Purdue senior wins national wool contest in San Antonio

INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. — Purdue University senior Claire Lee of Indianapolis was awarded first place in the Senior Category at the National Make It With Wool Contest in San Antonio, Texas. She made a floral wool dress and blue wool lined coat ensemble.

The national contest was held at the American Sheep Industry annual meeting. Claire will serve as the Senior Ambassador at next year’s competition in New Orleans. The national competition showcases and promotes the beauty and versatility of wool fabrics, yarns and fibers and encourages personal creativity in sewing, knitting, crocheting, spinning, weaving and other needlework arts.

All contestants must select, construct and model their own garment(s) made from more than 60 percent wool content. Contestants were judged on overall appearance of the outfit, sewing construction of all three garments and overall fit.

Zionsville Community High School senior Molly Grotjan, 17, was awarded fifth place in the Junior category with her navy blue lined skirt, lined color-blocked cream and navy top, and navy, gray and cream-colored cape with button closure.

Anita Hardwick of Crawfordsville was awarded fifth place in the Adult category with her blue and ivory wool blazer, top and skirt outfit.

The national contest is sponsored by the American Wool Council, the American Sheep Industry and American Sheep Industry Women. The state contest is sponsored by the Indiana Sheep Assoc.

Miami East-MVCTC shows strong in FFA competitions

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CASSTOWN, Ohio — The Miami East-MVCTC FFA Chapter has wrapped up some local and state wins in competitions this spring.

The Dairy Cattle Evaluation team members finished a season of Career Development Events. On March 3 at the Marysville/Champaign County Invitational in Marysville, the Dairy Cattle Team placed 16th and consisted of Michael Bair, Chloee Thomas and Elizabeth Bair. Michael was the highest-placing individual from Miami East, at 34th out of 101 contestants.

On March 10 at the Miami Trace FFA Invitational in Washington Court House, the Dairy Cattle Team placed 13th and consisted again of Michael and Elizabeth, and Ethin Bendickson. Michael was the highest-placing individual from Miami East, at 26th out of 93 contestants.

The State Dairy Cattle Evaluation Career Development Event was held on April 7 at Ohio State-ATI in Wooster. The team placed 16th out of 57 teams. The highest-placing individual from Miami East was Bendickson, at 33rd out of 295 contestants.

A special thank you goes to the practice sites – the Dairy Cattle Team practiced at Quietcove Holstein Farm in Wapakoneta, Knoop Holstein Farm in Fletcher, Hershberger Jersey Farm in Troy, Hines Holstein Farm in Chickasaw and Buschur Dairy Farm in New Weston.

Also, several members of the chapter recently competed in the Ohio FFA State Career Development Event for Grain Merchandising. The event consisted of an online test that evaluated each participant’s knowledge of grain merchandising options for farmers, and former and current grain marketing trends.

Members taking the test were Emily Thimmes, Jessica Gillum, Alex Isbrandt, Couy Moreland, Zach Kronenberger, Dylan Hahn, Kylie Blair, Alex DiNardo, Maci Krites, Tyler Heckman, Liza Bair, Abbey Koontz, Jacob Rife, Kami Martin, Cody Niswonger, Brookelyn Hermann, Emma Younce, Lane Mergler, Kaitlyn Hawes and Jacob Brunke.

The team placed ninth out of 41 teams in the state and was led by Thimmes, who placed 22nd out of 288 individuals. Members who competed at the State Finals were Thimmes, Gillum, Moreland and Hahn.

A special appreciation goes to Amanda Matheny and Janelle Brinksneader from Andersons Ethanol in Greenville for their coaching help.

MEMBERS OF THE MIAMI EAST-MVCTC FFA Dairy Cattle Evaluation team are, from left, Ethin Bendickson, Chloee Thomas, Michael Bair and Elizabeth Bair.

(jackets) MEMBERS OF THE STATE FFA Grain Merchandising CDE team are, from left, Dylan Hahan, Emily Thimmes, Couy Moreland and Jessica Gillum.

(Photos provided)

Tractor Supply presents nearly $2M to National FFA, 4-H

BRENTWOOD, Tenn. — Tractor Supply Co. and the National FFA Organization are supporting the next generation of agricultural leaders through the third annual Grants for Growing program. This year, Tractor Supply stores nationwide raised a record $830,000 through customer donations to fund sustainable, youth-driven agriculture projects made possible by the initiative.

Tractor Supply awarded 271 grants impacting more than 30,000 students this spring to FFA chapters across the country that requested funding to build or enhance educational projects that will further their students’ understanding of agriculture.

From research farms to outdoor learning centers, the grants will be used to purchase the supplies needed to fulfill the projects such as power tools, hydroponic systems, fencing, vegetation, livestock, poultry, feed, mulch and much more.

Coinciding with National FFA Week, Tractor Supply hosted a 10-day in-store fundraising event nationwide, which offered shoppers the opportunity to donate at checkout in support of the program. Many chapters participated in additional fundraising opportunities at their local Tractor Supply stores to supplement donations, including bake sales, car washes and more.

Also, thousands of 4-H youth from across the country will have opportunities to learn valuable leadership skills as a result of Tractor Supply’s Spring Paper Clover Fundraiser. From April 11-22, the company raised more than $956,000 through donations made with purchases in stores and online during the biannual campaign held in partnership with National 4-H Council.

Tractor Supply customers participated in Paper Clover by purchasing paper clovers – the emblem of 4-H – for a monetary donation of their choice. Awarded as scholarships to 4-H camps and leadership events, every donation benefits youth within the state it was collected.

This marks the ninth consecutive year of Tractor Supply’s Paper Clover campaign. The company’s biannual fundraiser has collectively generated more than $13.9 million in essential funding over its history. The Paper Clover campaign will return this fall, from Oct. 3-14.

$111,000 in ‘Scoops’ raised for ag education programs

PRAIRIE DU SAC, Wis. — Every scoop of Fresh Frozen Custard mattered during Culver’s Scoops of Thanks Day fundraiser on May 3. Guests showed their support for agricultural education by stopping at Culver’s more than 650 restaurants and donating $1 in exchange for a single scoop of Fresh Frozen Custard.

The fundraiser is part of Culver’s Thank You Farmers Project and raised more than $111,000. The Thank You Farmers Project supports agricultural education programs, like the National FFA Organization, that encourage smart farming practices in an effort to make sure we continue to have enough food to feed our country’s growing population.

Since 2013, the Thank You Farmers Project has raised more than $1.7 million in support of the National FFA Organization, local FFA chapters and a variety of local agricultural organizations. To learn more about the program and how to get involved, visit www.culvers.com/thankyoufarmersproject

AGCO congratulates 2018 FFA scholarship winners

DULUTH, GA — AGCO Corp., AGCO Finance and AGCO-affiliated dealerships across the country provided more than $100,000 for 67 scholarships in support of local FFA chapters and the 2018 National FFA Collegiate Scholarship Program.

AGCO’s support for the National FFA Collegiate Scholarship Program began in 2011 and involves financial contributions from local dealers and AGCO. The financial support is just one way the company and its employees express their appreciation and support for FFA and today’s youth.

AGCO is also involved at the National FFA Convention & Expo each year and enlists the Gilbert, Iowa, High School FFA Chapter to help with the company’s Farm Progress exhibit near Boone, Iowa. These activities extend a 72-year partnership between the National FFA Organization and the company’s brands, one of the longest-standing partnerships of FFA.

AGCO, AGCO Finance and AGCO Dealer-sponsored scholarships make up just a few of the 1,840 scholarships awarded by the National FFA Organization to 2018 high school graduates and select college students. This year, students shared a total of more than $2.6 million contributed by sponsoring companies.

This is the 34th year for the FFA scholarship program, which began in 1984 with only 16 scholarships offered. The full list of FFA 2018 scholarship results can be found online at www.ffa.org/participate/scholarships

STANDALONE PHOTO

The 2017–18 Ohio Cattlemen’s Assoc. BEST (Beef Exhibitor Show Total) Program wrapped up May 5 with its annual awards banquet at the Ohio Expo Center in Columbus. Representatives from sponsors Bob Evans Farms, M.H. EBY, Frazier Farms, Farm Credit Mid–America, Garwood Cattle Co. LLC, Kalmbach Feeds–Formula of Champions and Weaver Leather Livestock presented more than $50,000 in belt buckles, luggage, show materials and other awards. This year’s program featured 15 sanctioned shows across the state with more than 523 youth showing 749 market animals.

(Photo provided)

‘Follow Us to the Fair’ tour to embark on cross-country journey

BRENTWOOD, Tenn. — Fair season is back, and that means Tractor Supply’s “Follow Us to the Fair” Tour is once again embarking on an 11,000-mile cross-country journey to state and county fairs, making 24 stops in 14 states over the next six months.

The tour will recognize more than 100 4-H and FFA youth who are making a difference in their local communities. Now in its fourth year, the retailer is sending its road team on an excursion that begins June 1 in Kentucky and concludes Nov. 10 in Nevada.

In addition to family-friendly activities and opportunities to win prizes, the “Follow Us to the Fair” Tour will celebrate local 4-H and FFA youth through Tractor Supply’s second annual “Great Neighbor” Essay Contest. The company selected local winners at each fair to be honored during a special ceremony, and in addition to a commemorative plaque, winners will walk away with a special Tractor Supply gift pack.

Attendees will have the chance to test their abilities on a strength game, have their free photo taken on a bucking bull, race to “feed the animals” in a bean bag toss, take home huge prizes and participate in fun, educational activities. To view the complete list of state and county fair stops and corresponding dates, visit www.TractorSupply.com/FairTour

Milton-Union FFA members cheer state winner at convention

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COLUMBUS, Ohio — The Milton-Union MVCTC FFA chapter attended Ohio’s State FFA Convention on May 3-4, at the Ohio State Fairgrounds in Columbus. Members who attended were Abby Hissong, Jessica Leffew, Jamie Rasor, Tyler Pratt, Jacob Hornberger, Emily Hornberger, Joel Cress, Webb Kress, Tyler Leffew, Taylor Falb, Darby Welbaum and Emmie Bohse.

Thursday morning, Hissong competed in the State Agriscience Fair and State Proficiency Award interview process. Her Agriscience Fair project, “The Effects of Fungicides on Growth and Yield of Corn and Soybeans,” received a Gold Rating and placed second in the state.

On Thursday Evening she was named State Proficiency Winner in the Agriscience Research – Plant Systems Category. She will move on to compete at the National FFA Convention in Indianapolis in October.

On Friday, the students attended the fourth session where officers who received gold ratings were announced. 2017-18 Chapter Treasurer Daniel Albaugh was recognized for his gold rating on the treasurer’s notebook, and Chapter Secretary Emily Hornberger received a gold rating on her secretary’s book.

At the fifth and final session, Leffew, Jacob Hornberger and Pratt each received their State FFA Degree.

Earlier this spring, the FFA chapter held its fourth annual Parent-Member Banquet at Milton-Union High School. Highlights from the award ceremony include:

•Eighth-grader Leffew was recognized for his involvement in FFA and his hard work on his Supervised Agricultural Experience (SAE) with the Star Greenhand Degree

•Star Chapter Degree was awarded to Madison Silveira for her involvement in FFA and her hard work on her SAE

•Stars in SAE areas were also awarded: Star in Agribusiness to Albaugh, Star in Agriscience to Hissong, Star in Agricultural Placement to Pratt and the Star Chapter Farmer to Webb Kress

Throughout the school year the chapter hosted several fundraising events, and students recognized for exceeding expectations in raising money for FFA included Hissong, Tyler Pratt and Erica Pratt.

The students in each class with the highest grade point average were honored with the scholarship pin and certificate. Those recognized were Nathan Black, Allie Bohse, Hissong, Emily Hornberger and Jacob Hornberger.

The 2018-19 chapter officers were also installed: President Jessica Leffew, Vice President Webb Kress, Secretary Emily Hornberger, Treasurer Colton Leach, Reporter Kelsie Tomlinson, Sentinel Jacob Hornberger and Student Advisor Madison Silveira.

Finally, Milton-Union MVCTC FFA Chapter is honored to have the opportunity to recognize local community members who are helping to advance the agricultural education program and the chapter. This year it recognized Karen Wellbaum and Candi Hissong.