816-Lancaster Farming, Saturday, November 22,1986 Pa. FFA Members Bring Home Honors From National Convention KANSAS CITY, Mo. - Penn sylvania FFA’ers joined over 20,000 members, advisors and guests in Kansas City, Mo. last week for the annual National FFA Convention. The Keystone State delegation competed in a variety of national contests and reaped a healthy crop of awards for their effort. Three Pennsylvania FFA’ers competed for national proficiency awards. Bonnie Wehr, 17, of Orefield competed as a national finalist with three other regional winners in the Fruit and Vegetable Proficiency Award program. The program is designed to encourage vocational agriculture students to become established in the fruit and vegetable production industry. Each student’s ex perience program is different but includes employing principles and practices which encourage ef ficient production and marketing of fruit and vegetable crops. Bonnie has expanded her vegetable operation by almost seven acres since she became interested in her family’s roadside vegetable stand five years ago. Last year, she grew 10 types of vegetables which included 27 varieties. She plans to continue expanding her vegetable operation while gaining more experience in horticulture. She also plans to continue her education in economics and marketing and someday to own a vegetable stand. Bonnie is a member of the Lehigh County FFA Chapter and the daughter of Elmer and Dolores Wehr. ig» jy Coby Shorter, National FFA secretary, on his achievement of the American Farmer degree. F4 jll Todd Mi jfg ,igi iy jy Short' right, national FFA secretary, on his achievement of the American Farmer degree. Bonnie Wehr of Orefield, one of four regional winners competing for the title of 1986 National Fruit and Vegetable Production winner, is pictured here with James MacDonald, district service manager of Briggs and Stratton Corporation Foundation, Inc., Milwaukee, Wise., program sponsor. Todd Bennecoff, 18, of Kutztown competed as a national finalist with three other regional winners in the Swine Production Proficiency Award program. The program is designed to encouarge vo-ag students in the swine in dustry. Programs of competing students include employing the best management practices available for the efficient production and marketing of swine. Todd developed his experience with hogs at a young age from his parents and grandparents. Since enrolling in vocational agriculture, he has concentrated on showing purebred Berkshires and Hamp shires and has exhibited champion and market hogs at many shows. He hopes that with increased exposure on the local and national show circuit, he will be able to receive a higher price for breeding, feeder and market hogs. Currently in a partnership with his parents, Todd will someday own the family farm. A member of the Lehigh County FFA Chapter, Todd is the son of Terry and Carol Bennecoff. Mark Bradley, 17, of Elizabethtown competed with three other regional winners in the Agricultural Electrification Proficiency Award program. This program includes all SOE programs that develop the FFA member’s interest and knowledge of basic electricity used in agriculture and the home. Programs may involve wiring, energy management, electric motors and the safe use of elec tricity .which will improve ef ficiency, increase production and enhance the standards of living. Mark’s first electrical course began with his supervised oc cupational experience project in ninth grade. Since then, he has been involved with his county’s Agricultural Land Lab and fair grounds’ electrical system. He is responsible for installing and maintaining electrical outlets and lines which he is responsible for during the fair. Mark also organized and supervised a team of FFA members who wired a 40-by-100 exhibition hall and equipment building. Presently working for an electrical contracting firm. Mark plans to continue his work and attend college to further study electricity. A member of the Elizabethtown FFA Chapter, Mark is the son of Donald and Frances Bradley. Lydee Cassel, 19, of Hum melstown, received the national horse proficiency award. A Pennsylvania team from Quarryville placed fourth in the National Dairy Contest. Team members are Tom Arrowsmith, Tom Wiker and Dave Mull. Arrowsmith and Mull received gold emblems in individual competition, while Wiker earned a silver emblem. Contestants in this competition test their ability to select top quality dairy animals. Six classes of dairy cattle are available for judging. A new linear classification class of 10 Holstein cows were scored this year. Students are also required to give oral reasons and must place a four animal class based on pedigree information only. In the National Meats Contest, Todd Bennecoff of Kutztown, one of four regional winners competing for the title of 1986 National Swine Production Winner, is pictured here with Jan Westmoreland, director of public affairs, Pfizer, Inc., agricultural division, New York, N.Y., program sponsor. right, national FFA secretary, on his achievement of the American Farmer degree. Shorter, right, national FFA secretary, on his achievement of the American Farmer degree. Jeff Craig of Quarryville earned a silver emblem and Jay Lownsbery and Jeanette Aument, both of Quarryville, received bronze emblems. As a team, they placed 26th. Teams competing in this contest judge carcasses, wholesale and retail cuts of beef, pork and grading systems. They are scored on their ability to select the hightest quality meats as well as their ability to identify the various retail cuts of meat. In the National Poultry Contest, the Pennsylvania team placed 28th. Team members Chuck Buchanan and Don Hess, both of Millersville, earned bronze em blems in individual competition. The contestants test their ability to select top quality poultry and poultry products needed for suc cessful production and marketing. A Pennsylvania team from Spring Church placed 27th in the National Livestock Contest. Team members Jeremy Cattau and Howard Cattau earned silver emblems in individual competition and Rob Rohrer earned a bronze emblem. Team members judge and (Turn toPageßlS)
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