Amanda Clearcreek FFA team places fourth in nation AMANDA, Ohio — On Oct. 25-27, the Amanda Clearcreek FFA Agricultural Issues Forum team competed at the national level at National FFA Convention in Indianapolis. The team – consisting of Emma Dearth, Paige Hinton, Harrison Poor, Jullian Scott, Aaron Sharp and Noah Smith – placed fourth in the nation, receiving a Gold Rating. This is the first time a team from Ohio has made the final four in the nation in this contest area. It is truly a great success for this team, since this is an extremely challenging Career Development Event, also known as a CDE. This CDE involved the submission of a 10-page written portfolio, a minimum of five forum presentations done prior to the state contest date last spring, the team completing 15 forums, a 15-minute team presentation and a 7-minute Q&A session. The team presented forums to The Ohio State University Agronomy Department, state Sen. Troy Balderson, state Rep. Ron Hood, USDA Wildlife Services, Ohio Farm Bureau, Pickaway and Fairfield counties’ extension offices, Central Ohio Beekeepers and others. All six members earned $350 in scholarships as a result of their excellent rating. The cash awards and the agricultural issues forum event was sponsored by Elanco Animal Health and Syngenta. Hoosiers’ hard work pays off at national 4-H poultry contest DECATUR, Ind. — Recently, the Adams County 4-H, along with the Bellmont FFA, from Decatur, were able to send a team of four students to the National 4-H Poultry and Egg Conference judging in Louisville, Ky. The team, consisting of Jarrett Bailey, Logan LeMaster, Corey Miller and Katie Melcher, had a successful week. After a six-hour contest, the team was recognized multiple times at the awards banquet. In the production hen category, LeMaster tied for seventh place, and the team placed second. For the market poultry category, LeMaster again ranked seventh, Miller obtained fourth place and the team, again, earned second place. In the category of market eggs, Melcher placed third individually and the team also placed third. In the overall competition, all four members placed in the top 20 in the nation, with Bailey receiving 18th place, LeMaster achieving eighth, Miller earning fifth and Melcher placing third overall. And, as a team, the four students worked hard to make their way to taking the first-place team title in the competition. Ag-related classroom projects win CHS Foundation funding PALM COAST, Fla. — Students in grades K-12 will learn their reading, writing, math, science and social studies lessons with an agricultural twist, thanks to $500 in grant funding from the CHS Foundation, funded by charitable gifts from CHS, Inc. and the National Agriculture in the Classroom Organization (NAITCO). Sixteen projects involving pollination activities, innovative hydroponics growing systems and classroom embryology initiatives were selected for funding from more than 90 highly competitive applications submitted. “We proudly support the innovative projects these teachers are creating using hands-on agriculture as the vehicle for higher level classroom learning,” said Willie Grenier, president of NAITCO and executive director of Maine Agriculture in the Classroom. “The CHS Foundation is committed to developing the next generation of agriculture leaders,” said Nanci Lilja, CHS Foundation president. “By supporting the Classroom Grant program, students are learning agriculture concepts in unique ways that will introduce them to the industry and spark interest in agriculture careers.” The projects funded will reach students around the country and will cover a variety of subjects. This region’s projects include: •Indiana – Sugar Creek Elementary School’s “Which Came First: The Chicken or the Egg? Embryology in Kindergarten” will allow students to observe eggs hatch in a classroom incubator, care for the chicks afterward, participate in read-aloud activities and write in personal journals. •Iowa – Northeast High School’s “Agricultural Podcast Series” will help juniors host a weekly agricultural podcast series with local and state leaders in the agricultural industry. Students will develop questions for the interviews, speak with industry leaders, record their responses and manage the production and social media of the project. Elkhart Farm Bureau earns award for Cowboy Ethics program INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. — Indiana’s Elkhart County Farm Bureau was selected by the American Farm Bureau Federation as one of this year’s County Activities of Excellence (CAE) Awards program winners. Elkhart County Farm Bureau won for its involvement in a robust Cowboy Ethics program. The CAE Awards celebrate unique, volunteer-driven programming at the local level. Elkhart County’s Cowboy Ethics program is coordinated by volunteer Dwight Moudy and has been an active program in that area for nearly five years. “I learned that James Owen, a retired Wall Street professional, had created a program based on years of research that focuses on what he called ‘The Code of the West,’” explained Moudy. “Knowing that children are often fascinated by stories of cowboys, we created a local program with that theme to teach youth about principles, values and self-sufficiency.” With Elkhart County Farm Bureau’s support, he coordinates 25 elementary and middle school classes in the county each year. But the program’s reach continues to grow. “All told, we will have about 95 classes in the area this year,” estimated Moudy. “Neighboring counties are adapting the program for the children.” But the program doesn’t stop with ethics. County Farm Bureau leadership and volunteers also use the time in the classroom to teach students about agriculture. “We speak to Elkhart Community School students who have no farming background to teach them about farming and to show them how important math and science are in our line of work,” explained Bert Egging, Elkhart County Farm Bureau president. As Egging explains, many of the children seem surprised to hear the farmers speaking about the math involved in milk production or the science of caring for animals. “Over the years, we’ve created a lot of opportunities for the kids to experience farming without leaving school grounds,” he explained. “We bring baby farm animals to the school and this year we are hoping to help them grow vegetables that they can harvest at the end of the year. The farming side of the program is mostly about teaching them where their food comes from.” Elkhart County Farm Bureau competed against county Farm Bureaus across the country for the annual award. Elkhart County is the only Indiana county winner. Submissions were grouped by membership size. Cowboy Ethics won in the 5,000-and-more member group, the largest single-county award grouping. Elkhart County Farm Bureau will be recognized and will exhibit its program during AFBF’s 99th Annual Convention and IDEAg Trade Show, Jan. 5-10, 2018, in Nashville. Winning counties receive a $2,250 stipend to apply toward the cost of travel and exhibition. Hoosier Ag Today awards 4-H communications scholarship ZIONSVILLE, Ind. — For the 12th consecutive year, Hoosier Ag Today (HAT) has awarded a scholarship to a high-achieving Indiana 4-H member for their communications skills. Presented at the Scholarship Recognition Luncheon at the 2017 Indiana 4-H Congress, the award was made to Crystal Xue of Hamilton County. She is a senior at Carmel High School who plans on a career in public service. Xue was the 2016 Public Speaking Achievement Award winner in Hamilton County and was the Professional Persuasive Presentation Sweepstakes winner at the 2016 Indiana State Fair. Xue said good communication skills, both oral and written, are vital in both one’s personal and professional lives. She said her 4-H experience given her the chance to develop her communications skills and the self-confidence to use them. “She is a very impressive young woman who has the talent and drive to do great things,” said Gary Truitt, president of HAT. Forty-two 4-Hers received scholarships during the program, held Oct. 14 at the Indiana State Fairgrounds. The scholarship luncheon was sponsored by CountryMark and the Indiana State Department of Agriculture. Tractor Supply fundraiser raises nearly $1 million for 4-H BRENTWOOD, Tenn. — More than 14,500 4-H youth will have the opportunity to attend county-level development programs, camps and leadership conferences as the result of Tractor Supply’s fall Paper Clover campaign. The 12-day initiative raised more than $980,000 and is now the most successful fundraiser in the company’s history. “Our partnership with National 4-H Council is extremely important to us and we can’t thank our customers enough for contributing to the unparalleled success of this fundraiser,” said Jessica Holmes, marketing manager at Tractor Supply Co. Between Oct. 4-15, Tractor Supply stores across the country accepted donations on behalf of 4-H. The money raised will provide members with countless opportunities to learn valuable skills in the areas of agriculture, science, technology, outdoor recreation and more. “The Paper Clover campaign has always served as a great source of camaraderie in our stores,” said Christi Korzekwa, senior vice president of marketing at Tractor Supply. “Both our team members and customers have seen the impact 4-H programs can have on youth and by supporting the Paper Clover fundraiser, they have helped ensure more kids will have an opportunity to experience the incredible benefits 4-H has to offer.” This marks the eighth consecutive year of the semi-annual campaign. The combined donations from this year’s spring and fall fundraisers totaled more than $1.8 million. Since 2010, Tractor Supply and its customers have generated more than $13 million, which has impacted 4-H groups throughout the country. “Thanks to the generous support from Tractor Supply Company and their customers, thousands of youth across the country have access to hands-on, interactive 4-H programming,” said Jennifer Sirangelo, president and CEO, National 4-H Council. Sale of Champions celebrates youth exhibitors at NAILE LOUISVILLE, Ky. —The North American International Livestock Exposition (NAILE) Sale of Champions raised $64,500 during a live auction on Nov. 16 at the Kentucky Exposition Center. The Grand Champion and Reserve Grand Champion steers, hogs and lambs in the junior show division are auctioned off to the highest bidder during the sale. Ten percent of the sales are donated to charitable organizations. The remaining 90 percent are split, with 10 percent going to promote the expo and 80 percent given to the youth exhibitors. More than $1.75 million has been raised through the auction to further promote youth involvement in agribusiness and fund charitable endeavors. The 2017 NAILE Sale of Champions exhibitors, purchasers and sale prices are: •Grand Champion Steer: $16,500, exhibited by Mikala Grady of Grandview, Texas, and purchased by Kentucky Cattleman’s and Cox’s Shavings •Reserve Grand Champion Steer: $14,000, exhibited by Jesse Hoblyn of York, Neb., and purchased by Levy Restaurants, Agribusiness Industry Network and Farm Credit Mid-America •Grand Champion Market Hog: $10,000, exhibited by Kylie Barnard of Von Ormy, Texas, and purchased by Kentucky Pork Producers and Ehrler’s Ice Cream •Reserve Grand Champion Market Hog: $7,500, exhibited by Lucia Abreu of St. Helena, Calif., and purchased by Farm Credit Mid-America and Louisville Ag Club •Grand Champion Market Lamb: $9,000, exhibited by Alexandra Raute of Carmel, Ind., and purchased by Feeders Supply, Top Bedding Richmond Quebec and Smith Creek •Reserve Grand Champion Market Lamb: $7,500, exhibited by Sam Schmillen of Marcus, Iowa, and purchased by Jefferson County Farm Bureau, Kentucky Aquaculture and Ruth’s Catering |
