Johnstown FFA News

Higgins receives American FFA Degree

INDIANAPOLIS, IN—Nicholas Higgins received the American FFA Degree at the 81^st National FFA Convention in Indianapolis, IN on Saturday, October 25^th, 2008. It is the highest degree awarded by the National FFA Organization and recognizes Nicholas’s demonstrated leadership abilities and outstanding achievements in agricultural business, production, processing and service programs.

Less than one in 150 FFA members advance through their local chapter and state FFA degree programs to earn this national degree. Nicholas, the son of Scott and Lisa Higgins is currently a sophomore at The Ohio State University majoring in Aerospace Engineering. He is a member of the Johnstown-Monroe FFA Chapter and his agricultural education instructor and FFA advisor is Debra Burden.

Nicholas received a gold American FFA Degree key and a certificate in an blue leatherette frame to commemorate the achievement. The recognition program is sponsored by Case IH, The Farm Credit System Foundation and Pioneer Hi-Bred International Inc, and Syngenta as a special project of the National FFA Foundation. The national FFA convention is the nations largest annual youth gathering, welcoming students, parents, and educators from all across the United States.

The National FFA Organization, formerly known as the Future Farmers of America, is a national youth organization of 507,763 student members-all preparing for leadership and careers in the science, business and technology of agriculture-as part of 7,439 local FFA Chapters in all 50 states, Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Islands. The National FFA Organization changed to its present name in 1988, in recognition of the growth and diversity of agriculture education. The FFA Mission is to make a positive different in the lives of students by developing their potential for premier leadership, personal growth, and career success through agricultural education. Visit www.ffa.org for more information or also visit our chapter at www.johnstownffa.com. Johnstown FFA Advisor is Debra Burden.

On Wednesday, October 22^th thru Saturday, October 24^th the Johnstown FFA Chapter sent six members to the National FFA Convention in Indianapolis, Indiana, along with the over 53,000 other members. The following members attended the convention this year including from Left to Right: Caitlyn Dever, Candace Higgins, Brittany Wise, Kara Koch, Kristen Litchfield, Kaylie Bowman, and Katie Smith.

While at the convention Nicholas Higgins, son of Scott and Lisa Higgins, received his American FFA Degree.

While at Indianapolis the members participated in large general sessions with lights, music, and performances by the national chorus and band. They also toured the IUPUI Earth and Environmental Science Center and participated in 3 workshops, visited the FFA Mall and Career Show that is 260,000 square feet and has over 400 exhibitors. Members also conducted business; each state sends Delegates to represent their state. They also attended a concert by Taylor Swift and a Bulls & Broncs Rodeo while there. They also made new friends from local chapters who also attended and members from other states as well. There were about 53,000 FFA members in 7,439 Chapters in the United States, Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Islands that attended the convention. Overall the 81st National FFA Convention was a fun, successful, and informative for all who attended. The Johnstown FFA Advisor is Debra Burden.

The Johnstown FFA competed at the State Soil Contest on October 11 at Smecks Historical Farm in Baltimore, Ohio. The Soil judging contest consist of determining the slope of the terrain, judging the possible uses for the soil, there is also a written test which includes questions out of the County Soil Survey book. There were four pits located at different sites that are used in the judging process. The students are given twenty minutes to evaluate the pit to determine the slope and fill out a score sheet about the pit applying procedures that are approved for the type of soil identified.

Urban soil judging is determining the soils ability to be used for roads, lawns and gardens, landscaping, for home building sites, buildings with basements, and septic tanks.

The State Urban soils team consisted: (L to R) Caitlyn Dever, William Huber, Kaylie Bowman, and Lydia Ulry.

The team placed 28^th in the State soils contest, after placing 1^st in the county and 3^rd in the district competitions. Johnstown FFA Advisor is Debra Burden.

Johnstown-Monroe FFA seeking committee volunteers!

Are you a past member of the Johnstown-Monroe FFA Chapter? Would you like to reconnect with FFA members from when you were in school? Are you good at organizing events? If so the Johnstown FFA is looking for you! We are in need of a few past members from the chapter that would be interested in serving on the Alumni committee for our 80th year celebration / reunion. If you would be interested in doing so please contact Kevin/Rhonda Piper with the Johnstown FFA Alumni Assocation at 740-967-8426 or Johnstown FFA Advisor, Debra Burden at 740-967-2721 ext. 3213 or #8.

Johnstown FFA Alumni Annual Fruit Sale

This year products include: Navel Oranges, Tangelos, Red Grapefruit, Mixed Box (1/4 Navels & 1/4 Grapefruit), 8 qt. Fruit Baskets, Ohio Fugi Apples, Brittle bites, Skinnless Peanuts, Honey Crunch Peanuts, Sweet & Smokey BBQ Sauce, and Mildly Spicey BBQ Sauce.

All pre-pay orders will be accepted until October 31st.

Those that are interested in placing an order or for further information please contact the Johnstown FFA Alumni Association at 740-967-8426 or any current FFA parent/FFA member. Orders are expected to arrive on December 8-10th.

Johnstown Ag Classes attend the Farm Science Review

On Wednesday, September 17^th the Johnstown Ag Classes went to the 46th Farm Science Review at the OSU Molly Caren Agricultural Center in London, Ohio. This was the 26^th farm science review at the Molly Caren Agricultural Center. Students were able to walk around and visit many different places and expand their knowledge on agriculture. Some of the places the students could visit were farm equipment stands, seed production stands, antique tractors, and many animals. Also there was lots of farm safety, home safety and health information. Many could watch demonstrations on different things such as harvesting, strip-tilling, global positioning, and tillage demonstrations. This is a great hands-on experience for students to explore all of the opportunities that the agricultural industry has to offer. Students were also able to see the depth of science that is involved in creating new and improved products. There were also some colleges there that students could talk to and learn about college opportunities in agriculture. Our chapter also attended a leadership session that was presented by OSU college students. They got to play games and meet many new people and also learn about different things about participating in Ag related clubs in college. Advisor is Debra Burden.

The following attended and are pictured left to right: Front Row-Drew Dague; Second row-Nikki Jones, Kaylie Bowman, and Kristen Litchfield; 3^rd Row—Daniel Scheeler, William Huber, Brayden Warner, Elisa Higgins, Elizabeth Lycans, Katie Kirk, Kaci Litton, Julia Myers, Kara Koch, Tim Hanshaw, Whitney Woods, Megan Sherrod, and Chris Vine.

Back row—Jess Walton, Eugene Bemiller, Ben Tubbs, Christine Snowden, Brooke Ison, James Gorsuch, David Harper, Jessica Stought, Berlynn Litchfield, Delaney Kirkpatrick, and Kenny Evans.

The Johnstown FFA competed at the District Soil Contest recently in Lancaster. The Soil judging contest consist of determining the slope of the terrain, judging the possible uses for the soil, there is also a written test which includes questions out of the County Soil Survey book. There were three pits located at different sites that are used in the judging process. The students are given twenty minutes to evaluate the pit to determine the slope and fill out a score sheet about the pit applying procedures that are approved for the type of soil identified.

There are two types of soil judging, rural and urban. In Rural soil judging, you judge the soil based on its capability to be used in agricultural manner for crops, forestry, or wildlife management. Urban soil judging is determining the soils ability to be used for roads, lawns and gardens, landscaping, for home building sites, buildings with basements, and septic tanks.

This year we had two teams go to districts. The District Rural Soils team placed 9^th overall. The team consisted of (L to R): Christine Snowden, Elisa Higgins who placed 13^th individually, Kaci Litton who placed 25^th individually, Daniel Scheeler and Jean-Luc Banfield.

The District Urban Soils team placed 3^rd overall and has qualified to compete in the state contest. The team consisted of: (L to R) Brittany Wise who place 30^th individually, Kaylie Bowman who placed 7^th individually, Lydia Ulry who placed 10^th individually, Caitlyn Dever who placed 17^th individually, and William Huber who placed 20^th individually.

The Johnstown FFA competed at the County Soil Contest on September 16 at Rod Stilwells farm in Millersport. The soil judging contest consists of determining the slope of the terrain, judging the possible uses for the soil, there is also a written test which includes questions out of the County Soil Survey book. There were three pits located at different sites that are used in the judging process. The students are given twenty minutes to evaluate the pit to determine the slope and fill out a score sheet about the pit applying procedures that are approved for the type of soil identified.

The Rural Soils team placed third overall and the following qualified to compete at Districts: Christine Snowden, Elisa Higgins, Jean-Luc Banfield, Daniel Scheeler, and Kaci Litton. Other participants were: Drew Dague, Heaven Henson, and Elizabeth Lycans.

The Urban Soils team placed first overall and the following are qualified for Districts: Brittany Wise who was 1^st individually in the county, Caitlyn Dever who was 2^nd individually in the county, Kaylie Bowman who was 3^rd individually in the county, Lydia Ulry who was 4^th individually in the county, and William Huber who was 5^th individually in the county. Other participants were: Candace Higgins, Eugene Bemiller, Kenny Evans, James Gorsuch, Brooke Ison, Kaitlynn Kirk, Jacob Randall, and Brayden Warner.

Urban Soils pictured are: Front Row (LtoR)—Katie Kirk, and Brittany Wise; Middle Row—Brooke Ison, Kaylie Bowman, Brayden Warner, Candace Higgins, and Caitlyn Dever; Back Row—Kenny Evans, James Gorsuch, Lydia Ulry, Eugene Bemiller, Jacob Randall, and William Huber.

Rural Soils pictured are: Elizabeth Lycans, Drew Dague, Kaci Litton, Jean-Luc Banfield, Elisa Higgins, Daniel Scheeler, Heaven Henson, and Christine Snowden.