The month of October has resulted in four Elmwood FFA Career Development teams achieving
success. The first of these was the chapter’s urban soils team which participated in the state contest
in Madison County on Oct. 12. The team ranked 10th out of 49 teams and was led by Garrett Benschoter who
placed 10th overall. Other team members contributing were Chelsie Schmitz, Amanda Jones, and Samantha
Laborie.Urban soils contestants evaluate soils for slope, land form, flooding and slippage hazard,
texture, and water table. They also recommend practices to maintain or improve an existing soil
site.Joining the urban team was the chapter’s rural team which ranked 22nd out of 53 teams. The team was
led by Ashley Veryser (65th). She was joined by Andrew Housholder, Emily Schmitz, and Tiffany Gonyer. In
the rural contest, members evaluate soils for slope, depth or erosion of topsoil, texture, depth, and
natural drainage. They also assign limitations, determine land use, and recommend conservation
practices.On Oct. 17 two other chapter career development teams traveled to Henry County to compete in
the district dairy foods and dairy cattle events. In the dairy foods contest, Elmwood ranked first out
of nine teams. They were led by Kara Buchman, who ranked first individually. Following close behind was
Emily Schmitz in ninth, Parker Scannell in 19th, and Morgan Huff in 21st.Dairy foods contestants
identified cheeses, assessed milk samples, determined fat and moisture content of dairy products,
completed a written test, and conducted California Mastitis tests.In the dairy cattle contest,
contestants evaluated classes of cows and heifers, ranked pedigrees, placed a class of sires, and
completed a written test. In this event Elmwood placed second and was led by Bryn Parker who ranked
sixth individually. Other team members included Alexis Miller (seventh), Makayla Mohre, Angelique
Franks, Taylor Barndt, Marisa Ayala, Katie Peters, Jay Graham, Luke Hagemeyer, Garrett Benschoter, Jack
Hagemeyer, Jessica Cline, Liz Walter, and Cheyenne Kaufman.On Oct. 18, the Elmwood FFA, in cooperation
with several other school and community organizations put on the fifth annual Fall Festival. Nearly 500
elementary students and their teachers took part in the event. The activities were centered in the
community center gymnasium with 13 different stations. The stations included face painting conducted by
high school Art Club members, an obstacle course for pedal tractors set up by FFA members, a haunted
maze, games with the Wood Soil and Water, skill activities with the Wayne Public Library, donuts and
cider served by the Portage Gleaners, a station all about the uses of corn, a cider making
demonstration, a magic show by Jim Slagle, a cookie decorating station, a station that allowed students
to pet baby calves conducted by Carlyle Dairy , a visit to a sow with baby pigs, and a wagon ride to the
home of Phil and Melanie Davis to pick their own pumpkins.Assisting at various station were members of
the Elmwood National Honor Society. Informal evaluations of the students indicated an overwhelming
satisfaction of the event.