PIQUA, Ohio — The Miami East-MVCTC FFA Chapter recently competed in the District 5 Evaluations of the Ohio FFA Assoc. at Upper Valley Career Center in Piqua.  Several members of the chapter worked extra hard on their Supervised Agricultural Experience (SAE) record books to prepare their applications for awards and degrees. 

Three 2012-13 Chapter Officers that submitted books for review. Lauren Williams submitted the Secretary’s Book and earned a gold rating (100 out of 100). Kendra Beckman submitted the Treasurer’s Book and earned a gold rating (100 out of 100). Rebekah Eidemiller submitted the Reporter’s Book and earned a gold rating (100 out of 100). Williams, Beckman and Eidemiller will be recognized at the State FFA Convention in May.

Senior Sarah Pyers and Juniors Daniel Bodenmiller, Kolin Bendickson, and Lindsey Roeth applied for the State FFA Degree. All applications were reviewed and submitted to the state evaluation for further review.

Emily Johnson applied for the award of Star State in Agribusiness with her business of selling market sheep to sheep producers. She created a marketing plan for her business. She had her application forwarded on for state evaluation.

Graduates Amanda Bartel, Jacob Eidemiller and Meagan McKinney applied for the American FFA Degree. All applicants were reviewed and submitted to the state further evaluation.

Several students applied for proficiency awards. These awards recognized outstanding Supervised Agricultural Experience programs in their respected area of specialty. All applications were reviewed and advanced to state competition in March. At the state evaluations the applications will be furthered reviewed and placed in their respected areas. The top four applications in the state will be furthered for more evaluations in May.

Lauren Williams applied in the area of Agricultural Communications. Williams served as the summer internship for the Farmers Market in Troy. She placed in the top three.

Brady Anderson applied in the area of Agricultural Mechanics Repair and Maintenance - Entrepreneurship for his reconditioned tractor. He placed first.

Macaleh Thompson applied in the area of Agricultural Research – Animal with her research on surveying students and staff on their understanding of animal agriculture practices. She placed first.

Olivia Edgell applied in the Agricultural Research – Integrated Science for her research on hand washing using various types of hand soaps. She placed first.

Lauren Williams applied in the area of Agricultural Sales – Entrepreneurship for her basil and tomato sales. Williams has utilized two local farmers’ markets. She placed first.

Andrew Kowalak applied in the area of Forest Management and Products for his Logo Log business. Kowalak designs and markets specialty-themed logs from his family’s woods. He placed first.

Amanda Bartel applied in the area of Poultry Production. She raised and sold market broilers to family, friends, and at the local meat shop. She placed in the top three.

Emily Johnson applied in the area of Sheep Production. She has a flock of sheep that she sells market lambs to fellow 4-H and FFA members. She placed in the top two.

Meagan McKinney applied in the area of Small Animal Care and Production. She has job placement at a local pet supply store. She placed in the top three. Sarah Pyers applied in the area of Specialty Crop Production. She plants potted chrysanthemums and markets them to family, friends, and the Troy Farmers Market. She placed in the top two. Chris Teaford applied in the area of Vegetable Production with his tomato plants. He sold tomatoes to family, friends, and at the local farmers’ market. He placed in the top two.

Students will now await review at the state evaluation in March at the Ohio FFA Center. If selected as one of the top four in the state the student will be interviewed at the State FFA Convention in May. Miami East Agricultural Education Department is a satellite program of the Miami Valley Career Technology Center.

DES MOINES, Iowa — Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack and Ambassador Kenneth M. Quinn came together today at the World Food Prize Hall of Laureates in Des Moines, Iowa, before a crowd of 200 youth and business leaders to formalize a partnership enhancing the Wallace-Carver Internship Program for students involved in cutting-edge agriculture, science and research.

The partnership, as represented in the formal Memorandum of Understanding between the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the World Food Prize Foundation that they signed, will expand opportunities for high school and college students and prepare the next generation of agricultural and scientific leaders. John Ruan III, chairman of the World Food Prize Foundation, also participated in the ceremony.

Every year, over 1,000 students across the country participate in the World Food Prize youth programs, through which they research a global food security issue, write a paper, and present their solutions. The top 150 students and their teachers travel to Des Moines to participate in an exchange of ideas with the world’s foremost leaders at the World Food Prize Global Youth Institute. From there, they can also apply for the World Food Prize Borlaug-Ruan International Internships at research centers around the globe.

Going forward, the USDA and the World Food Prize Foundation will annually choose the top students from across the country to participate in a one-week orientation at USDA headquarters in Washington before fanning out to assume internships with various USDA agencies and offices across the country. Students compete for the internships through the USDA Pathways Programs, a mechanism to recruit, hire, and retain current students and recent graduates, with oversight from the Office of Personnel Management (OPM). Besides strengthening the menu of USDA internship programs, the Wallace-Carver Internship helps attract and retain the best and brightest young people in careers in American agriculture.

The Wallace-Carver Internship helps to honor the legacies of George Washington Carver and Henry A. Wallace, two great American agricultural leaders of the 20th century. The internship offers students the opportunity to collaborate with world-renowned scientists and policymakers through paid internships at leading USDA research centers and offices.

USDA Virtual University ensures that all Wallace-Carver Interns have an Individual Development Plan, a mentor, and receive consistent training.