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Spotlight on Youth - April 15, 2009

Daniels: summer program to hire 2,000 young adults
INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. — Indiana Governor Mitch Daniels recently announced the state will hire 2,000 young adults to spend this summer and next improving Indiana’s parks, trails and natural habitats. The program, called the Young Hoosiers Conservation Corps, will use federal stimulus funds designated for employment and training of people 16 to 24 years old.

“Our template for stimulus funds is jobs, speed and lasting value. This program puts young people to work, does it quickly, and adds the best kind of enduring legacy in the enhanced natural beauty of Indiana,” said Daniels.

The jobs will pay $8.50 per hour. According to federal requirements, the jobs will be for Hoosiers who are 24 years old or younger and whose family incomes are at or below the poverty level (approximately $23,000 for a family of four). The positions will begin no earlier than May 1 and end no later than September 30, 2009.

The state will place a top priority on hiring veterans and those currently receiving unemployment benefits who meet the program’s age and income eligibility requirements.

The 2,000 jobs include projects such as restoring natural wildlife habitats, building trails, beautifying Department of Natural Resources (DNR) properties, and rehabilitating historic buildings at about 100 DNR sites, including state parks, reservoirs, recreation areas, state forests, nature preserves, and state historic sites. All federal dollars will go into the young workers’ paychecks; the DNR will use funds already budgeted for any needed materials.
The Department of Workforce Development and DNR will oversee the program. Job applications are being accepted immediately online at www.in.gov/yhcc

Parkway FFA hosted
FFA Week activities

ROCKFORD, Ohio — The Parkway FFA held its annual FFA Week activities during the week of Tuesday, Feb. 17 through Friday, Feb. 20. Throughout the week there were many activities such as ag dress-up, ag olympics, and a petting zoo.

The week started off with cowboy/cowgirl dress up day with students wearing their flannel shirts and cowboy boots. Milking the Cow was the first Ag Olympic event for the week. First place went to Dustin Merry, second was Aaron Bollenbacher, and third went to Stacy Speelman.

Wednesday was Duct Tape outfit day. The students used their creativity and more colors of duct tape were used then most people have ever seen!

The Ag Olympic was Chicken Fling. First place was Abby Hodge, second Ashley Trafzer, and third was Aaron Bollenbacher. Wednesday was also truck drive-in day. The school parking lot was filled with many different models and years of trucks. The trucks were than judged in many different categories.

The nicest truck went to Dustin Merry and the rustiest went to Nick Poling. The cleanest truck was Paul Brown as Nick Strader was the dirtiest. The newest was driven by Caleb Caffee and Mark Sheets drove in the oldest.

Lastly, the biggest truck went to Garth Louth and Aaron Bollenbacher drove the smallest.

Thursday consisted of many different FFA activities. The students came in early in the morning and made omelets for the Parkway staff members.

The teachers who attended said the omelets were delicious. FFA members also hosted a petting zoo for students in preschool through fourth grade throughout the day. There were many different farm animals such as pigs, a cow, horses, and even puppies.

The elementary students really enjoyed all the animals. The Ag Olympic on Thursday was the Milk Chug.

The winner was Paul Brown, second place was Garth Louth, and third was Hank Bevington. Students on Thursday wore their Carhartt gear which ranged from coats to hats to boots and overalls.
Friday was the last day of FFA Week. There was a scheduled tractor drive-in day. This was cancelled however because of cold weather. It will be rescheduled for a later date. The last ag dress-up was FFA Apparel.

Students wore FFA t-shirts, or to receive bonus students wore their official FFA jackets and black pants. Hoop Shoot was the Ag Olympic and Joe Dellinger received first place, Josh Fisher in second, and Andrew Peel in third.

Throughout the week as well, the Parkway FFA Chapter officers conducted school announcements on the intercom in the morning showing support for the FFA.
4/15/2009