9 Elmwood FFA members earn American Degree

BLOOMDALE — Each year, the National FFA organization honors FFA members who show the utmost dedication to the organization through their desire to develop their potential for premier leadership, personal growth, and career success through agricultural education.

The American FFA Degree is bestowed upon a select group of students in recognition of their years of academic and professional excellence. This year, over 4,800 American Degrees were awarded.

Madison Feehan, Will Harrison, Adam Meyer, Anna Meyer, Tanner Pennington, Anthony Veryser, Thomas Veryser, Gregory Wise, and Garrett Ziegler, members of the Elmwood FFA Chapter, were awarded the American FFA Degree at the 97th National FFA Convention & Expo held in October.

Sponsored by Cargill, Case IH, John Deere and Syngenta, the award recognizes demonstrated ability and outstanding achievements in agricultural business, production, processing, or service programs.

To be eligible, FFA members must have earned at least $10,000 or earned at least $2,000 and worked at least 2,250 hours outside of class time through a supervised agricultural experience (SAE) program in which they own their own business, hold a professional position as an employee, or conduct research. Recipients must also complete 50 hours of community service and demonstrate outstanding leadership abilities and civic involvement through the completion of a long list of FFA and community activities. Less than 1% of FFA members achieve the American FFA Degree.

After being recognized at the national convention, each recipient of the American FFA Degree receives a gold American FFA Degree key and certificate.

The National FFA organization is a school-based national youth leadership development organization of more than 1,027,200 student members as part of 9,235 local FFA chapters in all 50 states, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

Elmwood honorees include:

• Madison Feehan

Honors received in FFA: State FFA Degree, Star Chapter Farmer, Chapter Star in Agribusiness

Officer positions held: Vice president and secretary (two years)

SAE projects: sheep breeding operation where she raised and showed Tunis and Romney sheep at local, state and national levels

Career Development Events (CDEs): State Novice Parliamentary Procedure, State Advanced Parliamentary Procedure, State Farm Business Management, State Agronomy

Skills learned in the FFA: Teamwork and self confidence

Future plans: Attend Bowling Green State University pursuing a degree in Special Education

• Will Harrison

Honors received in FFA: Wagner Memorial Award, 1st Place Elmwood FFA Diversified Crop Production Proficiency Award, 1st Place Elmwood FFA Forage Production Proficiency Award, Citrus Sales Award

Offices held in FFA: Reporter 2021-22

FFA Projects/Work SAE Work: Straw business, Harrison Farms

Career Development Events (CDEs): Soil Judging, Poultry Judging, State Agronomy CDE, Grain Merchandizing and Farm Business Management

Skills learned in FFA: Agronomy, mechanics, public speaking and parliamentary procedure

Future plans: Student at Ohio State University majoring in Agricultural Systems Management. After graduation, he plan to return to the family farming operation.

• Adam Meyer

Honors received in FFA: Greenhand, Chapter and State FFA degrees, 1st place District 1 Treasurer’s Book, State Gold Rated Treasurer’s Book, 7th Place State Agronomy CDE

Offices held in FFA: Treasurer, parliamentarian

FFA projects/SAE work: Benschoter Hay and Straw, LLC (three years) general equipment maintenance, M&M Seed Service helping with inventory and taking care of orders for farmers, and part owner of AGO Trail Mix

Career Development Events (CDEs): Soil Judging, State Novice Parliamentary Procedure, Ag. Power Diagnostics, Ag. Mechanics Skills, Outdoor Power, State Advanced Parliamentary Procedure, Grain Merchandising, State Agronomy

Skills learned in FFA: Agronomy identification, mechanics, public speaking, parliamentary procedure

Future plans: Attending Ohio State University majoring in Sustainable Plant Systems with focus on Agronomy. After graduation he plans to return home to the family farm and become a retail salesman for M&M Seed Service.

• Anna Meyer

Honors received in FFA: State FFA Degree, State Gold Rated Treasurers Book, Star Chapter Farmer Award

Offices held in FFA: President, treasurer, sentinel

FFA projects/SAE work: Worked at a grain elevator grading grain and running the scales, raised and exhibited dairy beef feeders, and woodworking projects

Career Development Events (CDEs): State Soil Judging, State Novice Parliamentary Procedure, State Farm Business Management, Poultry Evaluation and State Advanced Parliamentary Procedure

Skills learned in FFA: Networking, leadership, communication, teamwork and other skills that will benefit my future career

Future plans: Student at The Ohio State University majoring in Agricultural Communication. Will pursue a career in marketing. graphic design and communication in the agricultural industry.

• Tanner Pennington

Honors received in FFA: 1st District Parliamentary Procedure, 2nd District, Agronomy, 3rd District Ag Mechanics

Offices held in FFA: Sentinel

FFA projects/SAE work: Market hogs production, firewood production, and working at Benschoter Hay and Straw LLC

Career Development Events (CDEs): State Novice Parliamentary Procedure, Poultry Evaluation, State Grain Merchandising, Soil Judging, Ag. Mechanic Skills, State Advanced Parliamentary Procedure, State Agronomy

Skills learned in FFA: Public speaking. responsibility and time management

Future plans: He is a student at Ohio State University majoring in Pre-Vet Studies then applying for veterinary school.

• Anthony Veryser

Honors received in FFA: Ag Credit 110% Award, Scott Crawford Memorial Award

Offices held in FFA: Historian (2020-22), president (2022-23)

FFA projects/SAE work: Breeding and market rabbits, market sheep, and market pigs

Career Development Events (CDEs): Soil Judging, State Novice Parliamentary Procedure, Creed Speaking, Job Interview, State Farm Business Management, State Advanced Parliamentary Procedure

Skills learned in FFA: Leadership, public speaking, how to deal with adversity, scheduling/planning for an organization, attention to detail, and how to run a meeting

Future plans: Student at University of Toledo majoring in Civil Engineering with a minor in surveying, then obtain my professional engineering and survey licensure

• Thomas Veryser

Honors received in FFA: Star Greenhand Degree, Gold Rated Reporter’s Book, Soil and Water Conservation Award

Offices held in FFA: Reporter

FFA projects/SAE work: Tending to grain crop fields, working on the family farm, taking care of livestock

Career Development Events (CDEs): Soil Judging, State Novice Parliamentary Procedure, State Farm Business Management, State Outdoor Power, State Advanced Parliamentary Procedure, Meat Evaluation

Skills learned in FFA: How to properly run a meeting, leadership, organization

Future plans: Continue to work on the family farm and at Casey’s Sales and Service as a mechanic

• Gregory Wise

Honors received in FFA: Greenhand, Chapter and State FFA Degrees

Offices held in FFA: Student advisor

FFA projects/SAE work: Buying and selling farm equipment, working for Wagner Farms, and baling 6,000 bales of straw a year

Career Development Events (CDEs): Soil Judging, State Novice Parliamentary Procedure, State Farm Business Management, Ag. Mechanics Skills

Skills learned in FFA: Accountability and leadership skills

Future Plans: Continue to work for Wagner Farms and baling straw, also work for Precision Plumbing and Drain

• Garrett Ziegler

Honors received in FFA: Top 10 fruit sales

Offices held in FFA: Chaplin

FFA projects/SAE work: Dairy beef feeder, market steer, lawn care; employed at Mid Wood Cooperative

Career Development Events (CDEs): State Soil Judging, State Novice Parliamentary Procedure, General Livestock, Ag. Mechanic Skills, State Farm Business Management

Skills learned in FFA: Woodworking, welding, teamwork, life skills

Future plans: Attending Ohio State University studying Ag Business and Applied Economics, then pursue a career in ag sales or loans