JERRY CITY — More than 300 people gathered in the Elmwood Auditeria on March 30 for the 60th annual FFA
banquet.
Students and some adults were honored during the ceremony.
Sandy Laborie and Diane Reynolds-Miller were each bestowed with honorary membership in the chapter for
their contributions over the years.
Laborie has had children in the program since 2006. Throughout those years, she’s chaperoned state
convention trips, has helped her children sell fruit and deliver it, driven her children to FFA contest
practices and worked in the beef stand. She also works in the middle school as the media specialist and
is always helping students and the program by allowing the chapter to host its FFA meetings in her room.

Reynolds-Miller recently had a daughter go through the FFA program, is the former high school business
teacher and the 1981 FFA Sweetheart. In retirement she serves as a substitute teacher where she is the
number one requested FFA sub.
Scott and Brenda Meyer were presented with the Outstanding Service Award. It is presented to those who
have made a significant contribution to the chapter.The couple have both been supporters of the chapter
and its students. She has volunteered numerous times to serve as a judge for various contests and for
chapter officer interviews. She is always willing to help judge even if it’s during the day, after
school, or even at night.
He has volunteered to maintain the school farm land. He has also helped the Ag Power team prepare for
contests by hosting practices at his farm. Both have been very involved with the Elmwood FFA Alumni
organization. They have been active with the beef stand at the fair and the toy show.
Among the student honors, all of the students who maintained 3.5 or better grade point averages were
recognized.
The top fruit sales winners were announced. Zach George earned the top salesman award, recording $6,035
in sales.
Others were Anthony Wise, $3,238; Dustin Moses, $2,343; Jacob Carpenter, $2,127, and Zane Hagemeyer
$2,061. Each of the top 17 sales people received a plaque.
Top individuals and teams in the Career Developments were also recognized.
The Parliamentary Procedure Team of Joe Laborie, Claire Meyer, Marshall Tienarend, Savanna Walter,
Natalie Beaverson, Anthony Wise and Janice Phillips advanced to the state contest where they placed
first in the preliminary round of competition. With that portion of the contest, the top 20 teams are
divided into five rooms with four teams in each room. The winning team from each room advanced to the
final round. At the conclusion of the preliminary round, the Elmwood team was one of the five room
winners, advancing the team on to the finals. After the final round of competition, Elmwood placed
fourth overall.
Proficiency awards were presented to Anna Veryser, accounting, agricultural education, sheep production
and small animal care; Dustin Moses, agricultural design and fabrication; Anthony Wise, ag mechanics
repair and maintenance entrepreneurship; Lane Myers, agricultural mechanics repair and maintenance
placement; Audrey VanScoder, agricultural sales entrepreneurship and equine science placement; Savanna
Walter, agricultural services; Adam Smith, beef production placement; Paul Meyer, beef production
entrepreneurship; Hunter Garner, dairy production placement; Nick Cline, dairy production
entrepreneurship;
Taylor Goris, equine science entrepreneurship; Cole Barton, fiber and oil crops: Savanna Walter, food
science and technology; Zach George, forage production, grain production placement and swine production
entrepreneurship; Joe Laborie, forest management; Makenna Benschoter, goat production; Cade Carter, home
and community development; Janice Phillips, landscape management; Noah Veryser, nursery operations;
Tyler St. Clair, outdoor recreation; Thomas Bodnar, poultry production; Joe Laborie, specialty animal;
Claire Meyer, specialty crop; Corey Loera, turfgrass management; Oliver Smith, wildlife management.
Anna Veryser, Zane Hagemeyer, Zach George, Thomas Bodnar and Natalie Beaverson also took their projects
on to the district level.
The Jimmy Haws Memorial Award was presented to Thomas Bodnar and Cole Barton.
The Scot Crawford Memorial Award was presented to Janice Phillips.
The 2019 Wagner Memorial winners were Zach George and Noah Meyers.
The Delbert Wise Memorial Award was presented to Anthony Wise.
Stars Over Elmwood were presented as follows:
The Star Greenhand award was presented to Jacob Carpenter and Grace Tienarend.
The Star Chapter Farmer was presented to Marshall Tienarend and Paul Meyer.
The Star Agribusiness Student was presented to Anna Veryser.
The Wood Soil and Water Conservation District Award was given to Savanna Walter.
The Dekalb Award is one of the most prestigious awards and was presented to Clair Meyer. This is awarded
to the top senior with emphasis on leadership, scholarship and their Supervised Agricultural Experience.

The Ag Credit 110 Percent Award was presented to Joe Laborie.
Several thousands of dollars in scholarships were also presented.
The new officers were installed before the banquet was adjourned.