At the recent State FFA Convention in Columbus, 25 members of the Otsego FFA were in attendance. Members
attended convention sessions, toured Anthony Thomas a chocolate factory, attended the career show, and
explored Magic Mountain.
The chapter was honored as a Top Ten Chapter in the area of Chapter Development. Caroline Battin and Sara
Caris made a presentation on behalf of the chapter for this honor.
The chapter’s treasurer, Ben Thomas, secretary, Emily McVeigh, and reporter, Madi Hyder all received a
gold medal pin for their outstanding efforts for their officer books.
Four Otsego FFA members earned their State FFA Degree and received it at the convention. Those four were
Caroline Battin, Trevor Buehrer, Zach Down, and Andrew Michaelis. These four bring the total to 127
Otsego FFA members to have earned the degree. The degree is the highest degree the state can bestow to
its members.
Battin has worked for two local businesses where she has worked for over 500 hours. She has also raised
market goats and showed them at the Wood County Fair. Caroline has also volunteered for various
different activities with the Wood County 4-H Program, her church and school. She is a member of the
National Honor Society, cheerleading squads, student council, musical and soccer team. Caroline is our
chapter Vice-President for the upcoming school year.
She has excelled in public speaking, parliamentary procedure and poultry career development events. She
has been a very active member participating in chapter events like ag day, kiddie pedal pull, tractor
pulls, tailgate party and more. Caroline is a junior at Otsego.
Buehrer, a graduating senior, has spent his last four years as an Otsego FFA member working hard to earn
his State FFA Degree. He has worked for Washington Township during the summer, and has also worked at
Nazareth Hall. He has logged many volunteer hours working with Wood County Extension programs as well as
being a junior fair board member. Buehrer led the chapter during this past year as president. He also
participated in many different events like eighth grade a career day, Honor Flight, conventions, and
citrus sales. He also excelled in the parliamentary procedure career development event.
Downs, a junior, has raised more than 12 head of market cattle for his supervised agricultural experience
program. He has worked hard to provide his customers with a quality and consistent beef product. At
Otsego he is also active in the weight lifting program and plays football.
As an FFA member he has served on the leadership development committee and has competed in soils and
livestock judging career development events. He has worked very hard for the chapter in citrus sales,
where he has been in top five for the past three years. Downs has attended conventions, worked the
tractor pulls and applebutter fest.
Michaelis, a junior, has raised market pigs and market turkeys for his supervised agricultural experience
projects. He has marketed his turkeys to local customers and has exhibited the turkeys at the Wood
County Fair. He is a hard worker who volunteers with the extension office and other Otsego
organizations; and his is also a member of the soccer team and the bands at Otsego.
Michaelis has been a member of the natural resources committee for the chapter. He has participated in
tractor pulls, conventions, ag day, citrus sales, and more. He is competitive in the poultry career
development event.