A3o—Lancaster Farming, Saturday, January 14,1984
2700 gather in Forum for FFA convention
BY DICK ANGLESTEIN
HARRISBURG - Some 2700
Future Farmers of America,
parents, friends and guests
gathered in the Forum on Wed
nesday to honor the nearly 300 of
the best of the Blue and Gold from
throughout the state who received
their coveted Keystone Degree.
And out of the ranks of the
Keystoners emerged two who were
selected as being tops in produc
tion agriculture and agribusiness
pursuits conducted as part of their
FFA and vo-ag programs.
State Star Farmer for 1984 is
John Hauck, of the Mifflinburg
Chapter, son of Mrs. Phyllis
Hauck, Star Route, New Berlin
And, State Star Agribusiness
person for 1984 is Jamie L. Frey, of
the Solanco Chapter, daughter of
Mr. and Mrs. Ernst Frey, R 2
Quarryville.
The naming of the “Stars,” who
will now go on to compete for
regional star honors next Sep
tember, highlighted the program
of the 55th Mid-Winter Convention
Daryl Balmer, right, of the Little Dutchmen Chapter at
Annville-Cleona High School, is congratulated by David
Blank, State FFA treasurer, for attaining honor as the only
National Proficiency winner from Pennsylvania.
of the Pennsylvania FFA
Association, which also included
the presentation of parent awards,
citations to businesses and
Honorary Keystone Degrees,
addresses by Jerry C. Olson, of the
Pa. Dept, of Education; and
Penrose Hallowell, ag secretary;
and selections by the State FFA
Band under the direction of Ned
Diehl, of Penn State.
A senior at Mifflinburg High
School, Hauck is in partnership
with his uncle in a farming
operation that includes 112 dairy
animals, 70 acres of c0rn,.120 acres
of hay and 20 acres of oats. He is
both president of his local chapter
and the SUN Area FFA.
A senior at Solanco Area High
School, Jamie Frey is the general
manager and one-third partner in
Jamie’s Greenhouse - an
operation that includes three
greenhouses, nursery stock and
flowering plants. She is president
of the Solanco Chapter and
secretary of the I Lancaster County
FFA
Other regional star farmers
included Robert J. Ratvasky, of
the Wilmington Area Chapter;
Douglas Smith, of the Northern
Bedford Chapter, and Harold
Dietrich Jr , of the Hamburg Area
Chapter.
Other regional star agribusiness
persons included Shawn Walters,
of the Mifflinburg Chapter; John
R. Hostettler, of the Somerset
Chapter; and Ron Jarvis, of the
Conewago-New Oxford Chapter
Parents who were honored for
having three or more Keystone
Farmer sons or daughters:
Mr. and Mrs George H. Barker,
R 1 Ulysses; Mr. and Mrs. Elam
Seller, R 2 Mifflinburg; Mr and
Mrs. Preston L. Bankert, R 3 Red
Lion; Mr. and Mrs J. Edward
Biddle, R 1 Williamsburg; Mr and
Mrs. James Smith, R 1 Roaring
Spring; Mr. and Mrs. Daniel
Smith, R 1 Roaring Spring; Mr. and
Mrs. Jesse Clapper, R 1 New En
terprise; Mr. and Mrs. T. Edward
Johnson, Airville.
Also, Mr and Mrs. John N.
Buchowski, R 3 Volant; Mr and
Mrs. Thomas Hughes, Derry; Mr.
and Mrs Dan Wmklosky, R 2
Derry; Mr. and Mrs. Leroy Pfautz,
R 1 Stevens; John E. Weaver,
Myerstown; and Mr. and Mrs.
Harlan R. Wessner, New Tripoli.
Citation awards to businesses
who have shown continued support
of the FFA went to Agway, Inc.,
Conestoga Animal Hospital;
Country Market Nursery Florist,
Dunkle and Gneb Tnc , Carlisle
Branch of the York Farm Credit
Service, Markle’s Farm Service,
New Holland Sales Stables, Snyder
Ford Sales, Summit Trailer, Inc.,
Van Druff Tractor and Implement
Sales and Wineland Implement,
Inc
In addition, 40 individuals
received their Honorary Keystone
Farmer Degree
Recognized on the program were
the state’s 1983 proficiency win
ners who finished on top in the
various categories of judging at
the Penn State Activities Week last
June. Singled out for extra honors
was Dari Balmer, of the Little
Dutchmen Chapter at Annville-
Cleona High School, who went on to
become Eastern Regional and the
only National Proficiency winner
in Placement in Ag Production
Assisted by her fellow state
officers, Carolyn Witmer, of the
Grassland Chapter at Eastern
I Lancaster County High School,
New Holland, conducted the
convention program in the
spacious Forum
Carolyn called on her fellow
FFA’ers to open their eyes, arms
and hearts to the world around
them and “to the opportunities that
are available to you through FFA
and throughout life ”
From the opening strains of the
FFA Band to the traditional
closing ceremonies, the Mid-
Winter Convention was a fast
paced program of honoring the
best in the Blue and Gold
ONTHEGROW
Jamie Frey, of the Solanco Chapter, 1984 Star
Agribusiness Person.
John Hauck, of the Mifflinburg Chapter, 1984 Star Farmer