JERRY CITY – A "banner" year for Elmwood FFA was celebrated Saturday night at the high school
auditeria.
Despite an apology from Ed Feasel, the agricultural education instructor and Elmwood FFA adviser, for the
length it took, the multiple teams which were brought on stage earned the accolades and recognition.
"It truly was a banner year for us," Feasel said explaining the top five teams in the state in
various career development events each receive a banner for the classroom to recognize the
accomplishment.
Lorne Strausbaugh and Cassie Shaffer were each recognized as Star Chapter Degree award winners; while
Chelsie Schmitz earned the Star Greenhand award, recognizing the top first-year member.
Other highlights of the evening included Sarah Laborie being crowned the 2011 Queen for the chapter.
Diane Zyski was bestowed honorary membership. The Dekalb award presented to a senior went to Isaac
Shaffer. Laborie was also recognized with the AgCredit 110 Percent award.
The latter honor rewarded Laborie for participating in 51 chapter activities during the school year.
"She truly defines the meaning of giving 110 percent by the devoted time she has invested into the
FFA," Feasel said in introducing her award.
Strausbaugh and Cassie Shaffer both performed more than 50 community development hours during this year,
and have participated in nearly 50 separate activities this year. Their introduction also noted how they
have maintained good grades while staying so active.
Schmitz was introduced as "a true example of a quality FFA member." Like other recipients she
also was active in a variety of activities during the year.
Zyski has helped the organization providing assistance with the chapter’s test plot. She has provided
seed and advice. She also helped establish an agronomy training day to allow members to increase their
knowledge of agronomy.
For his Dekalb award, Isaac Shaffer was called an "outstanding individual." The award
recognizes leadership, scholarship and the student’s supervised agricultural experience project.
Along with the top state teams, top district efforts were also recognized, with some of those set to
compete at the upcoming state convention.
¥ Honored teams included the parliamentary procedure team of Vanessa Wagner, Jessica McKenzie,
Strausbaugh, Staci Thomson, Schmitz, Isaac Shaffer, Josh Schnipke and Laborie.
¥ Greenhand team consisting of Schmitz, Amanda Jones, Danielle McKenzie Garrett Benschoter, Mitch
Beaverson, Millie Elgin and Marisa Ayala.
¥ Grain merchandising, with Reid Rothenbuhler, Emily Reynolds, Thomson, Schnipke and Shelby George.
¥ Ag engineering, Casey Heller J.R. Laborie, Grant Harris and Tom Elgin.
¥ Cooperatives, Wagner, Sarah Laborie, Nathan Meek Jessica McGrain, Amanda Peters, Jessica Myers,
Thomson, Karly Haughawout, Chelsea Nungester, Josh Boes, Brittany Grilliot, Travis Gonyer, Josh Nutter,
Michelle Sander, Mitch Emmitt, Trevor Tyson, Savannah Kline and Brooke Davies.
¥ Farm business management, Thomson, Isaac Shaffer, Nic Hernandez, Lindsay Heller, Nathan Dean, Jessica
McKenzie, Sarah Laborie, Michelle Sander, Kylie Snowden and Davies.
¥ Job interview, Wagner and Courtney Thomson.
Three teams from 2010 were also recognized as they earned their banner following last year’s banquet.
That included J.R. Laborie, Elgin and Harrison in two separate events – small engines and ag mechanical
skills. The other 2010 team was comprised of George Andrich, Joey Bockbrader and Kraig Stearns for the
Northwest Skills Classic.
Those members who maintained good greats (3.0 average or better) were recognized, as were all the chapter
members who achieved the "points award" goals. State and American degree winners were also
honored.
The top citrus sales were recognized including champion Justin Barndt who sold $2,755 worth of citrus and
Brittany George who was runner-up with $1,938.
Others recognized included to scholarship winners and other memorial awards.
Those awards included: Wagner, Wood Soil and Water award; Amanda Peters, Jimmy Haws Memorial award;
Jessica McKenzie, Scot Crawford Memorial award; Staci Thomson, Ray Wagner Memorial award; Schnipke,
Delbert Wise Memorial award.
Homespun Monograms and Embroidery was recognized with an outstanding service award for the company’s
assistance with embroidery needs of the chapter for jackets and banners.
Proficiency awards were presented to Schnipke and Peters for beef production; Isaac Shaffer for dairy
beef feeders and dairy market steers; Sadie Tracy, swine production; Strausbaugh, market hogs; Sarah
Laborie, sheep production; Staci Thomson, small animal care and also wildlife management; Michelle
Sander specialty animal production; and Wagner, equine production.
Moving from animals to crops, Isaac Shaffer also earned proficiency award in grain entrepreneurship,
specialty crop and community development for 142 hours of service. Cassandra Shaffer also completed 142
hours of service to share the community development honor. Others honored were Barndt in both grain
placement and turfgrass management.; Nathan Benschoter, forage production; Taylor Murphy vegetable
production.
More than 260 people were in attendance and each was awarded a door prize at the end of the evening.