 – At the 97th annual State FFA Convention, the Versailles FFA was awarded seven State FFA Proficiency awards, and being named the Top FFA Chapter in the state…){kind=link}
The FFA Chapter officers presented three 15 minute PowerPoint Presentations that highlighted the three categories of the National FFA Chapter Application which include: Growing Leaders, Strengthening AG, and Building Communities.
Paige Gehret and Jayna Luthman presented in the Growing Leaders portion, Colin Batten and Eden Barga presented in the Strengthening AG portion, and Greta Broering and Rhylan Broerman presented in the Building Communities portion.
There presentations and interviews garnered and was named the Versailles FFA among the top ten chapters in each division, those being, named as an Ohio FFA Gold Medal Chapter; named the number one chapter in the state with strengthening agriculture National FFA Chapter out of over 330 FFA Chapters through activities of Poultry Day’s, Omelette Breakfast and Weather Wise. In addition, Versailles FFA Chapter had a booth for as a Top 10 Chapter in the State.
The State FFA Degree is the highest degree in the state of Ohio. To receive the degree, members must turn in their record books, along with an application. They must meet requirements in the area of SAE, chapter involvement, and leadership roles. This year Versailles FFA had 12 members from the chapter receive this award, and they were: Roger Winner, Shawna Schmitmeyer, Eden Barga, Brooke Bergman, Lauren Grogean, Jayna Luthman, Ruthie Smith, Haley Mescher, Ava May, Allee Grimme, Josie Pothast and Paige Gehret.
The Versailles FFA was also proficiency winners at the State FFA Convention. Those who placed first in their proficiency award area will have their applications sent to the national level for further competition. The ten Top four FFA proficiency finalist were:
Lincoln Winner placed first in the state for Diversified Agricultural Production, his SAE consists of working at Brian Winner Farms. Colin Batten placed first in the state for Dairy Production, his SAE consists of working at Owl Creek Dairy. Haley Mescher placed first in the state in Organic Agriculture, where her SAE consists of working at Heckman Family Farms. Patrick McGlinch placed third in the state for Agricultural Services, his SAE consists of pulling and analyzing soil samples through McGlinch Soil and Sampling. Danica York placed first in the state for Forest Management and Products, her SAE consists of cutting, splitting bundling, and selling firewood at York Woods. James Schmitmeyer placed first in the State FFA Diversified Livestock Proficiency award for his SAE consists of working at Line-View Farm. Blake Schmitmeyer placed first in the State FFA Agricultural Processing Proficiency Award for his SAE consists of working at The Butcher Block and Smokehouse. Paige Gehret placed second in State in Vegetable Production Proficiency award for her 1.1 acre pumpkin patch and she placed first in the State in the Agricultural Communication Proficiency Award. Her SAE consists of being a Co-Farm News Director at WTGR 97.5 the Tiger. Maggie McGlinch placed fourth in the state in the Poultry Production Proficiency award with her SAE consists of raising
Other accomplishments included recognition at the State FFA included three officers, Luke Kaiser, Gold Rated Treasurer; Paige Gehret, Gold Rated Secretary; and Maggie McGlinch, Gold Rated Reporter, who were awarded pins.