BIS-Lmcaster Fanning, Saturday, June 28,1986 '
Pe. FFA Members Compete
BY MARY MAXWELL
Centre County Correspondent
UNIVERSITY PARK - More
than 1,500 FFA members from
throughout Pennsylvania attended
their annual FFA Activities Week
held recently on the Penn State
campus.
During the 3-day convention
FFA members toured the Penn
State campus and participated in a
wide variety of educational and
recreational activities. Some
members combined their musical
talents to participate in the FFA
band and chorus. Other high school
students participated in 27 com
petitive events ranging from
public speaking and livestock
judging to mechanical contests.
“FFA Activities Week is an
important part of vocational
agricultre programs," said
Michale Rush, chairman of the
conference. “It gives the best
students a chance to test what
they’ve learned and to receive
recognition for their ac
complishments.”
The highest-ranked gold winners
in most contests will compete in
November at the National FFA
Convention in Kansas City. Other
winners may go on to compete in
the Eastern States Exposition,
Atlantic Rural Exposition or the
Pennsylvania Livestock Ex
position.
Maiytond State FFA Convention filled iVrth Enthusiasm, Motivation
BY SHARON SCHUSTER
Maryland Correspondent
HAGERSTOWN - Over 340 FFA
members and guests attended the
58th annual Maryland State FFA
Convention June 18 and 19 at the
Ramada Inn in Hagerstown, Md.
During the course of the two-day
event, FFA members representing
52 chapters competed on an in
dividual basis and for team
recognition. State officer can
didates were selected, and
outgoing officers gave their
retiring remarks as the sessions
progressed.
Brian Glass, 1985-86 state
president, promised that “this
convention is going to be filled with
enthusiasm, motivation, in
spiration and young people from
across the state.” And, true to his
promise, the center came alive
with exhuberant youth, all actively
participating in meetings on the
grandest scale.
Orderly, efficient and involved,
the large group carried on official
business with more spit and polish
than a national political con
vention. And, as one observer put
it, “There is never an adult on
stage, unless he is invited.” Ad
visors were present, but it was
clearly evident that, although
respected members of each
chapter, their place was in the
Maryland State FFA officers for 1986-87 are, front from
left, Henry Niehaus, Region 9; Mike Marchesan, Region 3;
Buck Cessna, secretary: Mark Hooper, president; Eric
Fleming, Region 7.
In back from left are Chuck Fitzwater, Region 1, and
Raymond Stagner, Region 2.
The following are students who
won gold recognition and the high
schools they represented.
Agricultural Mechanics
Darryl Weaver, E Lancaster County John
Brofee, Greenwood Roy W Aument Solanco
Rodney Byrd, W B Saul Allen Edged Penn Manor
Mike Hall. Lampeter Strasburg
Agricultural Salesmanship
Jon Bierly, Penns Valley, Elaine Zetset Garden
Spot, Abe Harpster, Tyrone Area
Agronomy
Robert Adam Kutztown Brenda Boose Ber
mudian Springs
Chapter Procedure
Miftlmburg Area Team David Gessner David
Dietrich, Crystal Zechman Jeffrey Baker, Chris
Fiulk, Patti Snook. Jonathan Boop, Lisa Haines
Cedar Crest Team Jon Boyer Mardell Boyd
Colette Hower, Lisa Houser Brenda Balmer, Adam
Ham JohnWhary Jim Houser
Annville Cleona Team Dale Balmer Tim Elliott
Sheila Hostetttr. Kent Hotter. Mike Beare Eric
Harmsh, Shaun Martin, Scott Bnnser
Creed Speaking
Kirk Sttazahn Conrad Weiser, Tim Clouser,
Penns Valley Becky Stumpf, United Brenda
McFarland, Conrad Weiser John Rishel Mif
tlmburg Area. Susan Swanger, Derry Dee Curtis
West Perry Kevin Zimmerman Benton Chris
Davidson. Shippensburg, Clifford Ocker James
Buchanan, Missy Allen, Conneaut Valley
Dairy Foods
Karen Fessler Conrad Weiser Brian Harmsh,
Solanco Joyce Pettit, West Greene Karen Leslie
Mohavyk. Michelle Szymanski Conneaut Valley
Dairy Judging
Tom Arrowsmith, Solanco, Tom Wiker Solanco
Irene Benner Greenwood Tom McCauley
Elizabethtown, Robert Davis Oxford David
Mattocks Tunkhannock Area Jim Shade Juniata
Valley Donald Wivell. Mansfield. Bert lanson
Cowanesque Valley. Michael Bueket Central
Dave Mull, Solanco Beniamin Dorn Jr West
Perry Denise Mills Lampeter Strasburg Duane
Copenhaver Annville Cleona Allen Heagy Ann
vide Cleona
Dairy Showmanship
Linda Buffington Upper Dauphin James
Zakostelecky Linesville
audience.
It was a magical day for those
attending the final sessions. John
Carrington, manager of
Maryland’s famed Lexington
Market, delivered the keynote
address in a non-traditional way.
While performing magic tricks,
“The Wizard” gave a pep rally
kind of message to his very at
tentive and involved audience.
“This room is filled with bright,
energetic, hard working young
people who tomorrow will feed the
world," he announced.
Using magical rings, Carrington
the “keys to believing in
yourself: responsibility, earning,
learning, skills, and spirit.” With
the help of the whimsical
character, Oscar the Rabbit,
Carrington summarized his
message; “Latch on to that FFA
spirit and let your talents grow and
then let them work for you.”
Each session was filled with
inspirational messages for the
FFA’ers. The retiring remarks of
Irene “Reenie” Bonner brought
the audience to their feet for a
standing ovation. “Everyone must
believe in something,” began
Bonner. “Everyone must have
dreams. As young people we must
believe in tomorrow. Set no
limitations on yourself.” Moving
many to tears she said, “FFA
in State Contests Curing Activities Week
Farm Management
Kay Lobaugh Biglerville Fay Lobaugh
Biglerville
Floriculture
Stacy Webb Mt Joy AVTS Michelle Kocsis
Bethlehem Jill Wolf Brownstown AVTS Chnssy
Hill Derry Area LonFoor Northern Bedford Lisa
M Jones W 8 Saul
Forestry
Terry Johnson, Somerset AVTS John Fleming
Brockway Beth Morgan, Twin Valley, Mike
Smoker E Lancaster County Virgil Wilford Derry
Area
FFA interview
Jennifer Weimer, New Oxford. Bob Dunkle,
Redbank Valley, Sue Burkhart, Twin Valley. Pete
Gryzbek Brockway, Thomas Parks, Kennard Dale
Land Judging
Larry Smeltz Upper Dauphin Thomas Wiker
Penn Manor Bary Broderick. Penn Manor Jeff
Taylor Clearfield. William Lahr, Upper Dauphin
Ernie Bieser, Cowanesque Valley. Kevin Guldin
Oley Valley Darryl Spidle Halifax, Tim Ulrich,
Solanco. Kelley Kihnger Selmsgrove, Howard
Prosser Smethport Dan Over Northern Bedford.
Christopher Yohn Juniata Angela Zeiset E
Lancaster Co
Livestock Judging
Pete Cattau Apollo Ridge Rob Rohrer Oxford
Jeremy Cattau, Apollo Ridge, Andy Groff Lam
peter Strasburg. Chad Griffin Cowanesque Valley
Bobby Leslie, Laurel, Kim Hopple. Cumberland
Valley. Mike Stoltzfus Twin Valley Tiffany Rohrer
Oxford Greg Stnckler Hamburg, Lee Hayes
Tyrone. Toby Shank, Penn Manor Glenn Heffner
Oley Valley HS. Robin Baker Cowanesque Valley
Meats Judging
Jeff Craig Solanco Jay Lownsbery Penn
Manor Jeannette Aument, Penn Manor Phillip
Fullerton Elizabethtown
Nursery Landscape
James 0 Hess Jr , Willow Street AVTS Tammy
Bresch Willow Street AVTS Julie Haldeman
Willow Street AVTS
Pleasure Horse
Tncia Evans Oley Valley Suzy Hash Kennard
Dale Cindy Frey Cumberland Valley Linda
Ruckdeschel Knoch Robert Bergen Owen J
Roberts Rich Gorsuch Somerset HS Roy
Shearer Apollo Ridge. Shelley Urban Warwick
Ann Mane Burgess W B Saul, Kim Brossman
Twin Valley
Poultry
Don Hess Penn Manor Chuck Buchanan
Eastern Lancaster (GA Brian Miller
Elizabethtown
members, I’d like to challenge you
to believe in your country, your
home, agriculture, but most of all
believe in yourself.”
Vice president of the National
FFA Association Robert Weaver
delivered the keynote address of
the final session. An Agricultural
Engineering major at Auburn
University, the 21-year-old Weaver
echoed the sentiments of his state
counterparts.
“If there is something you want,
don’t let anything stop you,” ad
vised Weaver. Recounting the
story of his first attempt to become
a national officer, he said; “It
takes character and maturity to be
a person who can fail and come
back.” Defeated on his first try,
Weaver said he returned to vie for
a national position a second time.
“There are so many opportunities
I would have missed,” he ex
plained.
Demonstrating wisdom beyond
their years, the theme FFA youth
presented “believe in yourself”
throughout the event.
“The highest award that the
FFA can bestow” is how the State
Star awards were described.
Recipients of the degrees were
Dean Poffenberger of Boonsboro,
for Agribusiness, and Eric
Fleming of Chopticon, for
Production Agriculture. The new
state of Maryland officers for 1986-
87 is as follows;
President, Mark Hooper,
Frederick; Secretary, Buck
Cessna, Flintstone; Region 1,
Chuck Fitzwater, Oakland; Region
2, Raymond Stagner, Smithsburg;
Region 3, Mike Marchesani,
Walkersville; Region 7, Eric
Fleming, Chopticon; Region 9,
Henry Niehaus, Queen Anne’s.
1986 MARYLAND STATE FFA
CONVENTION RESULTS
Senior Public Speeking
Ist Michael Marchesani Walkersville 2nd
Mark Rohrer Boonsboro
Junior Public Speaking
Ist Anne Kemp Brunswick 2nd Jennifer
Haggerty Damascus
Senior Extemporaneous Speaking
Ist Scott Isanogle Frederick 2nd Monica
Daniel Boonsboro
Junior Extemporaneous Speaking
Ist Regina Williams Lmganore 2nd Mike
Kepple Oakland
Parliamentary Procedure
Ist Frederick 2nd Westminster
American Royal Queen CandKjpte
Ist Cheryl Pokorny Lmganore 2nd Michelle
Payne Frederick Vo Tech
Knowledge
Ist Mark Hooper Frederick 2nd Greg Stull
Walkersville
Public Speaking (FFA)
Fred Dixon Beltewood Antis Tim Brown
Lmesvtlle Susan North Purchase Line Susan
Elliot Annville Cleona Mark Anderson Dover
Scott Hursh Mifflmburg Area Randy Risser
Solanco. Melissa Spayd Oley Valley Gary Bailey
Clearfield Joetta Denman West Greene, Ross
Hershberger Northern Bedford Henry Zerby.
West Snyder
Public Speaking (Conservation)
Barry Spangler. Mifflmburg, Kermit Stahl.
Somerset Area Lisa Acompura, Canton Jennifer
Jeslolowski Oley Valley Joseph C Wertelet
Conneaut Valley, Kay Fesster, Conrad Weiser,
Helen Norman Liberty. Michael E Pryor,
Waynesboro, Tracy Poor, Everett. Leslie Young,
Berliln Brothersvalley. Terry Mathers. Bellewood
Antis
Pubkc Speak mg (Extemporaneous)
Jeff Benfer Selmsgrove Area Walter Gunn
Cowanesque Valley, George Metzler. Octorara
Daniel Brandt, Annville Cleona, Dan McNutt
United. Joe Zerby. West Snyder Scott Lemmon
Big Spring, Michael Troxell Fairfield, Doug
Benford Rockwood Area, Carol Rupp. Redbank
Valley Rich Wetzel Fairfield
Scrapbook Contest
Somerset County AVTS, Lower Dauphin. Mount
Union Area Cedar Crest, Rockwood Area
SmaH Gasoline Engines (Individual)
LeonHeisey Manheim. Jere Patches Manheim
Small Gasoline Engines (Team)
Manheim Clearfield
Tractor Driving
Terry Engle, Upper Dauphin Bryan Loper Fort
Leßpeuf Dean Molt, E Lebanon Co John
Deamer, Juniata Don Johnston Marion Center
Memo King, Kennard Dale
WIMIH* Contest
Mike Gerbench, Elizabethtown Gracey Douglas
Altoona AVTS. Bradley Gates. WB Saul -Dan
Schoonover N Potter James Baney Setinsgrove
Mike Peters Ephrata Scott Anderson Mtfllmburg
Area Chuck Secnst Chambersburg Chuck Dilts
Reynolds Jim Shirk E Lancaster Co
Winners in the FFA Talent Show
were Blue Ridge FFA (first place
Gold) with a music and mime skit
by members Ed Fahrney, Bobby
Bingaman, Robert Henning and
Kenny Cook. The State College
Area FFA won a second place Gold
John Carrington, keynote speaker at the Maryland FFA
Convention, delivered his motivational message while per
forming magic tricks. Here, he is pictured with Oscar the
.Rabbit
Team Results
Ist Frederick 2nd Walkersville
Horticulture Happenings
Ist Beth Johnson Brunswick 2nd Melinda
Gorka Frederick
Creed
Ist Melinda Gorka Frederick 2nd Diedenck
Thiessen Harford
Ornamental Horticulture Bowl
Ist Walkersvitle 2nd Middletown
Production Agriculture Bowl
Ist Boonsboro 2nd, Clear Spring
Tstsnt
Ist Mark Hooper Frederick 2nd Cookie
Henderson Crossland
HaN of Chapters
Ist Catoctin 2nd. Walkersville
Proficiency Awards
Ag Sales and Service
Sherri Haupt Brunswick
Floriculture
Adrienne Shaffer Brunswick
Beef Production.
David Shnver Catoctin
Horse Proficiency
Sarah Osborn Walkersville
Home and/or Farmstead Improvement
Michael Marchesani Walkersville
Chapter Awards
Safety
Frederick Vo-Tech gold Walkersville silver
National Chapter Awards
Brunswick gold Harford Vo-Tech silver
Building Our American Communities (BOAC)
Brunswick (gold) Frederick Vo Tech silver
FFA
with square dancers Nicole
Eckenroth, Leigh Fyock, Paula
Miller, Tammy McTavish, Ed
Maxwell, Doug Moore, Gary
Dreibellis and Mark Duck.
Dawn Van Dyke, Biglerville,
singing and accompanying hersell
on the piano, won third place.
Comedian Gary Bailey of Clear
field won fourth place. Fifth place
was won by the Twin Valley FFa
for a skit presented by Bob Amey,
Tom Morgan, Kevin Stoltzfus, Sue
Burkhart, Bob Bell, Beth Morgan,
Rich Stoniaker, and Rick Hicks.
At the final General Session new
FFA State Officers were elected.
These students are Sheila Biddle,
Williamsburg High School,
president; BUI Blank, Octorara
High School, vice-president;
George R. Metzler, Octorara High
School, Eastern vice-president;
John P. Painer 11, Cowanesque
High School, N. Central vice
president; Harry L. Brubaker in,
Northern Bedford High School, S.
Central vice-president; Craig
Waltermier, Rockvood High
School, Western vice-president;
Lisa Acampora, Canton High
School, secretary; J. Richard
Speer, Southern Huntingdon Co.
High School, treasurer; Dana
Brooks, W.B. Saul High School,
reporter; Naomi Herbert, Kutz
town High school, sentinel; Dale
Balmer, Annville Cleona High
School, chaplain.
BOAC Governor s Citation
Brunswick
Achievement In Volunteerism
Nelson Burns
Regional Star Agribusiness
Region! Matt Cessna Flmtstone
Region 2 Dean Poffenberger Boonsboro
Regional Star Production Ag
Region! KevinClmgerman Flmtstone
Region 2 Markßohrer Boonsboro
Regions DavidShnver Catoctin
Region? Eric Fleming Chopticon
Region 9 Donnie McFarland Queene Annes
County
Stott Star Agribusiness
DeanPoffenberger Boonsboro
State Star Production Agriculture
Eric Flaming Chopticon
Biua and Gold Award
Dr Clifford Nelson
Honorary State Agriculturists
Kart Berger
Jay Hoffman
Robert Leiter
Tom Manmon
Carol Vehsek
Ralph Bayard
Gerald Jubb. Jr
George Littrell
Biair Penn
Frances Waters
Ernest Yates
Parents of the State Officers (85 86) also received
theaward
Distinguished Service Award
Delmarva Farmer