812-Lancaster Farming, Saturday, March 15, 2003 Berlin FFA Members Honor School Superintendent SANDRA LEPLEY Somerset Co. Correspondent BERLIN (Somerset Co.) The Berlin Brothersvalley FFA Chapter members recently hon ored the school superintendent, Wayne C. Henderson, during the 64th annual parent/member ban quet at the Berlin Community Center. Henderson received the 48th Honorary FFA Chapter Degree as the honorary chapter member. The longtime educator who re sides in Bedford County has a 34-year career in education. He began working as superintendent at Berlin in 1999 and has been supportive of the agricultural program ever since. At home his hobbies include woodworking and managing sheep. Michael Clark, FFA adviser told the 200 people in attendance, “Mr. Henderson brings much en thusiasm and sincerity to our ag ricultural educational program and to our FFA organization by assisting in the ongoing efforts to develop the program through sat isfying many needs.” Recognitions A special thank you went out to agricultural aide, Roxann Ley dig; FFA photographer and video technician; Sam Brick; previous agricultural teacher and wife, Doyle and Donna Paul; and pre vious agricultural teacher, Ever ett Nicklow. The fourth-place State FFA safety demonstration team pres ented their demonstration enti- Berlin School Superintendent Wayne Henderson, cen ter, was recently honored by the Berlin Brothersvalley FFA members as the honorary chapter member. He is pic tured with Michael Clark, left, adviser, and Luke Horning, chapter president. West Snyder FFA Collects Food For Ronald McDonald House BEAVER SPRINGS (Snyder Co.) The West Snyder FFA Chapter exceeded their goal to collect 2,000 food items by gath ering 2,567 food items valued at over $BOO to benefit the Ronald McDonald house of Danville. Mr. Griffith, West Snyder principal, contributed to the suc cess on the food drive when he volunteered to kiss a pig at a school assembly if the FFA Chapter met or exceeded their goal. This was the largest food drive ever conducted by the West Snyder FFA Chapter. Previously, the largest food drive collected r : r .* tied “Better Safe than Sorry.” Numerous awards were given to members. Here is a partial list ing: The Chapter Sweetheart Award went to Jenna Hillegass, daughter of Jeff and Nancy Hill egass. Dekalb Award - Luke Horn ing, chapter president. Highest GPA - Jared Hillegass, chapter vice president. The American Degrees: Justin Hillegass, Jason Van Gilder and Lance Bittner, who received his degree at the National FFA Con vention. W.J. Brant presented the com growing contest awards from Chemgro: I. Jared Hillegass, 227 bushels; 2. Jarred Fox, 212 bush els; 3. Russell Webreck 200 bush els. A special parents Recognition was bestowed by Jared Hillegass to his parents, Doug and Debbie Hillegass, Glades Pike, Berlin. His parents received the Hon orary Keystone Degree at State Mid-Winter Convention and the local chapter recognized them for having three children earn state degrees Desirae in 1998, Justin in 1999, and Jared in 2003. The FFA Demonstration Team Gold Medals (4th in State Farm Safety Demonstration and in State over-all competition) in cluded Kyle Hillegas, Luke Horn ing, Blake Weigle, and Sam Weimer. Gold Medals to the FFA Farm Safety and Health Quiz Bowl 1,167 items in 2001. The food drive was conducted for Jan. 28 through Feb. 6 in conjunction with the Snyder County Farm Bureau as part of the National Food Check-out Day program. West Snyder FFA members placed cash collection cans and food collection boxes at local businesses and sponsored a school-wide food drive. In order to get the student body more in volved, the chapter sponsored a pizza party for the class that col lected the highest number of items. The classes were also awarded spirit points for their ef forts. The junior class earned the FFA-75 One Mission: Student Success Awards Berlin FFA members recently honored with top awards during the annual banquet, front from left, Blake Weigle, Kyle Hillegas, Luke Horning, Greg Frazier and Sam Weim er. Back row from left are Jarred Fox, Jared Hillegass, Stephanie Hartman, Rebecca Hit tie, Matt Keefer, and Russell Webreck. Team - Kevin Bittner, Jarred Fox, Greg Frazier, and Russell Webreck. State FFA Degree Pins: Kyle Hillegas, son of Russell and Jeanne Hillegas; Jared Hillegass, son of Doug and Debbie Hille gass; Luke Homing, son of Charles and Eileen Homing; Matt Keefer, son of Robert and Leslie Keefer; Blake Weigle, son of David and April Weigle; Sam Weimer, son of Gerald and Peggy Weimer. Gold Medals to the Parliamen tary Procedure Team - (6th in State Competition) Sam Weimer, Luke Horning, Jared Hillegass, Greg Frazier, Kyle Hillegass, Re bekah Hillegass, David Bittner, Jenny Coleman and Joe Knotts. State Pins to FFA members for their achievements at Penn State FFA Activities Week last June included the following: Dairy Cattle Showmanship CDE Jarred Fox; Chapter Dele gate Aaron Hay; State Officer Candidates David Bittner and Stephanie Hartman; Dairy Cattle Judging, Kevin Bittner, Russell Webreck, Sam Brick, Adam Landis. Chapter Scholarship Pins and pizza party and spirit points by collecting 1,109 food items. The sophomore class was second and the seniors placed third. February 7 was designated as National Food Check-Out Day by the National Farm Bureau, a day established to emphasize the affordability of food in America. Statistics show that between Jan. 1 and Feb. 7, the average Ameri can family earns enough money to feed their family for the entire year. That figure even includes the added cost Americans spend eating in restaurants. In compari son, to pay local, state, and feder al taxes, the same wage and sala ry earners must work until May 3, or 123 days. The Pennsylvania Farm Bu reau selected the donation to ward the Ronald McDonald House, because it serves as a “home away from home” for families of children who are crit ically ill and are being treated at Geisinger Hospital. Certificates (These students have received honors or high honors for the first half of the year): Shane Hankinson, Nathan Men tion], Leah Homing, Adam Darr, Savannah Wagner, Kyle Hille gas, Jared Hillegass, Matt Keefer, Luke Homing, Derek Leister, Matt Will, Aaron Hay, Frankie Getson. County Agricultural Record Book Coldest Winners were pres ented checks. Kyle Hillegas, Maple Syrup and Beef Finishing; Rebecca Hit tie, Swine Finishing, Dairy Calf/ Heifer; Off Farm Employment Luke Homing, On-farm Employ ment; Matt Keefer, Improve ment; Blake Weigle, On-farm Employment; Sam Weimer; Jarred Fox, On-farm Employ ment; Greg Frazier, On-farm Employment; Shane Hankinson, Off-farm Employment; Stephanie Hartman, Pleasure Horse, On farm Employment; Jared Hille gass, On-farm Employment; Frankie Getson, On-farm Em ployment; Derek Leister, On farm Employment; and Russell Webreck, Swine Finishing. Students who placed at the State Agricultural Record Book West Snyder FFA members with their food items col lected for the Ronald McDonald House in Danville. From left, Joan Sample, assistant director for the Ronald McDonald House; Amanda Shaffer, chapter reporter; Jer emy Roush, chapter treasurer; and Hah Snook, chairman of the Snyder County Farm Bureau Food Drive. contest included Frankie Getson, Derek Leister, Jarred Fox, Greg Frazier, Stephanie Hartman, D. Jared Hillegass, Kyle Hillegas, Kyle Hillegas, Becky Hittie, Luke Horning, and Matt Keefer. Top citrus fruit salesperson and the top bulb salesperson awards Kyle Hillegas with 56.5 cases of fruit; and Matt Keefer with 34 bulb orders. The Star Discover Greenhand, and Chapter Farmer Awards were given to the top individuals who have excelled above and be yond the average individual in their degree category. The Chapter FFA Degree to FFA went to members who have satisfactorily completed at least 180 hours of systematic school in struction in agricultural educa tion. Students must have earned, by their own efforts from their supervised agricultural experi ence program, and deposited in a bank or otherwise productively invested at least $l5O or worked 45 hours in the supervised agri cultural experience program. They include Sam Brick, Dave Chonko, Shane Hankinson, Becky Hay, Shawn Martin, Me lissa Slifco, and Russell Webreck.