AZS-UChcator WrWhfl, aftuftfcy,' MWftfry tS$”t9N
VERNON ACHENBACH JR.
Lancaster Fanning Staff
HARRISBURG (Dauphin
Co.) More than 200 members
of the Pennsylvania FFA and
parents and adult leaders Monday
attended the 65th FFA Mid-Winter
Convention in the Large Arena of
the state Farm Show Complex.
It was the second straight year
for the FFA to holds it convention
in conjunction with the annual
Farm Show event.
In previous years, the FFA held
its convention at the Fomm Build
ing in Harrisburg, oblivious to par
ticipants and attendees across town
at the state Farm Show. The two
events werd concurrent, but other
wise unassociated.
Last year, in order to boost publ
ic awareness of the organization,
its leadership opted to hold the
convention in the Large Arena of
the complex. It was success and
was repeated this year.
To a packed arena, the members
conducted their annual convention
meeting, held primarily to make
recognition of the outstanding sup
port to the organization by indivi
duals, to present Keystone Farmer
Degrees, the highest state degree,
and to select the four recipients of
the state Star awards, one of its
highest honors.
Also honored are FFA chapters
which have received state or state
and-national recognition for activ
ities during the past year.
.agricultural sales, service and mechanics from Barry
Oswald, state FFA advisor.
Jamas Garwart racaivaa • Pa. FFA State Star Award for
apacializad agrieultura from Barry Oswald, state FFA
advisor.
FFA Holds Convention At Farm Show
In addition to the special guests
and recognized supporters, includ
ing Boyd Wolff, state secretary of
agriculture, U.S. Sen. Harris Wof
ford gave a short address to the
group.
Wofford talked about Russell
Redding, former executive direc
tor of the state FFA and former
slate officer who now works as
Wofford’s chief of operations in
Washington 0.C., and how he can
sec the same leadership qualities
that Redding possesses in the FFA
state officers of 1993-94.
Of special emphasis during his
address, Wofford talked about the
need for education reform and how
it is coming and that it will incor
porate more of the FFA-way of
passing on knowlege by doing
things.
“People leant best by doing.”
Wofford said. “Real learning
involves getting your hands ditty,”
he said, adding that the same
observation was made by
Socrates —an excess of book
knowledge without a direct real
world connection is more or less
wasted knowledge.
“You’re on the crest of educa
tion reform,” he told the group say
ing that teachers should be more
like coaches and provide instruc
tion and support.
Further, he said that it will be
based on a saying, “What I hear I
forget What I see. I remember.
What I do, I understand.”
In other business, Linda Hall, of
the Little Lion FFA Chapter in
State College, was the recipient of
the 1993 FFA Computers in Agri
culture award. In her work she
incorporated several computers,
and programmed spreadsheets for
tracking and maintaining her chap
ter’s citrus sales, and for research
and for use in the chapter’s SAE.
It is the last year the award is to
be presented. Over the years, there
were four recipients of that award.
Other awards presented
included those to chapters which
have increased membership by 10
or more during the past yean Nan
cy Clove was recognized with the
Blue and Gold award for her out
standing service to the Pa. FFA.
Earl Brown was recognized for
being Agricultural Science Teach
er of the Year. As leader of the
Spud Growers Chapter in
Coudersport for 28 years. Brown
has 159 youth enrolled in his prog
ram which has incorporated a
number of different innovative
projects.
Barry Oswald, state advisor,
was also recognized by the associ
ation for his two years with the
group. He announced a job change
within the state Department of
Education, that was causing him to
leave.
A replacement was not
announced.
The announcement of the 1994
State Star Award recipients began
with an introduction of the region
al stars. There are four different
catagories in which a member can
strive to achieve recognition for
outstanding peformance: in pro
duction agriculture; in agricultural
sales, service and mechanics; in
horticultural production; and in
specialized agriculture.
In the production catagory,
Laurie Janine Wildman, daughter
of Edward T. Wildman and Loretta
Wildman, from Westfield, was
named State Star.
Wildman, the FFA Northcentral
Pa. Region Star in Production, has
been involved with sheep and
swine breeding and finishing for
the past four years at her parents’
farm. She also has gotten off-farm
work experience at Fox’s Pizza
Den, and served as her chapter’s
reporter, vice president and
president
In addition to her FFA activities,
she has been involved with the Leo
Club, SADD, Student Council,
and the high school yearbook staff.
She said she intends to pursue a
college degree in either agricultur
al education, or agricultural
business.
The other regional production
stars include James Findley, son of
Kenneth and Kathy Findley, of
Holtwood, the Eastern Regional
Production Star, who has been
involved with dairy calves and
heifers, market and breeding
swine, beef breeding, horse pro
duction and raising commercial
vegetables.
Having served as vice president
of the Manor FFA Chapter, Find
ley has worked on a farm as a dairy
and crop farmer, has been involved
with 4-H, and participated in the
Pennsylvania Council of Coopera
tives. He said he plans to eventual
ly go into partnership with his two
older brothers at the home farm.
Heather Fidler, is the FFA
Western Pa. Production Star. The
daughter of Richard and Mary Fid
ler, of West Alexander, she has
served as reporter and vice presi
dent of the McGuffey FFA chapter
while working with breeding
sheep, market hogs and beef cattle.
She also has been involved with
Laurie Wildman receives a Pa. FFA State Star Award for
production agriculture from Barry Oswald, state FFA
advisor.
the West Alexander Ag Club, the
West Alexander Fabric Fusers,
and the County Council, and the
German Club. She said she intends
to pursue a physical therapy degree
from Weeling Jesuit College.
The Southcentral Pa. Produc
tion Star was Tracey Lynn Will
wert, from the Red Lion FFA
Chapter, where she has served as
its secretary and president for two
years. The daughter of John and
Brenda Willwert, of Red Lion, she
has been involved with beef,
sheep, and swine finishing pro
jects, as well as breeding sheep.
She is also involved in the
Horse-N-Round 4-H Club and the
York County 4-H Beef Club. She
said she intends to pursue a college
degree in business management.
The state FFA Star in Horticul
ture recipient was Elizabeth Spay
d, daughter of Edwin and Mary
Spayd, of Fleetwood, who has
been involved in the production of
perennials, bedding plants, azaleas
and chrysanthemums. She has also
worked at a summer produce
stand.
Spayd, the Eastern Pa. Star
Award winner, has served as sec
retary, treasurer, and chaplain of
the Oley Valley FFA Chapter. She
has also played high school field
hockey, and been involved with
LODA and Olein. She said she
plans to work full time for the fam
ily business and then go to busi
ness school.
The state Ag Sales. Service and
Mechanics Star is Luke Watson, a
member and student advisor of the
Spud Growers FFA Chapter, and
also the northcentral region star.
The son of Douglas and Mary
Watson, of Coudersport, Luke has
worked for four years for his father
at Ulysses Lumber Co. doing such
things as piling lumber, doing
equipment maintenance and con
struction of company buildings.
He has also worked in a local store
as a cashier and has also done a
home improvement project
Luke is a member of his church
youth group and said he plans to
pursue college-level forestry stu
dies, before returning to work for
his father.
The eastern region star is
Andrew Homing, son of David
and Janice Homing of Monton.
His past work experience includes
four years working as an electri
cian for Nolt Elec tic Service and
two years working at Subway,
while also serving as treasurer and
vice chaplain of the Grassland
FFA Chapter.
In addition, he has been
involved with his church youth
group, midget baseball, school
(TonttotiasaAM)