Grassland FFA

Learning to Do, Doing to Learn, Earning to Live, Living to Serve

Update On the Latest Events

on July 12, 2016

Here are some updates on the Grassland FFA’s latest events.

First off, on January 11th, six members received their FFA Jackets for the first time at the Mid Winter Convention at the 100th Pennsylvania Farm Show. Those members are as follows:

  • Mikayla Horst
  • Alexandria O’Neil
  • Sarah Shirk
  • Leah Strausser
  • Jacob Vickers
  • Shawn Zimmerman

 

Congratulations to all of you! Also, at the same convention, nine members earned their Keystone Degrees! Those members are as follows:

  • Elliott Bollinger
  • Allyssa Griest
  • Beth Horning
  • Elizabeth Mumma
  • Natalie Sweigart
  • Bria Taylor
  • KiKi Wallick
  • Aaron Weber
  • Emily Wilson

Congrats everyone!

 

Also, the start of the second semester brought about a new officer team for the Grassland FFA. It includes the following members at each positon:

  • Will Horning- President
  • Sammy Eberly- Vice President
  • Sarah Eberly- Secretary
  • Ashley Berrier- Treasurer
  • Heather Zeiset- Sentinel
  • Sarah Shirk- Reporter
  • Morgan Gooch – Historian

 

The next event after the Mid Winter Convention was the ACES leadership conference on February 6th and 7th. ACES stands for Agricultural Cooperation Establishes Success. At this conference we learned about the importance of communication, the history of the FFA and the opportunities it provides for its members, and what qualities are in a leader and how we can use those qualities to lead others. It was a very exciting weekend, which resulted in new friendships and new ideas to improve our chapter. Not to mention the awesome 80’s dance Saturday night!

 

Also, in February, ten members went to Disney with Mrs. Drzal and Miss Tressler. Morgan Gooch recalled that it was a good trip, filled with busy days and good food, like the toasted cucumbers the group loved. She loved how closely everyone bonded with the advisors! Ashley Berrier explained more of the seminars, remembering the Leadership Seminar, where the group learned about leadership skills and overcoming obstacles as a team, the Zoological Sciences, where the group learned about Disney’s care and treatment of the animals, and the Wildlife Conservation course at the Disney Greenhouse where they learned about better ways to grow food. Overall, it was a good educational trip for both the advisers and the students!

 

At the County Public Speaking Event two of members placed very well! Will Horning placed first in the Senior category and Sam Shirk placed second in the Extemporaneous category. Well done!

Additionally, the Grassland FFA chapter added a new fundraiser this year: a petting zoo at Spring Fling! To be able to pet the animals, kids had to pay $2. Natalie Eberly brought in Gracie, a stifer. Morgan Gooch brought in bull calf. Alex O’Neill brought in Angel, a Boer Cross goat. Heather Zeiset brought in her seeing eye dog in-training, a golden retriever named Niro. The Ag Department also brought Roscoe and Two-Face, two bunnies from the bunny shed. Beef sticks were also sold for $1 a stick.

Also, the Grassland FFA held their 57th annual banquet on May 26th. The awards program started off with the Keynote Speaker, Deputy Secretary Greg Hostetter. Katie Sharrer, the Pennsylvania FFA Reporter, also spoke early in the ceremony. Congratulations to all who received a degree or an award during the program.

 


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