A2O-Lancaster Farming, Saturday, January 16, 1993 FFA VERNON ACHENBACH JR. Lancaster Farming StafT HARRISBURG (Dauphin Co.) For the first time, the Pen nsylvania FFA held its mid-Winter Convention in the Large Arena of state Farm Show Complex Mon day evening, to present the organi zation’s earned degrees, honor supporters and to select the top four star members in the state. Because of delays with beef cattle shows, the convention got off to a late start, but it did little to deter the apparent enthusiasm of the members who sat on metal folding chairs facing a stage con structed at the north end of the dirt floor arena. With an amplified banging of the gavel, state FFA President Mandy Hilbert opened’the conven tion with the traditional opening ceremony, with each of the state officers explaining their duties. She then welcomed the public and explained the newness of the convention site. “This is the first year to hold the convention here at the Farm Show Complex. This is an opportunity for us to inform the public about our organization, the FFA,” she said. She told the full arena that they would witness more than 300 active FFA members from across the stale receive prestigious awards, inlcuding the Keystone, Star and State Star. She also explained that the national FFA claims membership of more than 400,000 youth, including the District of Columbia and territories Guam, Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico, and that it is an agricultural and leadership development organization. She also talked about the state’s membership in excess of 7,500 youth aged 14 to 21 and the diver sity of the different chapters. Also, she explained that it is no longer called Future Farmers of America, a error still commonly made by non-agricultural media. One of the highlights of the mid winter convention is to' present achievement and honorary awards and degrees. Prior to the convention, most of the recipients already know what they are to receive. However, the selection for the top four members in the state organization isn’t reve aled until the convention. There arc four catagoncs for which a member can strive to achieve star status: in production; sales, service and mechanics; hor ticulture; and specialized. The regional star winners were ushered out on stage by one of the FFA officers, where a spotlight focused on the member while the introduction was made. There was also a large screen hung to the left and high above the stage so that the audience could watch as a slide presentation of the member accompanied the introduction. When the regional star winners of the catagory were all intro duced, an envelope was opened to reveal the winner’s name, adding to the drama. Western Region Star Chad Nichols, presidentof theConncaut Valley FFA Chapter, was named state production star. He is the son of David and Jean Nichols, and lives at home on his parents' Craw ford County dairy farm. His pro jects arc Brown Swiss dairy hard and raising sorghum. He started in FFA with 11 animals and*now has 21 registered Brown Swiss. Also up for the award wcr6 East ern Region Star Kraig Sellers, son Holds Midwinter Convention In Large Arena of Kenneth and Karen Sellers, who have a dairy farm near Annvillc and milk about7o Holsteins; North Central Star Catherine Pirrung, member of Headwaters FFA and daughter of Gerald and Constance Pirrung, who have a dairy farm; and South Central Star Colleen Krctzing, of the West Perry FFA, daughter of Perry and Adcliadc Krctzing, who have a dairy farm in Loysville. The Agriculture Sales, Service and Mechanics Star is Western Region Star John Evans, member of Linesville FFA Chapter and son of Mark and JoAnn Evans, from Crawford County. John’s enterpirses include dairy herd, small engine repair, agricul tural mechanics, landscaping and mowing. He learned basic lunc-up skills working on push mowers for Ins grandfather who has a small cnginc repair business. For the past two years he work ed on neighbors farms doing things such as greasing equipment, changing oil in tractors and doing maintenance. Also up for the award was Doug Walker Norlhccntral Rcgiona 1S tar for Ag Sales, Service and Mechan ics. A member of Cowancsquc and die son of Doug Walker and Nor man and Bonncy Merchant. The state Horticulture Star went to Linda DcAnn Hall, daughter of David and Nancy Hall. A member of the Slate College Little Lions FFA, she raises and sells poinset lias, spring bedding plants and vegetables and she markets and sell the plants at a profit. She uses the school greenhouse to grow a lot of her plants, since she doesn’t have much space at home. She also has done research on light intensity and did a work experience project doing lawn care, maintenance and landscaping. ‘ Also up for the honor was West ern Region Star Julie Urchcck, member of the Derry Area FFA, and daugther of John and Jane Urcheck. The Specialized Agriculture Star was won by Braden Elkin, also a Western Region Star, son of Benjamin and Kathryn Elkin. Vice president of the Marion Center FFA, Braden did a supervised pro ject of raising winter squash, Chin ese vegetables and peppers. He used knowledge gained in class to fertilize the soil and control weeds to raise the crops which he mark eted to local businesses. Also up for the honor were East ern Region Star Jesse Rabert, member of Kutztown FFA, and son of Lawrence and Shirley Rabat, of Kempton; and South Central Star Aaron Stephens, with Greenwood FFA, son of Dean and Gail Stephens, Liverpool. In addition to the star fanners, there were 228 Keystone degree recipients (announced in the Jan. 9 issue of Lancaster Farming). Other recognitions made during the convention included the Spe cial Parent Recognition Award, given to parents who have had three or more children receive the FFA Keystone Degree. Those parents with three children received an Honorary Keystone Degree, while those parents with four or more Keystone Degree winning children received a spe cial parent award. In the Eastern FFA Region, included were Nelson and Lois Harnish, of Willow Street with four Keystonfe children; Robert and Esther Groff, Lancaster, with three children; Abram and Mary Jane Hess, of Conestoga with four children winning; Daniel and Ethel Metzler of Pequea, with three; Braden Elkin receives the state Star In Specialized Agriculture. John and Jane Barley, of Conesto ga, with three children receiving the Keystone; Harold and Audrey Dice, Fredericksburg, with three; Robert and Joan Rohrer, of Not tingham, three; and Ray and Bar bara Bicksler, Richland, three. In the South Central Region were Galen and Sonja McDonald, of Imler, with four children having received the Keystone; Glenn and Verda Fisher, St. Thomas, with four children; Carl and Mabel Leh man, Mechanicsburg, three; Char les Lobaugh and Anita Bown, Aspers, with three; Dale Sr. and Jean Myers, of Wellsville, three; and Earl and Tamie Campbell, Lykens, with three. In the North Central Region, honored were Bryan and Donna lanson, of Coudersport, with three children having received the degree. And in the Western FFA Reg ion, honored were Clyde and June Mostoller, of Garrett, with three children; and Herb and Carol Engle, also of Garrett, and also with three children having received the FFA Keystone Degree. Eleven Honory Keystone Degrees also were presented to individuals who have provided support and service to the FFA, having helped at least two FFA chapters for more than 10 years. Recipients were state Rep. John Barley (also received special parent award); Gerald Phillips, loan officer for Keystone Farm Credit, Lancaster; Sonja Wasco, of Lititz, former ag instructor at War wick High School, currently office manager at Grant Heilman Photo graphy; Robert Badger, Quarry vil le, vice president of the Bank of Lancaster County: William Rin gler, dairy and*crop farmer, former Pennsylvania, Stale Grange Mas ter; Bernard Kunselman, of Marion Center; Michael Wilson, principal at New Oxford High School; Dr. Carl Allison, dairy far mer in Franklin County; Dr. Edwin Sponseller, chief school superin tendent at Chambersburg Area School District; Calvin Saucfcr, farmer and truck driver in Cumber land County; and Dustin Peters, principal at Elizabethtown High School. In other awards, Stephanie Gar ret, with Manor FFA, received the state Computers in Agriculture Award, which is given to the stu dent who uses computers for agri cultural purposes., In the Building Our American Communities program, five chap ters won the gold award at both the Linda DeAnn receives the state Star In Horticulture. state and national level for a num ber of projects. The Spud Growers Chapter of Potter County did an aquaculture program at their high school, con structed a new park concession stand at the Coudersport Area Recreation Park, constructed water quality improvementon Mill Creek; a wildlife management pro ject on 10 acres; and joined to assist 15 county officers in recov ering and relocating after fire destroyed their office building. They also studied, grew and prom oted flower awareness to more than 250 elementary school children. The Greenwood FFA did two recycling projects; the Lcnapc FFA Chapter did a number of pro jects at Crooked Creek Horse Park; Grasslands FFA did a number of projects centered on the Chesa peake Bay and improving health through increasing recreational activities. ' Cedar Crest FFA won a national silver award; Twin Valley and Headwaters FFA chapters won national bronze awards; while Franklin Farm-City Program Wins Again HARRISBURG (Dauphin Co.) State Secretary of Agriculture Boyd E. Wolff presented awards to three Farm-City Councils, the winner of a state poster contest, and a family partnership for con servation efforts Tuesday evening. The Farm-City Councils were recognized for their yearlong efforts to promote rural and urban understanding. County activities were documented through scrap books and judged in December. Dalton -Paul, chairman of the Franklin County Farm-City Coun cil, received a plaque for first place. His organization sponsored an agricultural exposition at the Chambersburg Mall, pumpkin caper, several farm tours, environ mental festival,-poster contest, mall exhibits, job exchange prog ram and a speakers bureau. ■ Second place was awarded to the Mifflin County Farm-City Council, chaired*by Donna Snook. Their activities included an agri cultural products day, school programs, work exchanges and the printing of placemats for use by local restaurants. They were also instrumental in having farm city themes included in a Hallo ween parade, fall frolic, and coun tywide proclamation. The Juniata Farm-City Council, Chaired by Nancy Kauffman, picked up the third place award. They promoted conservation and environmental messages at the Juniata County Fair, agricultural banquet, farm family awards, state Star in Agricultural Sales. Chad Nichols receives the state Star in Agricultural Production. Clearfield, Ephrata and Sclmgs grove FFAs won silver slate awards: and Berlin Brothcrsvallcy, United, - and Manheim FFAs received state bronze awards. cooperator of the year and printed placements with county data. Abe Singer of Dushore won the 1992 State Farm-City Poster Contest. His poster was the blue ribbon entry at the Sullivan County Fair and made him eligible for the state contest. He received a $lOO check from Dyan Yingst, chairperson of the State Farm-City Council. Adam Shaffer of New Stanton, representing the HarroldFair, won second place in the poster contest earned a $75 check. Third place and $5O went to Katlyn Sleppy of Penn Run, Indiana County Fair. They were unable to get to the Farm Show for the awards. Honorable mentions in the con test were given to Kendra Stoltfus representing the Kimberton Com munity Fair, and Amanda Wyman, Spartansburg Communi ty Fair. Gilbert Hutter of Westmoreland received Pennsylvania’s 1992 Good Earth Family Award from the National Endowment for Soil and Water Conservation. Hutter’s sons Blaine and Dale accepted his award for outstand ing achievement in conserving natural resources. Hutter was a pioneer farmer in the use of no-till farming and nutrient management. His willing ness to try new farming methods and his lifelong practice of soil and water conservation earned him the award.
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