Ohio Ag Net student reporter Halle Miller catches up with the Roush siblings – triplets receiving their State Degrees at the same time during the 91st Ohio FFA Convention.
President: Holly McClay- Fredericktown
Vice President: Bethany Starlin- Chief Logan
Secretary: Noah Smith- Amanda-Clearcreek
Treasurer: Haleigh Stoller- Wayne Trace
Reporter: Mackenzie Hoog- Valley View MVCTC
Sentinel: Justin Beckner- Tallawanda Butler Tech
Vice Presidents at Large:
Alec Ogg- Upper Sandusky
Mozie van Raaij- Southeastern
Maribeth Pozderac- Fredericktown
Wyatt Kissell- Mt. Vernon
Chyann Kendel- Twin Valley South MVCTC
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Online coverage of the 91st Ohio FFA State Convention sponsored by Wilmington College.
Online coverage of the 91st Ohio FFA State Convention sponsored by Wilmington College.
Online coverage of the 91st Ohio FFA State Convention sponsored by Wilmington College.
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Continued coverage:
The candidates for the 2019-2020 Ohio FFA officer team were announced in Session 1.
Candidates for President:
Holly McClay- Fredericktown
Gretchen Lee- Pettisville
Candidates for Vice President:
Bethany Starlin- Chief Logan
Chyann Kendel- Twin Valley South MVCTC
Candidates for Secretary:
Maribeth Pozderac- Fredericktown
Noah Smith- Amanda-Clearcreek
Candidates for Treasurer:
Haleigh Stoller- Wayne Trace
Alec Ogg- Upper Sandusky
Candidates for Reporter:
Mackenzie Hoog- Valley View MVCTC
Mozie van Raaij- Southeastern
Candidates for Sentinel:
Justin Beckner- Tallawanda Butler Tech
Wyatt Kissell- Mt. Vernon
The 91st annual Ohio FFA State Convention and Expo is being held May 2nd and 3rd at the state fairgrounds in Columbus. FFA Chapters from across the state will be interviewing, competing, and recognized on stage. A complete schedule can be found here.
By Meredith Oglesby, OCJ FFA reporter
They had a pact to never compete, but twins Grant and Grace Lach broke that pact in May of 2018 for their individual efforts to earn a spot on the Ohio FFA State Officer Team.
“All throughout our time in the FFA we had a pact that we wouldn’t compete against each other and running for state office was the first time that we broke that pact,” said Grant Lach, 2018-19 State Vice President at Large.
With the bright lights, adrenaline pumping and the election results being announced, their broken pact made the big moment for anyone running for state office even bigger for the twins from the Bloom Carroll FFA Chapter. But, as it turns out, breaking the pact paid off. They are the first twins to ever serve together as state officers in Ohio.
Grant and Grace recently had the chance to reflect on what it was like to serve together on the 2018-19 state officer team.
Ohio Ag Net and Ohio’s Country Journal is pleased to introduce our 2019 Ohio FFA Student Reporters. Over the next two days, these young people will be helping our team report the latest happenings from State Convention. Here’s a bit about them:
Mackenzie Hoog
Hello everyone! My name is Mackenzie Hoog, I’m 17 years old, and a junior at Valley View High School. I belong to the Valley View MVCTC FFA Chapter and am currently the 2018-19 Vice President, but will soon be the 2019-20 President. In high school, I participate in other activities such as varsity cheer, Interact Club, NHS, FCA, and student government. I am currently the President of my class and am planning prom, which is a daunting task but with the help of my team, I’m sure everything will run smoothly. Outside of school, I am a competitive cheerleader, in 4-H, President of the Montgomery County Junior Fair Board and member of our fair’s court as well.
By Sydney Snider, OCJ FFA reporter
Raising livestock, growing crops or working for an agribusiness are recognized areas agricultural education students are often involved with as a part of their supervised agricultural experience (SAE). Nationally, there are 47 proficiency award areas for students to be recognized for their efforts and earnings in different areas of agriculture.
The Ohio FFA Association has two proficiency award areas not recognized on the national level: organic agriculture and accounting. These areas interest students across the state and allow them to gain skills, knowledge and experience in two unique, yet vital, sectors of agriculture. Keep reading to learn more about two students who have developed passions for these Ohio-specific proficiency areas.
Organic Agriculture
Grant DeBruin, a junior member of the Miami Trace FFA Chapter, helps on his family farm as a part of his organic agriculture SAE. DeBruin’s family has an organic pasture dairy farm located near Greenfield, Ohio.
The 2019 Ohio FFA State Convention is right around the corner and Ohio’s Country Journal and Ohio Ag Net is on the search for outstanding Ohio FFA members to help serve as student reporters for this year’s event.
In our ninth year of the student reporter program, selected FFA members will get the opportunity to help cover the convention and work alongside our news staff, including Matt Reese, Dale Minyo, Joel Penhorwood, and Kolt Buchenroth. Ever wonder what it’s like to do our job? Here’s your chance!
The live coverage of the Ohio FFA Convention will be posted on www.ocj.com and various social media outlets with reporters helping to host news coverage alongside our staff in addition to a couple veteran student reporters.
Students will assist in gathering information, shoot video of newsworthy items and people, share their commentary of what happened in each session, and much more.
To be considered:
During December and January, 10 agricultural educators were named as Golden Owl Award finalists in surprise ceremonies throughout the state.
Presented by Nationwide, Ohio Farm Bureau and Ohio FFA, the Golden Owl Award honors agricultural educators for their outstanding contributions in helping future leaders.
Nominations were accepted through November 2018. Each of the teachers who were recognized as Golden Owl honorees received a $500 prize and entrance into the final selection stage. One honoree then will be chosen for the grand prize, the Golden Owl Award and $3,000.
The 10 finalists for the Golden Owl Award are: Dave Stiles
Indian Valley High School, Stephanie Conway Bowling Green High School, John Poulson Pettisville High School, Randy Eisenhauer
Shelby High School, Erin Wollett Cardington-Lincoln High School, Michael Spahr Greene County Career Center, Tom Holton East Knox Junior-Senior High School, Shelby Faulkner Ridgemont High School, Holly Jennings Felicity-Franklin High School, and Katrina Swinehart Central State University.
By Sydney Snider, OCJ FFA reporter
It has been a successful year for FFA members and chapters across the Buckeye State. Membership has reached a high with over 25,000 FFA members and 315 FFA chapters. A record number of state degree recipients were awarded at the state FFA convention in May and Ohio was honored to have several national winners recognized at the national FFA convention in October.
2018 also marks the 90th anniversary for the formation of the “Future Farmers of America.” Ohio has had a rich history in leading innovation and growth within FFA since it’s inception in 1928. Continue reading for a quick glimpse into the past 90 years.
The initial years
In November of 1928, 33 vocational agriculture students met in Kansas City to form the “Future Farmers of America.” Among the students was Ashley, Ohio native Lawrence Augenstein, who helped develop the by-laws and constitution for the FFA.
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