After a very busy and successful summer for the Bowling Green FFA chapter, when school
started the pace picked up.Before school even started, members parked cars for the National Tractor
Pull, where they raised more than $1,350 for Toledo Children’s Hospital.Another Toledo Children’s
Hospital fundraiser the FFA hosted was held several weeks later with the annual tailgate before the
Bobcats’ home football game against Springfield. At that fundraiser, a dunk tank featured teachers,
administrators and FFA students. The two teachers that participated were Callie Maas and Kristen
Carpenter. The two administrators were the vice principal, Dr. Bob Yenrick and the principal, Jeff
Dever. The four FFA members being dunked in the fundraiser were the chapter’s reporter, Amanda Barndt,
the secretary, Madalyn Fletcher, the treasurer, Alex Wynn and a member, Max Holstein.The FFA appreciated
all the participants as well as Rod Lucas for again allowing the use of his dunk tank.At the same
fundraising event, the chapter also held their annual truck smash. Participants were allowed to swing a
sledgehammer at the body and windows of the truck. Dean Smith donated the truck.Corn hole games and free
food attracted more than 500 BG FFA alumni, members and football fans, with $550 raised.More than just
the FFA chapter were involved as Alice Hackworth’s cooking class donated cookies for the event and Nikki
Meyer’s art class help create advertisements.Members continued to maintain and harvest their two raised
gardens which were built and planted at the high school. Seven bushels of produce have been harvested
and donated to the Bowling Green Christian Food Pantry this year.The chapter conferred 62 Greenhand
degrees at its September monthly meeting. Greenhands are first-year members of the chapter. Following
the ceremonies and business meeting, an open house with refreshments were served for all the members and
their parents. Bowling Green FFA parents helped to serve and prepare the refreshments.One week later, 34
chapter members were raised to the Chapter Degree, the next level of achievement. This is a county-wide
activity involving all the other FFA chapters in the county. Eastwood was the host school and the
ceremonies were conducted by the Eastwood FFA officer team. Refreshments were served to the members and
parents in attendance.The chapter membership continues an upward movement with 143 members registered
this year.Members have been spending time before and after school preparing for upcoming Career
Development Events and contests. Rural and Urban Soil Judging Contests took place this month, Food
Science, Ag Communications and Technology and Parliamentary Procedure are to follow in November.The next
big move by the FFA will be the kickoff of the annual FFA fruit and nut sale. Those interested in
purchasing fruit, can contact the Ag Department until Nov. 11, at 419-352-0704.Classes are also very
busy. The Structural Engineering class is studying concrete and electricity. The Animal Science and
Technology students are raising chickens to study animal nutrition and digestive systems. The
Environmental Science class is studying solid waste management and ground water contamination. The
freshman Ag. Science students are finishing up a plant and agronomy unit which includes propagation of
plants in the greenhouse and studying plant and animal cells. The senior agribusiness class is starting
a marketing and advertising unit.