The 147 members of the OtsegoPenta FFA have had busy fall with activities and career development events.

The seven chapter officers have led members in local, county, state and national events. The board is President Emma DiFeterrici, Vice President Ayden McClure, Secretary Rylie Kregel, Treasurer Nataleigh Hartman, Reporter Summer Lehsten, Sentinel Emma Gibbs and Student Adviser Grant Belleville.

Members worked in preparing for seven different career development events or FFA contests. The first contest held was rural soil judging where members evaluate soils for rural use such as farming and wildlife habitat. The team competed in both the county and district contests. The team placed first in the county. Top judgers for Otsego were Summer Lehsten, Grant Belleville, Jordyn Davis, Brooke Bergman, Drew Vollmar, Cassie Bundie, Ben Jones and Gordon Ayers. Lehsten was the overall highest individual in the county contest. The team advanced to the district contest where it placed 12th.

In November, members competed in the Wood County Parliamentary Procedure contests, novice and advanced levels. The teams had to conduct a meeting where they had to demonstrate different parliamentary abilities, as well as take a test on their knowledge. The advanced team placed third in the county. The advance team members were: Ayden McClure, president; Grace Dickson, secretary; and Summer Lehsten, Carter Lampe, Brooke Simon and Emma DiFeterrici. The Novice Parliamentary Procedure team placed first in the county and first in the district. At the state contest they were second in their division. Team members were President Gordon Ayers, Vice President Jason Gunn Jr., Secretary Julia Schroeder, Treasurer Caleb Euler, Reporter Janelle Brooks, Sentinel Ali Meek, Student Adviser Jordyn Davis and member Kaylynn Euler.

Otsego FFA members also participated in the county job interview contest. Members who competed were: Division 1: Ali Meek and Faith Martel, Division 2: Brooke Simon, Division 3: Ayden McClure, Division 4: Summer Lehsten and Division 5: Hannah Miller. Miller, Lehsten and Simon advanced to the district contest. Miller placed third in division 5, Lehsten placed third in division 4 and Simon placed fifth in division 2.

During the summer, members were busy with their supervised agricultural experience projects. They exhibited 175 different projects at the Wood County Fair. Members parked cars at the National Tractor Pulling Championship.

At the Tontogany festival, the FFA conducted a kiddie pedal pull and hosted a model calf roping event.

During the fall the chapter hosted an FFA tailgate celebration for members, alumni, parents and community supporters. Members also parked cars during the Wood County Farm Bureau Ag Venture Day and at the Grand Rapids Applebutter Festival. The chapter was a part of the Bowling Green Holiday Parade and also hosted a mock calf roping event during the Farm Toy Show at the fairgrounds.

This fall, members sold citrus, local apples, Ohio syrup, Ohio made cheeses, Ohio Signature Beef Products and gourmet nuts as a fundraiser. The top sellers were: Mason Roe, first; Andrew Gase, second; Serenity Nickel, third; Emma and Ali Meek, fourth; Ben Jones, fifth; Grace Dickson, sixth; Emma Reid, seventh; Carter Lampe, eighth; Jack Rowland, ninth; and Caleb Euler, 10th.

The chapter attended the National FFA Convention in Indianapolis in October. Ayden McClure, Grant Belleville, Emma Meek, Emma Di Feterici, Summer Lehsten, Nataleigh Hartman, Emma Gibbs, Rylie Kregel, Emma Reid, Evelyn Rider, Brooke Simon, Ethan Bunde, Ben Jones, Drew Vollmar and Grace Dickson. Hayden Belleville, Collin Britton, Cade Limes, Courtney Reyome and Cale Green all received their American FFA Degrees.

FFA members are also part of the Otse-Grow project, planting tomatoes plants on the first day of school and raising and harvesting fresh tomatoes in the greenhouse through December. Members made table centerpieces for the Veterans Day program. In December, they learned how to make holiday wreaths.

Members are planning for the spring plant sale, starting seeds for hanging baskets and planters.

The chapter is a satellite program of Penta Career Center.

Supervised Agricultural Experience projects

Hayden Belleville is from rural Bowling Green and is the son of Ivan and Robing Belleville. His projects consisted of raising market steers. He was a member of the parliamentary procedure team a committee chair person for the FFA chapter.

Collin Britton is the son of Holly and Jeremy Wensink of rural Custar. His projects consisted of raising a small herd of cattle and calves. While in FFA Britton attended both state and national conventions.

Cade Limes is the son of Adam and Jonica Limes of Weston. His projects consist of raising grain crops, job placement at Dusty Boots and hours working at Limes Farms. He participated ag day, safety day, state convention and citrus sales.

Courtney Reyome is the daughter of Jeff and Cindy Reyome of rural Bowing Green. She was the chapter reporter her senior year, and was also the top sales person for citrus sales. Her projects consisted of a job placement at Ace Hardware in Bowling Green, raising market pigs and a vegetable garden.

Cale Green is the son of Jennifer Richards and Jason Green of rural Bowling Green. He was the chapter student adviser. He was active in safety day, ag day, citrus sales and both state and national FFA conventions. His projects consisted of raising and finishing out market steers and working on Green Farms.