812-Lancaster Fanning, Saturday, May 6, 2000
State President Shares Words Of Wisdom
At Meyersdale FFA Annual Banquet
Hoover, Bob Corner, Jarred Mur
"'S"? 81 ? ” A P r^ oa H n Mllle : r"° rBfal !T Marktr.
cTX.~°„„ r str q u ,h e t tzz £hz~- -* *-
also olctured. „ , _
GAY BROWNLEE most beautiful capital in the Unit- S P™ g Mary
Somerset Co. Correspondent ed States.” 53f Dan Jeremv kS
MEYERSDALE (Somerset Co.) According to Kasunic, what shTunTporter Jon wS
“Life speaks to your heart, but most concerns him is the family T ’ ifer Decker Tim Holt Josh
farms that are being depleted at £“££s
varna FFA President Eho Cluarel- an alarming rate. He expressed a Smearman , Robert sterner, and
h, Jr., told guests and members of strong desire for young people, Travis stanzyck
the Meyersdale FFA at its annual such as the FFA students to be Fruit awards went to Mat .
awards banquet in Apnl. able to continue m the fanuly tra- thew Emerick Thomas
“Wmners are heroes who never dition of farmmg. If the down- Heidi Knopsnyder, Stacey Miller,
give up,” said Chiarelh. “They ac- ward spiral is not stopped, Kasun- Mbe rt Welsh, Jeremy Knieriem,
complish a little at a time.” ic warned that someday a heavy Dustin wat Sm Hoover, John
It was a lesson that Chiarelli price may be paid for allowing it Robinson, Norman Coberiy, Holly
himself had to learn first-hand to happen. Smearman, Tim Emerick, April
after joining the FFA with medio- “I am committed to do what I Speicher, Jonathan Henry, and
ere expectations. Instead of can to keep agriculture the num- jarred Murray,
achieving one lofty goal, Chiarelli ber one industry in Pennsylvania,” p a u g ower awards went to Mat
realized it was all of the tittle goals said Kasunic. thew Emerick, Mary Deal, Matt
he met along the way. Several members and guests Gauntz, Jeremy Sleasman, Stacey
Chiarelli, who is running for of- were honored during the annual Miller, Heath Lohr, Dustin Wilt,
fice in the National FFA Assoda- banquet. Richard Diest of Meyer- Darrick Miller, Debbie Faner,
tion, concluded his speech by say- sdale received this year’s Hon- Norman Coberiy, Holly Smear
ing that “You, the Meyersdale orary Chapter Degree for his con- man, Chris Lepley, Justin Baer,
FFA, are standing out in a world tributions to the Meyersdale FFA. Amanda Custer, and Shawna
of followers and making a differ- Diest attended the banquet with Durst.
ence.”
During the banquet, state sena
tor Richard Kasunic of the 32nd
senatorial district, which encom
passes Somerset and three other
counties, also addressed the audi
ence.
As a member of the state agri
culture committee, the legislator
noticed in particular the leader
ship of Somerset County in send
ing youths to the state capital to
experiences the workings of gov
ernment with their representa
tives.
“Anytime we have youngsters
there, we are very proud to show
off the capital,” said Kasunic. “It
is rated by the Smithsonian as the
Top award winners at the Meyersdale FFA annual banquet are from left are Matthew
Emerick, Earl Shaffer, Jason Knotts, Philip Petenbrink, and Thomas Sanner.
his wife Mary Ann.
Jason Knotts and Philip Peten- Knotts, Dustin Wilt, Galen Wilt,
brink both received the Keystone Matt Gauntz, Andy Marteney,
Degree and were honored in the Dan Miller, Mary Deal, Mike
record book competition. Knotts Ohler, Tommy Shaffer, Virginia
received an award for his record Tressler, Dan Artice, Heidi Knop
book in beef finishing, while Pe- snyder. Josh Slifco, and Brian
tenbrink was honored for his re- McKenzie,
cord book for his on-farm work Volleyball awards went to Earl
over 2,000 hours. Matthew Eme- Shaffer, Jason Knotts, Josh Slifco,
rick also received a record book Tom Shaffer, Mike Ohler, Matt
award for his maple syrup pro- Gauntz, Bob Weimer, Andy Mar
duction project. Knotts and Peten- teney, Heidi Knopsnyder, Virginia
brink also won state gold medals Tressler, Galen Wilt, Brian
in the record book competition. McKenzie, and Mary Deal.
Matthew Emerick received the Deal was also names the FFA
Entrepreneurship Award, while sweetheart. James Stutzman was
other awards went to Knotts for recognized as the adviser to the
his beef production project, Peten- Meyersdale FFA Chapter.
brink in dairy production, Ken
Sanner in ag mechanics, Earl
Shaffer in horse judging, and
Thomas Sanner as the wildlife
contest winner.
Emerick received the commu
nications award, along with Knot
ts, Heidi Knopsnyder, and Matt
Gauntz. The outstanding sales
award also went to Emerick.
Academic awards went to Tiffa
ny Feeney, Valerie Bender, Shir
ley Tressler, Andy Marteney, Rob
ert Weimer, Peggy Butler,
Matthew Emerick, Heidi Kop
snyder, Kristin Schardt, Kristi Mi
chael, Mary Deal, Ken Sanner,
Dan Miller, Thomas Sanner, Jere
my Knieriem, Heath Lohr, Sara
Basketball awardees were Jason