| Among those honored Saturday at the Elmwood FFA banquet were (from left) Isaac Shaffer, Dekalb award recipient, Queen Sarah Laborie, who also won the 110% award and Diane Zyski, honorary membership. (Photos: Enoch Wu/Sentinel-Tribune) |
On April 2, several Elmwood FFA teams traveled to Columbus, to compete in the Ohio FFA State contests.
The poultry team placed fifth out of 61 teams. Courtney Thomson led the way with a sixth place individual
finish. Accompanying her was Sarah Laborie in 28th, with Karly Haughawout in 45th of 225 individuals.
The Dairy Foods team was ninth of 36 teams. Travis Gonyer did the best for the team with a 35th place
showing. Following him was Isaiah Lundquest in 42nd and Jessica McKenzie in 50th.
General Livestock placed 21st out of 156 teams. Josh Schnipke led the team placing 15th.
This was the first time in many years that the chapter sent down a Dairy Cattle team. They fared well,
placing 22nd out of 69 teams. They were led by a strong individual showing from Matt Reynolds, who
placed 55th. Next in line was Mitch Beaverson in 71st.
Ag mechanics
At a separate event, held April 8 the chapter’s Ag. Mechanics Skills Career Development team captured
second place in Ohio..
The competition for the contest took place at the OSU Agricultural Technical Institute in Wooster. The
event tests students’ abilities to complete a variety of mechanical oriented skills that are employed in
agriculture. This year’s contest required students to complete 11 stations with a time limit of 10
minutes per station.
Examples of skill stations included determining several pieces of information on fastener properties in
addition to repairing damaged threads on a fastener, drilling and tapping a hole for a specific size
fastener, arc welding a T- weld, performing a variety of electrical tests and measurements, conducting
an extensive array of hydraulic system tests, performing measurements using a micrometer, small hole
gage, and dial caliper along with determining wear tolerances for parts, assessing oils and related
information, and identifying tools and fasteners.
This was the third time in the history of the Elmwood FFA the chapter has been able to have a team
participate in the state event. Only the top two teams from each district advance annually to the state
competition. Tom Elgin claimed third place individual honors. Not far behind was Grant Harriosn in
fourth place. Rounding out the team was Nathan Dean in ninth place out of 60 total contestants.
| Star award recipients at the Elmwood FFA banquet are (from left) Star Chapter recipients Cassie Shaffer and Lorne Strausbaugh with Star Greenhand Chelsie Schmitz. |
Northwestern Skills Classic
On April 7, seven Elmwood FFA members traveled to Sentinel Career Center near Tiffin to participate in
the second annual Northwestern Skills Classic contest. The team score placed them fourth overall.
This event allowed contestants to compete in two of 15 different areas and demonstrate their abilities in
that area. Ranking the highest for Elmwood was Josh Wise who placed first in painting and ladder safety.
Earning runner-up honors in the area of tree transplanting were Kraig Stearns and Joey Bockbrader.
Matching them with a second place finish in small engine part identification was Ian Ellis. He narrowly
missed earning an additional plaque by placing third in personal finance.
Holly Orwig placed fifth in animal care.
Jessica Wansitler participated in flower and vegetable identification, placing fifth and also placed
fifth in meat cut identification. Kayleb Stuff ranked fourth in meat cuts.
The top seven individual scores were used from the chapter to compile the team score.
