Indian Valley FFA holds drive-thru awards

When COVID-19 kept students out of school last spring, a favorite activity — the FFA Awards Banquet — was among the many school events canceled. Conditions are still not favorable for a dinner, but Taylor Ryan, FFA teacher at Indian Valley High School, wanted to see her students get the recognition they deserved.

Ryan praised her students for putting together a photo backdrop with hay bales, pumpkins and cornstalks to make the event special. The plan was to have the event outside in the parking lot on Oct. 29, but the remnants of Hurricane Zeta spoiled those plans.

Determined not to delay the awards presentation any longer, students and their parents waited their turn in their vehicles in the parking lot and were called just inside the overhead door to the AG room to receive their awards and have photos taken. There are currently 59 students enrolled in the FFA program at Indian Valley.

There were many smiles behind their FFA masks, which were only removed for photos, as the event progressed. The students' parents seemed especially happy to be a part of the long-delayed event as they posed for photos with their children.

“There really wasn't any banquet. We just had a drive-in awards night. This is the best way to do everything COVID-friendly and honoring the kids that had awards from last spring that didn't get to receive them,” Ryan said.

Retired FFA teacher Dave Stiles did give the 2020 seniors their awards at the end of their school year.

Everyone hopes the FFA Awards Banquet will be able to be held in the spring so the students can be recognized in the same school year in which they earned their honors.

The timing of the drive-thru awards couldn’t have been better as last week was FFA Week. During FFA Week a national convention is held in Indianapolis, but it is being held virtually this year.

“We are watching the opening sessions and the closing sessions. Not every student would get the chance to go to the national convention because it's very expensive. This year I can offer to everybody,” Ryan said. “They get to participate in it, even though they are at school, and it gives an opportunity for everybody to do it.”

The class planned special activities to have during the week including a lunch and designated days to wear AG-related clothing and hats. Ryan felt the week was going well despite the restricted environment.

Usually a limited number of students are selected to participate in the national convention and they would travel to Indianapolis to participate in person.

For students, FFA is a year-round program, and they attend their FFA class every day just as they would do when enrolled in other classes.

“They are in a wide variety of different classes. We start out with freshmen; they get a jack-of-all-trades kind of course where they get to test out a little bit of everything,” Ryan said. “My next course is animal and plant science; we dip a little bit animal science and little bit into plant science. I have a livestock course that solely focuses on livestock production, body systems and things like that. Then I have an AG business class, which focuses on economics and the business side of AG and the different ways you can go.”

Many of Ryan’s students also are in 4-H and on the Tuscarawas County Junior Fair Board. She said the 4-H program and FFA are highly related, and many times the students can take what they’ve learned in one program and build upon it in the other.

Ryan is pleased that despite the limitations of the pandemic, her students are doing well in class this year, and she was happy with the participation in the drive-thru awards ceremony.

Those earning first-year FFA awards were JD Burrier, Madison Alexander, Kolton Arnold, Sara Bourne, Trace Bryan, Michael Chandler, Austin Dyer, Trakker Hodkinson, Jazman Inman, Brooklyn Sanders, Cheyenne Stukey, Jaelyn Weaver, Gage Woods, Tristen Bryan, Brianna Burdette, Mackinzee Dunlap, Emma Grewell, Makayla Hamric, Gaven Hostetler, Tye Johnson, Emma Menefee, Hunter Miller, Ean Sanders, Paige Thomas, Keegan Warner and Noble Jeandervin.

Those earning Greenhand Awards were Hunter Albright, Arianna Dotson, Makaylyn Lendon, Camden Lute, Derek Robinson, Colton Scott, Max Steed, Braden Williamson, Olivia Weaver and Dominic Schafer.

Others winning Greenhand Awards and other recognition include Gabrielle Skeen for Chapter Officer, Student Advisor and Chapter Star Greenhand Award; Emma Sprowl for Chapter Officer and Historian; and Macey Porter for Greenhand Degree, Officer and Chaplain.

Other students receiving awards were Abigail Beans for Chapter Degree; Makayla Corpman for Officer, Secretary and Gold Rated Reporters (state); Ashlyn Sanders for Officer, Treasurer and Gold Rated Secretary (state); Audrey Byrd for Chapter Degree, Officer and Reporter; Ciara Grove for State FFA Degree, Officer, President, Chapter Proficiency in Beef Production and Blue & Gold Award; Javid Miller for Chapter Degree, Officer, Vice President, Chapter Proficiency in Outdoor Recreation and Chapter Star Farmer Award; Jasmine Rorrer for Officer, Sentinel, Chapter Proficiency in Goat Production; and 2020 graduate Maggie Miller for American FFA Degree of the Indian Valley FFA Chapter and Ohio FFA Foundation Scholarship recipient for the 2019-20 school year.