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LOCAL YOUTH WINS STATE FFA PROFICIENCY AWARD
Springfield, Illinois: KimberlyDurward of Thomson, a member of the West Carroll FFA Chapter, won the State Forage Production Award at the State FFA Proficiency Awards Day held April 14, 2012, at the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign.
Kimberly is the daughter of Andrew and Janice Durward of Thomson. Her agriculture education instructors at West Carroll High School areDan Hartman and Don Mathey.
The Forage Production Award is one of 51 State FFA Proficiency Awards. Five finalists from each award area had previously advanced through chapter, section and district competition. Kimberly will receive the award during the Illinois FFA State Convention, June 12 – 14, 2012, at the Prairie Capital Convention Center, Springfield, Illinois.
Selection of the state award winners is based on a personal interview as well as the size and growth of the FFA members’ Supervised Agricultural Experience Program and their knowledge of the subject. The 51 state award winners were selected from over 16,000 FFA members state wide.
The Illinois Foundation FFA sponsors the proficiency award program and provides medals, plaques and other awards for more than 4,000 Illinois FFA members each year.
KimberlyDurward, a member of the West Carroll FFA Chapter and Dan Hartman, Agriculture Education Instructor at West Carroll High School show off the State Award received by Kim for Forage Production.
Kimberly will be honored as a state award winner during the Illinois FFA Convention, June 12 – 14, 2012, at the Prairie Capital Convention Center in Springfield, Illinois.
West Carroll FFA Holds 7th Annual Chapter Banquet
The West Carroll FFA Chapter held their 7th Annual Parent-Member Banquet on March 20, 2012. Chapter President, Zach Whitebread, opened the banquet with a greeting to the approximately 180 members and guests. FFA Advisor, Mr. Mathey, gave the invocation. A meal consisting of pulled pork, baked beans, salads, green beans, corn and scallop potatoes followed by dessert was enjoyed by all in attendance.
Numerous team and individual awards were given at the banquet. West Carroll FFA CDE teams receiving first in Section #1 FFA competition included the Land Use Team, Trapshooting Team, Crop Judging team, Greenhand Parliamentary Team, Greenhand Quiz Bowl Team, and Varsity Parliamentary Team. Sixty-six FFA Greenhands were initiated into the West Carroll FFA chapter, and Christy Ralston was awarded the Star FFA Greenhand of 2012. Chapter FFA Degrees were presented to 26 members. Whitebread and the 2011-2012 chapter officer team then recognized all of the Chapter FFA Proficiency award winners.
For special awards, FFA Advisor, Mr. Mathey presented the Chapter’s Honorary FFA Degree to Janice Durward. Mr. Hartman awarded Garrett Badtke the DeKalb Achievement Award. John Kustes awarded Kim Durward the $1000 Tom Kustes FFA Memorial Scholarship. Retiring addresses were given by President, Zach Whitebread; Vice President, Garrett Badtke; Secretary, Kim Durward; Treasurer, Patrick Fritz; and Reporter, Maria Timm. The 2012-2013 West Carroll FFA officer team was also installed: President, Clare O’Connor; Vice-President, Dylan Williams; Secretary, Janelle Dykstra; Reporter, Salina Baltierra; Treasurer, Chloe Carson; and Sentinel, Jacob Ritchie.
The newly installed officer team concluded the banquet by performing the official FFA closing ceremony.
The West Carroll FFA would like to thank all individuals who donated to the Illinois FFA Foundation this past year and the people who helped in planting and harvesting the FFA plot.
Kim Durward and Garrett Badtke, West Carroll FFA members who won each won District I FFA Proficiency Awards March 14 at Geneseo High School.
Durward won the Forage Production SAE while Badtke won the Diversified Crop Production Placement SAE.
Both members will now advance to the State FFA Proficiency Awards held at the University of Illinois on April 14.
West Carroll FFA President, Zach Whitebread presents Christy Ralston with her Star FFA Greenhand plaque at the West Carroll FFA Banquet March 20.
West Carroll FFA Celebrates National FFA Week
The West Carroll FFA’s JV officer team of Kaylee Vos, Chloe Carson, Clare O’Connor, Janelle Dykstra, Paawan Dandona, and Dylan Williams organized and recently completed activities celebrating National FFA week. National FFA Week was celebrated during February 21-24 at the West Carroll High School.
Tuesday, February 21 FFA members dressed in their West Carroll Chapter FFA T-shirts. Greenhand FFA members dyed one of their hands green to signify obtaining the FFA Greenhand degree. FFA members competed in a Milk Chugging Contest during the 3 high school lunch periods with Jacob Klein and Chloe Carson winning 1st lunch; Adrian Barragan and Sabrina Seidemann winning 2nd lunch; and Matt Ritchie and Kaylee Vos winning 3rd lunch. A Pizza Party was held at Charlies in Mt. Carroll at night.
Wednesday, February 22 was “dress like a farmer” and “tractor” day. Ten tractors were displayed in front of the high school. A pork chop sandwich lunch was served to all chapter FFA members. A straw bale throwing tournament was held during Ag classes and Earnest Walls and Kaylee Vos were crowned champions.
Thursday, February 23 FFA members dressed in the traditional FFA blue and gold colors. Carson Farms, Durward Farms, West Carroll FFA and Zickau Construction sponsored a mechanical bull rented from Castle Party Rentals, St. Charles, IL. FFA members rode the mechanical bull during Ag classes during the day. The bull ended up undefeated on the day. It was a great new and fun activity for chapter members to try during FFA Week.
On Friday, February 24 the West Carroll FFA had to postpone the FFA member-staff breakfast and official FFA dress day as school was cancelled due to heavy snow.
The FFA Organization is the largest youth organization in the world and its mission statement is to promote premier leadership, personal growth and career success among its members through agriculture education.
West Carroll FFA Members Win Section Proficiency Awards
Nineteen West Carroll FFA members won Section #1 FFA Proficiency Awards held February 15 at Dakota High School. West Carroll FFA winners and their respective SAE’s were:
Tre Baisden, Ag Education; Chloe Carson, Diversified Livestock Production; Garrett Badtke, Diversified Crop Production Placement; Kim Durward, Forage Production; Elaynie Shepherd, Nursery Operations; Jordan Barr, Ag Processing; Allen Piper, Ag Sales Placement; Claire O’Connor, Ag Sales Entrepreneurship; Tessa Sibley, Equine Science Placement; Audrie Ashby, Food Service; Janelle Dykstra, Poultry Production; Jared Root, Wildlife Management; Maria Timm, Veterinary Medicine; Patrick Fritz, Turfgrass Management; Steven Law, Sheep Production; Seth Bradley, Safety; Karley Metz, Diversified Ag Production. Additionally, Zach Whitebread was awarded FFA Star in Placement while Garrett Badtke received FFA Star Farmer at the State FFA Degree Interviews
These West Carroll FFA members will now advance to the District I FFA Proficiency Awards to be held March 14 at Geneseo High School.
Other West Carroll FFA members participating were Jacob Ritchie, 2nd in Ag Mechanics Design and Fabrication; John Zubaty, 3rd in Ag Mechanics Repair and Maintenance; Samantha Ritchie, 4th in Equine Science Entrepreneurship; Samantha Boyer 2nd in Forest Management and Fruit Production; Roman Timm, 3rd in Landscape Management; Sarah Promenschenkel, 3rd in Small Animal Production; and Lindsey Dauphin, 3rd in Vegetable Production.
To win a proficiency award, an FFA member must complete at least one SAE Record book and then interview in front of a panel of judges asking questions about their books and projects.
Special thanks to West Carroll judges Fred Tipton, Don Metz, and Tim O’Connor, for volunteering to help judge at the event. |
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West Carroll FFA members who participated in the Section #1 FFA Proficiency Awards on 2/15/12.
L to R: Jacob Ritchie, Jared Root, Jordan Barr, Samantha Boyer, John Zubaty, Audrie Ashby, Seth Bradley, Karley Metz, Allen Piper, Clare O'Connor, Patrick Fritz, Tessa Sibley, Garrett Badtke, Lindsey Dauphin, Roman Timm, Chloe Carson, Kim Durward, Tre Baisden, Sammie Ritchie, Elaynie Shepherd, Sarah Promenshenkel, Janelle Dykstra. Not pictured was Steven Law. |
Parliamentary Procedure and Speech Competitions
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The West Carroll FFA Parliamentary Procedure Team that placed 1st at the Section CDE on Wednesday, January 25 at River Ridge High School.
(L to R): Dylan Williams, Chloe Carson, Kim Durward, Audrie Ashby, Demi Hess and Collin Wilkinson. |
The West Carroll FFA Speech team that competed at the Section #1 FFA Public Speaking CDE held at River Ridge High School on January 25.
(L to R): Chloe Carson, Christy Ralston, Collin Wilkinson and Kristen Houzenga. |
The West Carroll Greenhand Parliamentary Procedure team. The team placed 5th at the Amboy Greenhand Invitational on January 18.
(L to R): Rachel Dykstra, Ashley Hunt, Merkita Stallings, Christy Ralston, Paige Wilkins and Sabrina Seidemann. |
The West Carroll FFA Parliamentary Procedure Team consisting of chairman, Kim Durward; secretary, Audrie Ashby; and floor members Dylan Williams, Chloe Carson, Collin Wilkinson and Demi Hess placed 1st at the Section #1 FFA Parliamentary Procedure Contest held January 25 at River Ridge High School.
Individually for West Carroll, Kim Durward placed 1st as chairman while Audrie Ashby placed 2nd as secretary. West Carroll members, Dylan Williams, Collin Wilkinson and Chloe Carson placed 1st, 5th and 7th respectively as floor members.
A Parliamentary Procedure Contest consists of members completing a 25 question multiple choice test, doing a 10 minute demonstration using parliamentary motions, and answering questions about the motions used in the demonstration.
West Carroll and Stockton will now compete in the District I FFA Parliamentary Procedure Contest at Blackhawk East College in Galva, Illinois on March 8.
Also held at Stockton on January 25 was the Section #1 FFA Public Speaking Contest. West Carroll FFA Greenhands, Christy Ralston and Kristen Houzenga placed 1st and 3rd respectively in the FFA Creed competition. Collin Wilkinson placed 1st in senior extemporaneous and Chloe Carson, 5th in senior prepared public speaking. Full Results are on the next page. The top 2 finishers in FFA Creed, Senior Prepared and Senior Extemporaneous will advance to the District I FFA Public Speaking CDE held at Blackhawk East College in Galva, Illinois on March 8.
State FFA Agronomy Contest
On Saturday, December 10 West Carroll FFA members Chloe Carson, Kaylee Vos, Patrick Fritz and Kimberly Durward participated at the State FFA Agronomy Contest (CDE) held at the University of Illinois. The team was 32nd out of 41 teams and received a white rating.
Individually, Patrick and Chloe rated as red ribbon winners while Kim and Kaylee rated white ribbon winners.
The team judged rings of oats, wheat, corn, and soybeans. They also took a written exam on insects and completed a practicum on the insects as well. Additionally, weed samples and crops had to be identified.
Kaylee Vos, Kimberly Durward, Patrick Fritz, and Chloe Carson stand on the Ag Quad at the University of Illinois.
(This was Fritz 3rd straight year participating at this contest).
ADM Visits WCHS
On December 1, Mark Mahmens and Joe Paschel from the Clinton ADM plant came to West Carroll High School and spoke to Mrs. Silvius's Consumer Education classes and Mr. Mathey's Ag II Science Classes.
Mahmens and Paschel took the Ag II students through the science and chemistry of breaking down a "raw" kernal of corn and finishing with a viable product.
The Clinton ADM plant processes corn into about 23 different products. Some very common products that ADM helps produce are the sugars used in Sweet Tarts, Little Debbies, Hershey's Chocolate, Coke, and Pepsi products. Clinton ADM also produces around 800, 000 gallons of ethanol per day.
Joe Paschel (L) and Mark Mahmens (R) speaking to Mr. Mathey's 2nd hour Ag II class.
West Carroll FFA Attends 84th National FFA Convention
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| Rachel Dykstra, Tom Watson, Christy Ralston, Demi Hess, Ashley Hunt, Allyah Legal, Tessa Sibley, Dylan Williams, Karley Metz, and Paawan Dandona. |
Paawan Dandona, Dylan Williams, Tom Watson, Allyah Legal, Tessa Sibley, Demi Hess, Rachel Dykstra, Christy Ralston, Karley Metz, Ashley Hunt. |
On Tuesday, October 18, the West Carroll group traveled to the Fair Oaks Dairy Farm in Fair Oaks, Indiana. The Fair Oaks Farm has 10 farms of 3000 cows per farm. Each farm milks around 2800 cows 3 times per day. The rolling herd average of the Fair Oaks Farm is around 26,000 lbs of milk per year. The group then continued to Indianapolis and checked into the motel. The chapter did enjoy a delicious “chapter meal” at Flemming’s Steakhouse restaurant.
On Wednesday, October 19, the group toured the National FFA Center in the morning. In the afternoon, members attended the FFA National Agricultural Career Show. The Career Show had over 1300 agriculture-related booths. The opening session of the National FFA Convention was highlighted by keynote and motivational speaker Dave Roever. Roever is a Vietnam Veteran who was injured by sniper fire that ignited a phosphorus grenade he was preparing to throw. Roever spoke about never giving up hope. In the evening, the chapter visited the Assylem Hunted House.
Thursday, October 20, the group toured the FFA Shopping Mall, the FFA National Agricultural Career Show, and the FFA Food Court in the morning. The afternoon saw West Carroll formally receive its 3-star National rating on stage for its FFA Program of Activities for 2010-2011. Wyatt DeJong, National FFA Central Region Vice President, gave her retiring address titled “Can’t Spell Course without ‘U’.” Entertainment for the evening included a concert in Lucas Oil Stadium by Steel Magnolia, Little Bigtown and Blake Shelton.
Friday, October 21, the FFA members split up and attended various student leadership workshops in the morning. The afternoon included the 6th general session of the convention which announced National FFA Proficiency Award winners. The group then headed for home around 4pm.
Coming events for the West Carroll FFA would be the Section #1 FFA Crops Judging CDE scheduled for November 2 at Eastland High School starting at 5:30 pm and the West Carroll FFA Chapter Annual Blood Drive on Friday, November 4, from 8:30 am – 2:30 pm in the high school gym. Walk-ins are encouraged to come and donate.
West Carroll FFA Greenhands Attend Highland Greenhand Conference
Six West Carroll FFA Greenhands attended the Highland FFA Greenhand Conference on October 5 at Highland Community College in Freeport. The evening was started with a mixer and meal of pizza, chips, apples, cookies and soft drinks. Students heard from keynote speaker, Annie Larson, 2008-2009 Illinois Association State Treasurer. Students then attended 3 breakout sessions. Eastland FFA advisor, Stan Toepfer presented “Leading in MY Community”. The Section #1 FFA president, Nick Gimple and the Section #1 FFA officers presented “The Inns and Outs of FFA”. Annie Larson and the University of Wisconsin, Platteville Agri-Ambassadors presented “Collegiate FFA and Agricultural Opportunities.”
West Carroll FFA Greenhands attending included Ashley Hunt, Glenn Hoffman, Kita Stallings, Shawn Baker, Kristen Houzenga and Shauna Lott.
Coming events for the chapter include the the National FFA Convention Trip October 18-22 and the West Carroll FFA Blood Drive November 4.
West Carroll Greenhands Win Section #1 FFA Greenhand Quiz Bowl Championship
The West Carroll FFA Greenhand Team “Green” consisting of Christy Ralston, Ashley Hunt, Kita Stallings and Sabrina Seidemann won first place at the Section #1 FFA Quiz Bowl Contest held at Orangeville High School on September 19. The quiz bowl consisted of a single elimination bracket with 7 teams and 15 questions per round relating to the FFA organization and its history. West Carroll’s Team “Black” placed 2nd and included members Kristen Houzenga, Rachel Dykstra, Shauna Lot and Damon Mann. Pearl City placed 3rd while Le-Win won the consolation championship.
A total of twenty-three (23) West Carroll FFA members attended the Leadership Training School which included social mixers; meal of sub sandwiches, chips, and a drink. Leadership workshops were provided for chapter officers and other members in attendance. Members also heard a keynote address from Illinois State FFA Vice President, Jim Tobin. Tobin spoke on how simple acts of kindness can make great differences in the lives of others.
The Section #1 FFA officer team for 2011-2012 includes:
Office Name School
President Nick Gimple Orangeville
Vice President Cory Snetcher Eastland
Secretary Kody Miller Dakota
Treasurer Kenzie Kaiser Le-Win
Reporter Lindsey Zettle Dakota
Sentinel Cayne Boeke Eastland
Advisor Trish Krug Orangeville
Damon Mann, Dylan Williams, Paawan Dandona, Marcus Fitzpatrick, Shauna Lott, Collin Wilkinson, Ieshia Larson, Ashley Hunt, Patrick Fritz, Kaylee Vos, Kita Stallings, Garrett Badtke, Janelle Dykstra, Sabrina Seidemann, Seth Bradley, Sam Boyer, Chloe Carson, Tessa Sibley, Christy Ralston, Rachel Dykstra, Clare O'Connor, Kristen Houzenga, Kara Hockman.
Chloe Carson, Illinois State FFA Reporter, Chris Steppig, Kim Durward and Maria Timm. Carson, Durward and Timm are West Carroll FFA members who attended the Reporter's Workshop learning the proper ways to get FFA news to the media.
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