After a very busy and successful summer for the Bowling Green FFA chapter, when school started the pace
picked up.
Before school even started, members parked cars for the National Tractor Pull, where they raised more
than $1,100 for Toledo Children’s Hospital.
Another Mercy Children’s Hospital fundraiser the FFA hosted was held several weeks later with the annual
tailgate before the Bobcat’s home football game against Otsego on Sept. 12. At that fundraiser, there
was a dunk tank featuring teachers, administrators and FFA students. Those that participated were Callie
Haas, Kristen Benner, Vice Principal Dan Black and Robert Yenrick. The three FFA members that
participated in the fundraiser were the chapter president, Mason Apple, the chapter treasurer, Nathan
Morlock, and the chapter sentinel, Mitch Cromley. The FFA would like to thank all participants as well
as those that tried to dunk them! The FFA also held their annual truck smash at the tailgate.
Participants were allowed to swing a sledgehammer at the body and windows of the truck. A big thanks
goes to Dean Smith for the donation of the truck.
Prior to the tailgate on Sept. 12, the FFA chapter sold "Fight the Knights" T-shirts to FFA
members, high school students, faculty members, and teachers.  The chapter was able to profit $3 on each
T-shirt to benefit our chosen charity.   
Corn hole games and free food attracted more than 350 BG FFA alumni, members and football fans, with $776
raised. The FFA would like to thank Mrs. Meyer’s art class for their help with advertisement for the
event.
Members also maintained and harvested their two 36-square-feet, raised gardens which were built and
planted at the high school. Seven bushels of produce have been harvested and donated to the Bowling
Green Christian Food Pantry this year.
The chapter conferred 62 Greenhand degrees at its September monthly meeting. Greenhands are first-year
members of the chapter. Following the ceremonies and business meeting, an open house with refreshments
were served for all the members and their parents. Bowling Green FFA parents helped to serve and prepare
the refreshments. The FFA thanks Steve Speck and Deb Apple for their help with this task.
One week later, 25 chapter members were raised to the chapter Degree, the next level of achievement. This
is a county-wide activity involving all the other FFA chapters in the county. Elmwood was the host
school and the ceremonies were conducted by the Elmwood FFA officer team. Refreshments were served to
the members and parents in attendance.
The chapter membership continues an upward movement with 140 members registered this year.
Members have been spending time before and after school preparing for upcoming Career Development Events
and contests. Rural and Urban Soil Judging Contests took place last month, Food Science, Job Interview
and Parliamentary Procedure are to follow in November.
Ten FFA members participated in District Rural and Urban Soil Judging. Students qualified to participate
in the district contest by judging at the county contest.  Participating at the district level included
members of the rural team Haley Davis, Nolan Brennan, Lauren Rosendale, Mason Apple, Ashley Baden,
Micheala Clement, and Manny Carrillo.  The Rural team placed 14th and Haley Davis placed 10th overall
out of 179 individuals. The urban team placed 11th and team members were Jeremy Christoff, Chase Patton,
and Grant Clawson.  
The next big move by the FFA will be the kickoff of the annual FFA fruit and nut sale. Those interested
in purchasing fruit, can contact the Ag Department until Nov. 5, at 419-352-0704.
Classes are also very busy. The Structural Engineering class is studying concrete and electricity. The
Animal Science and Technology students are raising chickens to study animal nutrition and digestive
systems. The Environmental Science class is studying forestry. The freshman Ag. Science students are
finishing up a plant and agronomy unit which includes propagation of plants in the greenhouse and
studying plant and animal cells. The senior agribusiness class is starting a marketing and personal
finance unit.