Corbin Hellwarth of Parkway FFA wins state essay contest

COLUMBUS, Ohio — “As American agriculturists, we can and should play our role and help fix this broken economy. By creating jobs, producing in an efficient manner and working with its government, American agriculture can and will pull through for its nation.” Corbin Hellwarth, Parkway FFA member, wrote this sentence concerning how American agriculture can or should play a role in the nation’s current economic crisis.

“Throughout the years people have relied on agriculture as a source of food, clothing and jobs. As we look into the future this reliance will not change, but our approach to providing for it must be altered in these trying times. We mist stimulate the economy by creating jobs, streamlining our production process, and allowing change in trade agreements and our government.” Hellwarth feels that America with the help of agriculture can pull through, with some necessary adjustments from the agriculture field.

He wrote this essay to submit to the Ohio FFA Organization. His essay was judged at districts and then state level. It was chosen to be in the top three essays of the state of Ohio, meaning he would be recognized at the 81st Ohio FFA Convention.

At the first session of the convention on May 1st, Corbin’s essay was named top essay in the state of Ohio. For Corbin’s first place, he received a plaque and $60.

Also, the Parkway FFA Parkway’s Ag Engineering team placed 4th out of 64 teams in the preliminaries at the state contest. This sent the team into the finals where they did hands on applying their knowledge of engineering. The team placed fifth overall after the finals. Brandon Riley placed 5th, Michael Ford placed 21st, Devin Adams placed 24th, and Mark Sheets placed 35th. For their accomplishments they received a banner.

Additionally, the Parkway FFA would like to congratulate four members: Michael Ford, Aaron Bollenbacher, Corbin Hellwarth, and Danielle Matthews for receiving their State Degrees.

To receive a state degree a member must complete the following requirements: earn the chapter degree, have completed one year in an agricultural education course, have an approved SAE, be a junior, senior, or high school graduate, assisted in the development of the FFA Chapter’s Program of Activities, grossed earning exceeding $3,000, worked more than 1,000 hours, have a GPA of 2.0, and a 93 percent or better school attendance record.

National FFA names
new chief operating officer

INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. — The National FFA Organization recently announced that Dr. W. Dwight Armstrong of Dayton, Ohio, will become chief operating officer effective Oct. 5.

Dr. Larry D. Case, national FFA advisor and coordinator, Agricultural and Rural Education, U.S. Department of Education, announced the appointment to National FFA staff and state agricultural education leaders, saying, “Dwight Armstrong brings an unmatched background in agricultural research, education and executive management. I’m confident he will be able to position FFA to help meet the needs of agricultural education and the agriculture industry as a whole.”

Since 2008, Armstrong has served as the founder and principal at JDA Consulting, LLC. From 2000-2008, he served at Provimi, a global nutrition company, as group vice president and director of the Americas and as president and CEO of North American Nutrition Companies, Inc.

At Provimi, Armstrong restructured the operational functions of five brands and led four major acquisitions to grow the nutritional business in North America.

Prior to joining Provimi, Armstrong was president and general manager at animal nutrition and research center Akey, Inc., from 1982-2000, where he led major business initiatives with increased growth and profitability. Armstrong taught swine management and quantitative nutrition at North Carolina State University from 1975-1982, and researched swine nutrition and management. In 1982 he was an American Soybean Assoc. visiting lecturer in Europe.

Armstrong is a former FFA member from Kentucky, and he recently served as chairman of the National FFA Foundation Sponsors’ Board. Armstrong received a Bachelor of Science degree in Animal Science from Murray State University. He earned a Master of Science in Nutrition from Purdue University and received his Ph.D. in Nutrition from Purdue.