Submitted article
On Thursday, March 24th the Buckeye Central FFA Chapter hosted the 40th Annual FFA Awards Banquet for its members, parents, and guests. The evening started with a meal provided by Special Occasions Catering and was followed by the award ceremony.
The freshmen were the first to receive their Greenhand Degree’s marking their first degree of four and working their way toward the American FFA Degree. Brandon Mann was awarded the Star Greenhand Degree Award recognizing him as the top freshman. Mann’s Supervised Agricultural Experience (SAE) projects include raising feeder calves and rabbits for the Crawford County Fair. Following the Freshmen the Sophomores were called upon to receive their Chapter Degree’s, bringing them one step closer to the prestigious State and American Degree. McKennah Corfman was selected the Star Chapter Agriscience award winner, recognizing her as the top rated sophomore of the group. Corfman’s SAE project includes market lambs which she shows at the Seneca and Attica Fairs.
The Junior’s and Senior’s followed the Chapter Degree Awards as they were recognized for their various achievements throughout the year. The Star Chapter Agribusiness award was presented to Megan McCoy, Star Chapter Agriplacement award to Sidney Long, and the Star Chapter Farmer award was given to Miranda Wurm. McCoy’s SAE has been raising dairy beef feeder calves as well as dairy heifers. Long’s SAE is working for her neighbor to train dogs as well as helping to train horses, and Wurm’s SAE is raising market hogs and feeder calves for the Crawford County Fair.
David Green of AgCredit presented the AgCredit 110% Award to recognize FFA members who go above and beyond for their chapter. Ashley and Amanda Stockmaster were recognized for their dedication to excellence with this award. The Stockmaster’s SAE projects include raising feeder calves and market goats for fair.
Leadership Awards were next on the agenda as the Chapter recognized students for their dedication for developing and exhibiting premier leadership abilities. Jaret Shook, Derek Kalb, Megan McGinnis, Sidney Long, Miranda Wurm, Ashlee Stander, McKennah Corfman, and Madalyn Diesch were recognized for this award and exemplify the leadership skills that can be developed through the FFA.
Other recognitions included Ethan Martin as the top chapter fruit salesperson, and the state champion rural soil judging team was recognized.
The program concluded with the recognition of $4000 worth of FFA Scholarships awarded to current seniors and BC FFA graduates. The Gary E. Green FFA Memorial Scholarship was developed to honor Mr. Green who served as the Board of Education president when the program was restarted in 2006 and was a stout supporter of the FFA Chapter. The Green Scholarship recipients were 2015 Graduates Ray Stahl and Austin Wurm as well as future 2016 Graduates Ashlee Stander, Ashley Stockmaster, and Amanda Stockmaster.
The Buckeye Central FFA Chapter was the 2015-16 recipient of the Ohio Corn and Wheat Growers Association Chapter Scholarship Award due to the Chapter signing up the most student members in the past year. Mr. Richard Harer attended an FFA meeting and discussed the benefits of becoming a member of the Ohio Corn and Wheat Growers Association. Subsequently over 30 FFA members became paid Association members. Miranda Wurm, Megan McGinnis, Jaret Shook, and Derek Kalb were recognized as this year’s OC&WGA Scholarship recipients.
After some senior FFA memories the program drew to a close with the announcement of the new officer team. The 2016-17 BC FFA Officer Team will include; Victoria Miller as President, Zoe Rutledge as Vice President, Makayla Aichholz as Treasurer, McKennah Corfman as Secretary, Megan McCoy as Reporter, Alex Rowlinson as Sentinel, Bailey Agin as Student Advisor, and Mason Stahl as Historian.
The FFA Chapter would like to thank all of its supporters throughout the past year, without the amazing support we get from the BC Board of Education, Administration, Staff, and Community we would not be as successful as we have been this past year!