holds annual awards banquet

Friday night, April 25 officially marked the end of another successful year for our FFA chapter, as well as the beginning of new year full of opportunities and challenges. The Logan County FFA chapter held our yearly banquet at Crossroads Church, where we recognized our members, officers, advisors, and alumni for their hard work and achievements throughout the year.

The meeting began as Chaplain Adam Haley gave an invocation for the meal prepared by the Alumni Association. After a greeting from state officer Tyler Burysek, we continued with the awards ceremony.

First to be recognized were the winners of speaking contests. This year was one of the most successful years ever for our chapter in the areas of impromptu and public speaking. Our 16 chapter contest winners were recognized for their achievements, with 12 of those students advancing on to the state level by placing either first or second at the regional level.

Those recognized were: Megan Vincent, public speaking; Luke Wetton, extemporaneous public speaking; John Haley, impromptu speaking (IS) beef; John Vick, IS crop; Jordan Johnson, IS dairy; Laura Williams, IS fruit/vegetable; Kayla Logsdon, IS greenhouse; Courtney Rogers, IS floral; Tyler Toon, IS nursery/landscape; Patrick Penrod, IS sheep; Tabitha Woodall, IS small animal; Mary Beth Eicher, IS swine; Alex Boswell, IS turf/lawn; Taylor Johnson, IS horse; Calyn Crofford, IS goat; Morgan Lee, IS poultry; and Justin Allen, IS ag mechanics.

Also recognized at this time were winner of other contests and awards including: FFA Quiz Contest, Mindy Canler; Creed Contest, Cotton Hazel; Greenhouse Award, Tabitha Brooksheer and Joanna Bailey; and Ag Mechanics Award, John England and Justin Heidel.

Conducting the meeting that evening was our regional first place winner Chapter Meeting Team. They were recognized for all the time and effort they put into becoming the most distinguished parliamentary procedure team in the region.

The Chapter Meeting Team consisted of: John Vick, Megan Vincent, Tabitha Woodall, Calyn Crofford, Jordan Johnson, Kayla Logsdon, Laura Williams, Marie Weldon, Alex Boswell, Mary Beth Eicher.

Next, our reporter, Meredith Scarbrough, was recognized for our award winning chapter scrapbook. Being recognized along with Meredith was our treasurer, Laura Williams, and our secretary, Megan Vincent, for the successful completion of both the Treasurer's Book and the Secretary's Book.

The banquet continued on with the recognition of our chapter's Proficiency winners. This year, our chapter had 32 proficiencies completed and sent on to the regional competition. Twelve of these proficiencies received superior and excellent ratings, advancing to the state level. The following students received awards in these proficiency areas: Luke Wetton, Ag communications placement and Ag education placement; Justin Dean, Ag mechanics energy systems placement and Ag mechanics design and fabrication placement; John England, Ag mechanics repair and maintenance placement; Tyler Toon, Ag processing placement; Jon Haley, Ag sales placement; Adam Haley, beef production entrepreneurship; Jon Haley, beef production placement; Patrick Penrod, diversified ag production placement; Justin Allen, diversified crop production, entrepreneurship; Patrick Penrod, diversified crop production placement; Tabitha Woodall, diversified horticulture placement; Mary Beth Eicher, diversified livestock production placement; Zach Armistead, emerging ag technology placement; Alex Boswell, environmental science management placement; Autumn Claypool, equine science placement; Daniel Chick, forage production placement; John Vick, fiber and oil crop production entrepreneurship; Tabitha Woodall, floriculture; Catie Martin, home and/or community development placement; Zach Armistead, grain production placement; John Vick, grain production entrepreneurship; Alex Boswell, landscape management placement; Laura Williams, outdoor recreation placement; Kristen Large, poultry production placement; Tyler Toon, small animal production and care entrepreneurship; Marie Weldon, specialty crop production placement; Mary Beth Eicher, swine production placement; Calyn Crofford, swine production entrepreneurship; Mickey Thomas, turf/grass management placement; and Joanna Bailey, vegetable production placement.

Our banquet then continued to honor our Agricultural Skills Contests participants. These members were all a part of a team, some of which competed at the regional level, and some who will advance on to state. We would like to congratulate all of the following teams and their members for a successful year:

Livestock Judging Team: Tyler Page, Adam Haley, Kris Coles.

Bow Shooting Team: Brett Sowell, Derrick Reding, Mickey Thomas, Michael Haley, Connor Cash.

Trap Shooting Team: Taylor Johnson, Tyler Johnson, Ian Cook, Caleb Johnson, Travis Brown.

Dairy Judging Team: Jordan Johnson, Marie Weldon, Catie Martin, Cody Crofford.

Agriculture Sales Team: Mary Beth Eicher, Catie Martin, Jordan Johnson, Cody Crofford.

Small Engines Team: Steven Pentecost, Steven Coleman, D.J. Arnold, Patrick Penrod.

Welding Team: Jesse Bella, Justin Heidel, Cody Poole, Shane Grant.

Ag Mechanics Team: Larry Hester, John England, Nick Shubert.

Land Judging Team: Jonathan Whitman, Justin Allen, Chelsey Jones, Tyler Ramsey.

Junior Tractor Driving: First, Jon Keith Smith; Second, Zeke Gainous.

Record Keeping Team: Jared Gainous, Jared Simmons, Robyn Estes, Kalee Moore.

Freshman Parliamentary Procedure Team: Robin Estes, John Keith Smith, Brooke Thomas, Zeke Gainous, Justin Hopkins, Bailey Scott, Nikki Head, Ashley Adler, Jacob Hopkins, Cameron Hesson.

Top Fruit Salesman: Robyn Estes.

Next, our chapter recognized several members for their outstanding individual achievement in both our FFA chapter and the classroom. Awards were given out for outstanding commitment to our FFA chapter, leadership, scholastic achievement, as well as the traditional FFA awards.

Those members honored were: John Vick and Kayla Logsdon, Outstanding FFA Members; Mindy Canler, Ginger Walker, Cameron Hesson, John Logan Dockins, Freshman Leadership Awards; Luke Wetton, Sophomore Leadership Award; Catie Martin, Junior Leadership Award; Alex Boswell, Senior Leadership Award; Jacob Hopkins and Megan Williams, Freshman Scholarship Award; Taylor Johnson, Sophomore Scholarship Award; Jordan Johnson, Junior Scholarship Award; Laura Williams, Senior Scholarship Award; Ashley Hazel, Robyn Estes, Sean Curtis and Justin Hopkins, Star Greenhand Awards; Mickey Thomas, Chapter Star Agribusinessman; John Vick, Chapter Star Farmer; Marie Weldon, Chapter Star in Placement.

Next, our FFA Alumni Treasurer Jonathan Hughes presented the retiring officers with scholarships donated by the Alumni. This year, our Alumni awarded $7,700 in scholarships to 11 outstanding seniors.

Following the distribution of scholarships, all twelve of this year's State FFA Degree Candidates were recognized. The following students are eligible to receive their State FFA Degree this June at State Convention: John Vick, Kayla Logsdon, Megan Vincent, Laura Williams, Meredith Scarbrough, Calyn Crofford, Adam Haley, Tabitha Woodall, Marie Weldon, Cobey Adler, Alex Boswell, Justin Dean.

Our chapter also has eight candidates that are eligible to receive their American Degree from the 2005-2006 officer team. These candidates are: Jessica Penrod, Myra Price, Sara Holliday, Kelley Jolly, Christie Howard, Jamie Wilson, Chance Corum, Amber Miles.

The next item on the night's agenda was the installation of the 2008-2009 FFA officers. Those officers are: President, Jordan Johnson; Vice President, Catie Martin; Secretary, Cody Crofford; Treasurer, Patrick Penrod; Reporter, Tyler Toon; Sentinel, Mary Beth Eicher; Chaplain, Luke Wetton; Parliamentarian, Justin Allen; 2nd Vice President, Taylor Johnson; 3rd Vice President, Sarah Beth Hall. The 2008-2009 Junior Officers are: Junior Vice President, Jon Haley; Junior Secretary, Chelsey Jones; Junior Treasurer, Bean Bilicki; Junior Reporter, Daniel Chick; Junior Sentinel, Morgan Lee; Junior Chaplain, Missy Miles; Junior 2nd Vice President, Heidi Nations; Junior 3rd Vice President, Robyn Estes. The 2008-2009 Committee Chairmen: SAE, Brooke Yates with co-chair Mindy Canler; Leadership, Jon Keith Smith with co-chair Hunter Boswell; Scholarship, Jacob Hopkins with co-chair Ethan White; Recreation, Justin Hopkins with co-chair Cotton Hazel; Cooperation, Logan Fugate with co-chair Caitlyn Toon; Alumni, Lucas Wooldridge with co-chair Brianna Long; Public Relations, Kyra Forgy with co-chair Brianna Scott; Earnings and Savings, Jonathan Whitman with co-chair Stephanie Johnson; Conduct of Meetings, Alesha Steenburger with co-chair John Logan Dockins; Community Service, Jared Simmons.

Next, our retiring officers from the past year were recognized for all of their hard work and dedication over the last four years. Each of the retiring officers had the opportunity to speak to the audience and thank all of those who have contributed to their success over their high school career. The following are the retiring officers from the 2007-2008 school year: John Vick, President; Kayla Logsdon, Vice President; Megan Vincent, Secretary; Laura Williams, Treasurer; Meredith Scarbrough, Reporter; Cayln Crofford, Sentinel; Adam Haley, Chaplain; Tabitha Woodall, Parliamentarian; Marie Weldon, 2nd Vice President; Cobey Adler, 3rd Vice President.

We also had 44 students who worked during the school day through our coop program.

To conclude our program for the night, we had a special tribute to Mr. Miliken, who is retiring from teaching after 30 years as an FFA sponsor. There was a PowerPoint presentation showing pictures from throughout his teaching career, as well as the presentation of many gifts from both former members and officers, The Alumni Association, and current officers and members. We would like to thank Mr. Miliken for his years of service. The night ended with a touching tribute to three young men from our FFA chapter lost their lives this past year; Ethan Clark, Derek Robinson and Trevon O'Neal. Each of their families was presented with a plaque in their memory.

We would also like to thank Crossroads Church for allowing us to use their facilities for our banquet again this year, as well as our many sponsors and Alumni who helped to make this event successful. This was indeed a fitting ending for this year in the FFA; a successful banquet to reflect on a successful year.