West Holmes FFA members shine with chapter books

During the district and regional evaluation in February, members of the West Holmes FFA were evaluated on their individual Supervised Agricultural Experience applications and FFA officer books.

Each member has an SAE, a placement or entrepreneurship project that starts as early as their freshman year. This year the chapter had many members involved in the evaluation process. Three members submitted officer books, eight members applied for proficiency awards, six members applied for State Degrees and 12 members applied for American Degrees.

Proficiency contestants have spent countless hours working and journaling in the area to which they are applying. The minimum qualifications to apply for a proficiency award are working 100 hours or earning $500.

The following students were named proficiency finalists, top four in the state, and will go through a virtual interview March 19 before having results announced on stage at the State Convention in May.

Ian Barr is a graduate of West Holmes High School and trains and competes with his horses. He is competing in Equine Science Entrepreneurship.

Sophomore Reece Anderson competed in Dairy Production Entrepreneurship, where he raises dairy cattle and works on his family's dairy operation.

Senior Grady Hawkins competed in Forest Management Products, where he works in his family lumber mill, Rick Hawkins Lumber.

Senior Jenna Zimmerly competed in Small Animal Production, where she raises, shows and sells four breeds of rabbits.

Sophomore Emma McDonnell competed in Dairy Production Entrepreneurship, where she raises dairy cattle and works on her family's dairy operation.

Senior Emma Eberhard competed in Vet Science, where she works at East Holmes Veterinary Clinic.

Members who submitted applications to the district level and did not make state finalist are as follows: Senior Madison Ringwalt was second in the district in Ag Sales Placement by working at The Posy Pad, where she handles flowers to create products for others, and senior Logan Van Dalen competed in Ag Services by working at the Loudonville Farmers Equity and was second in the district.

FFA officers keep a record of the chapter throughout the year, and all these records are combined into their individual officer books. Secretary Mia Spencer has prepared her secretary book full of meeting minutes, agendas and chapter correspondence.

Treasurer Shane Lorentz has prepared his treasurer book, which includes the chapter's income and expenses, monthly reports, member records, and the chapter budget throughout the year. Reporter Courtney Crider has prepared her reporter book, which scrapbooks all the chapter news and events, Facebook posts, and photos and captions from the year.

All three received gold ratings and will receive their awards on stage at State Convention in May.

The State Degree is awarded to roughly 2% of the FFA membership in the state each year. To receive it, a member must earn or invest $3,000 in their SAE, complete 25 hours of community service, maintain a 3.0 GPA or 93% attendance rate, participate in two CDEs and participate in eight activities above the chapter level.

Members are awarded their State Degrees on stage at the State Convention in May.

Members who applied for their State Degrees include Landrie Croskey, Emma Eberhard, Benjamin Forrer, Shane Lorentz, Emberlyn Miller and Dylan Sours.

WH FFA alumni members also applied for their American Degree, which they would receive on stage at the National Convention in November if approved at the National Level in July. To achieve the American Degree, members need to have earned or invested $10,000 in their SAE, completed 50 hours of community service, have a 2.0 or better GPA and have received the State FFA Degree.

These members have passed the State Level and will now move on to National Evaluation: Ian Barr, Garrett Fowler, Keith Hawkins, Colby Long, Casey Ogi, Madison Pearce-Laferty, Alex Pringle, Andrea Schuch, Jenna Sheldon, Miley Snow, Quentin Vehrs and Gabrielle Yates.