Otsego FFA members do well at career development events

TONTOGANY — The 142 members of the Otsego Penta FFA chapter have had busy fall with activities and career development events.

Otsego Penta FFA is a satellite program of Penta Career Center.

The seven chapter officers have led members in local, county, state and national events: President Carter Lampe, Vice President Emma Reid, Secretary Cassie Bunde, Treasurer Brooke Simon, Reporter Lila Seeger, Sentinel Wesley Kellermeier and Student Advisor Gordon Ayers.

Chapter members worked in preparing for different career development events or FFA contests. The first contest was held was rural soil judging where members evaluate soils for rural use such as farming and wildlife habitat. The team competed in both the county and district contests. The team placed first in the county and advanced to the district contest where they placed fourth. Team members were Ben Jones, Jordyn Davis, Janie Lehsten, Reed Canterbury, Janelle Rowland, Maya Mason, Kellen McClure, and Sara Britton. Jones was second high individual in the district contest.

In October, members competed in the Wood County Parliamentary Procedure contests, novice and advanced levels. The teams had to conduct a meeting where they had to demonstrate different parliamentary abilities as well as take a test on their knowledge. The advanced team, which consisted of Brooke Simon, Julia Schroeder, Maya Mason, Caleb Euler, Jordyn Davis and Kellen McClure, placed first in the county.

The novice parliamentary procedure team placed first in the county and advanced to the district contest where they placed first. Team members were Anna Ayers, Hannah Euler, Claire Lampe, Quinlyn Strahm, Johnny Vollmar, Andyn Hill, and Addison Hertzfeld. They advanced to the state contest where they earned third in their room.

Otsego FFA members also participated in the county job interview contest. Members who competed were Division 1 Anna Ayers and Lauren Euler, Division 2 Janie Lehsten and Sara Britton, Division 3 Faith Martel and Ali Meek, Division 4 Brooke Simon. Ayers placed first and Euler second; Lehsten placed first, Simon placed second and all advanced to the district contest.

For the Veterans Day celebration, members create the flower centerpieces for the community breakfast. During the breakfast members greeted and served breakfast to the community and veterans, then helped to clean up afterward.

Twenty-four FFA members received their Chapter FFA Degree at a countywide ceremony hosted by Bowling Green FFA chapter.

During the summer months, members were busy with their Supervised Agricultural Experience projects. Members also exhibited over 175 different projects at the Wood County Fair in 2024. Members parked cars for the four days of the annual National Tractor Pulling Championship.

During the annual Tontogany Festival, the FFA conducted a kiddie pedal pull for area youth to enjoy. Members also hosted a model calf roping event during the festival.

During the fall the chapter hosted an FFA Tailgate celebration before a home football game. Members, alumni, parents, and community supports gathered in fellowship.

Members also parked cars for the annual Grand Rapids Applebutter Festival. The chapter hosted a mock calf roping event for youth during the Farm Toy Show at the fairgrounds.

Fall also brought the start of the citrus sale fundraiser. The members sold citrus, local apples, Ohio syrup, Ohio-made cheeses, Ohio Signature Beef Products, and a variety of gourmet nuts.

The chapter attended the National FFA Convention in Indianapolis in October, where they toured John Force racing in Indianapolis and attended National FFA expo and convention sessions.

FFA members are also part of the Otse-Grow project. Otse-Grow planted tomatoes on the first day of school and raised and harvested fresh tomatoes in their Greenhouse through December. In December members learned how to make holiday wreaths. Currently, members are busy planning for the spring plant sale, starting seeds for hanging baskets and planters.