Tractor Supply exhibit. In addition to a commemorative plaque, contest winners received a TSC gift pack.

Farm World area winners are listed below with their home state and the recognizing fair (sometimes in a different state):

Indiana: Makayla Mickle, Macon County Fair 4-H and FFA; Savanna Hogg, Macon County Fair 4-H; and Emily Zimmer, Preble County Fair 4-H and FFA

Illinois: Lauren Shae Jackson, Macon County Fair 4-H; Emily Basham, Callysta D. Borders and Abigale Osborn, all Illinois State Fair 4-H;; and Gwendolyn Fowler, Illinois State Fair 4-H and FFA

Iowa: Randi Short, Keegan Bethards and Kristian Sanders, all Wapello County Regional Fair FFA; and Jackie Carr, Wapello County Regional Fair 4-H

Ohio: Megan Beight, Davia Smith and Cariey Barickman, all Trumbull County Fair 4-H; Lizzie Smith, Dakota Brame and Riley Harris, all Perry County Fair 4-H and FFA; Nevach Ogle, Perry County Fair 4-H; Malaina Rickel, Haley Hyde and Parker Wildermuth, all Ohio State Fair 4-H and FFA; Hayley Richardson, Ohio State Fair 4-H; Cheyann Kendel, Preble County Fair 4-H and FFA; Eliza Jones, Preble County Fair FFA; and Chyanne Retcher, Preble County Fair 4-H

Michigan: Danielle Hysell, Illinois State Fair 4-H and FFA

Kentucky: Tanner Goodlett, Emery Moore and Trinity Sinkhorn, all Woodford County Fair FFA; Cyrus Bivens and Luke Jacobs, both Kentucky State Fair 4-H; and Katherine Buckler and Ronni Stanelle, both Kentucky State Fair FFA

ASA seeking candidates for soy scholarship

ST. LOUIS, Mo. — The application process for the Soy Scholarship 2018-19 academic year begins ends Nov. 20. This is a $5,000 one-time award presented to a current eligible high school senior who is planning to pursue a degree in agriculture at an accredited college or university.

The scholarship is managed by the American Soybean Assoc. (ASA) and is made possible through a grant by BASF Corp. The scholarship is awarded in $2,500 increments (one per semester) for the 2018-19 school year. The student must maintain successful academic progress and be in good standing with the college or university to receive the full amount of the scholarship.

High school seniors may apply online through Nov. 20. Final selection will be made in early December during the ASA board meeting. The student will be notified mid-December, with an official announcement made during the Commodity Classic in Anaheim, Calif., Feb. 27-March 1, 2018.

In addition to the scholarship, BASF will provide the winner and one parent or guardian with a trip to attend Commodity Classic, where they will receive special recognition at the BASF booth and the ASA Awards Banquet. See https://soygrowers.com/award-programs/soy-scholarship for specific requirements.

Corn contest prizes based on big ears meaning big yields

CASSTOWN, Ohio — Members of the Miami East-MVCTC FFA Chapter were challenged to participate in the annual Chapter Corn Contest. The rules of the contest were to bring in one ear of corn and earn a corn-related prize.

All participants received a can of soda because corn syrup is a major ingredient. Overall winners were presented an FFA T-shirt from the FFA Chapter. A winner is chosen based on the predicted yield of the corn.

The grand prize winner was determined by the highest yield estimate, based on plant population per acre. Agriculture Education students in Plant and Animal Sciences took time in class to figure the predicted yield of corn ears as part of their continuing education of agronomy.

The overall winner was Paige Pence. Her corn was predicted to yield 312.3 bushels to the acre, with a 35,000 seed population per acre. Her corn was a Channel product. Second place went to Kearsten Kirby, who presented an ear of corn that is predicted to produce 283.6 bushels per acre with a 30,000 seed population per acre.

Third place went to Adam Bensman, with an ear of corn predicted to yield 281.6 bushels to the acre with a 36,000 seed population per acre. His was an Ebberts product. Fourth went to Jacob Sweitzer with a predicted yield of 270.7 with a 30,000 seed population per acre. Fifth went to Lauren Wright with a predicted yield of 270.6 bushels to the acre, with a 33,000 seed population per acre. Her corn was an AgriGold product.

Participants included Elizabeth Bair, Adam Bensman, Abigail Covault, Kearsten Kirby, Paige Pence, Jacob Rife, Jacob Sweitzer, Caleb Taylor and Lauren Wright.