FFA Holds Annual Awards Banquet

Our annual FFA Awards Banquet was held on May 4th, 2019 at the Vinton-Shellsburg High School where we had a variety of recognition of the FFA members. There was also a meal served by Merchant's Grilling as well as by the V-S Kitchen Staff and we thank them for all their hard work and effort into preparing an excellent meal. As an Advisor, I am humbled and pleased with how outstanding our student body is and the great achievements they have earned. I want to thank the community members for coming to our banquet and supporting our FFA Chapter. Their contributions with their time, effort, and energy is never-ending and this chapter is in excellent condition because of that. Below are the awards that were given out on Sunday's banquet:

Marge McDonald and Susie Henkle Chaperones for the last 4 years, gave an entertaining recap of the years in their welcome to the audience.

Brady Ortner lead the FFA Creed:

"I believe in the future of agriculture, with a faith born not of words but of deeds - achievements won by the present and past generations of agriculturists; in the promise of better days through better ways, even as the better things we now enjoy have come to us from the struggles of former years.
I believe that to live and work on a good farm, or to be engaged in other agricultural pursuits, is pleasant as well as challenging; for I know the joys and discomforts of agricultural life and hold an inborn fondness for those associations which, even in hours of discouragement, I cannot deny.

I believe in leadership from ourselves and respect from others. I believe in my own ability to work efficiently and think clearly, with such knowledge and skill as I can secure, and in the ability of progressive agriculturists to serve our own and the public interest in producing and marketing the product of our toil.

I believe in less dependence on begging and more power in bargaining; in the life abundant and enough honest wealth to help make it so--for others as well as myself; in less need for charity and more of it when needed; in being happy myself and playing square with those whose happiness depends upon me.

I believe that American agriculture can and will hold true to the best traditions of our national life and that I can exert an influence in my home and community which will stand solid for my part in that inspiring task."

Awards Presented included:

Chaperone Presentation by Brianna Lundvall

Susie Henkle, Marge McDonald

V-S Yield Contest Awards presented by Grant Reis

Winner Brian Carlson 257.78 Bushels/Acre

Leadership Events

-Sub Districts Awards presented by Erick Henk

Conduct of Meetings: Isabel Mullinex, Ashlee Thomas, Brady Ortner, Bailey Weeks, Charlee Johnson, Kinzzy Miracle, and Cayden Kelley --Silver

Job Interview: Shelby McDonald -- Gold, Advanced to Districts

Public Speaking: Emma Wiley -- Bronze

Extemporaneous Speaking: Isaac Wiley- Gold, Advanced to Districts

Parliamentary Procedure: Alesha Brunssen, Carly Williams, Eli Powers, Julia Shultis, and Ethan Rollinger - Gold, Advanced to Districts

Ag Broadcasting: Raymond Goad - Silver

Greenhand Quiz: Russell Evans-- Bronze and Brady Ortner-- Gold Chapter

Farmer Quiz: Emma Arnold -- Gold

-Districts Awards presented by Amy Thomas

Chapter Quiz Individual: Emma Wiley -- Silver 10th place individually

Greenhand Quiz Individual: Brady Ortner -- Silver

Secretary�s Book: Franki Evans -- Gold

Treasurer�s Record book: Amy Thomas -- Silver

Reporter�s Scrapbook: Shelby McDonald, Kaylee Sorum and Emma Wiley,-- Gold

Farm Business Management:Eric Henkle 12th individually, Philip Kalina, Matthew Ripple - Silver

Parliamentary Procedure:Alesha Brunssen, Eli Powers, Ethan Rollinger, Julia Shultis, and Carly Williams -- Silver

Job interview: Shelby McDonald -- Silver

Extemporaneous Speaking: Isaac Wiley - 1st place Gold, Advanced to state

Chapter Quiz: Emma Arnold - Silver, Emma Wiley - Gold 10th place overall

Greenhand Quiz: Brady Ortner - Silver

-State Awards presented by Ethan Rollinger

Biotechnology: Alesha Brunssen, Josie Sagan,Taylor Shipley and Carly Williams -Silver

Chapter Exhibit: Jordan Cantrell, Eric Henkle, Franki Evans, Blake Galloway, Shelby McDonald, Emma Wiley, and Isaac Wiley, -- Gold

Farm Business Management: Eric Henkle,Eli Powers, Mathew Rippel, and Emma Wiley, -- Silver

Poultry Judging: Kinzzy Miracle, Isabel Mullinex,Ashlee Thomas, and Bailey Weeks -- Silver

Team Ag Sales: Emma Arnold Maren Redlinger, and Julia Shultis, -- Bronze

Extemporaneous Speaking: Isaac Wiley - Silver

This year we had three members achieve the requirements for earning their state FFA Degrees. These members have had two or more years of Ag education and FFA membership, have earned their Chapter Farmer Degree, and have an SAE project where they have productively earned and invested at least $1500. This year�s State Degree recipients are Franki Evans, Jordan Pattee, and Kaylee Sorum.

We were able to nominate 4 senior FFA members for the State Academic Achievement Award. To qualify for this award, members have to have at least three years of membership and maintain a cumulative GPA of 3.5 or higher. Congratulations to Fayth Plower, Grant Ries, Morgan White, Isaac Wiley, and Eric Henkle.

As a whole chapter, we were fortunate to receive a few recognitions while at the state convention this year. We would like to take a moment to recognize the efforts of all our members through the next awards.

They are the:?

Ambassador Award: In recognition of our financial support to the Iowa FFA Foundation.

W.H.O. Public Relations Award: This is an award to recognize our efforts in publicizing our chapter and classroom activities. This would not have been possible without our chapter reporters.

Supreme National Chapter Award: Gold Award: 22nd place chapter in the state � advancing to the National level. This award recognizes chapters based on three overall categories of growing leaders, building communities, strengthening agriculture. The application was judged at the state level and received 22nd place. The application will advance to nationals and be judged in July for our national ranking that we will receive in October during the National FFA Convention.

State Floriculture

Receiving first place overall in the Skills Career Development Event of Floriculture is Brianna Lundvall. Brianna was fortunate enough to go to State FFA Convention and be recognized for her success.

Star Awards presented by Erick Henkle, Kaylee Sorum, Ethan Rollinger

Star Greenhand

This year's Star Greenhand has been an active member and is always willing to put in extra time. Just a few of the activities she has participated in include: fruit sales, Lights N� Roping, Sub-District competition, Labor Auction, Third Grade Ag Day, State Convention, and currently a new officer for the 2019-2020 team. This year's Star Greenhand is Isabel Mullinex.

Star Chapter Farmer

The recipient of the Star Chapter Farmer award has put a lot of time and effort into making the Vinton-Shellsburg FFA Chapter the best it can be. This person has been involved in many activities throughout their three years of membership; including Farm Safety Day, Third Grade Ag Day, Fruit Sales, Labor Auction, and greenhouse activities to name a few. Their efforts and hard work have shown through in many activities; including their 1st place proficiency award that he received at State Convention this year. Congratulations to Eric Henkle on being this year's Star Chapter Farmer.

Star Placement

The Star Placement Award is given to a member who has been in FFA for two or more years and earned their Chapter Degree in an Agricultural Placement area. This can be a paid or unpaid placement opportunity. This particular senior member has worked in our own Ag Department banking many hours cumulatively in planning and coordinating community Agriculture Awareness Activities. This member has served as a chapter officer, participated in the chapter fundraisers, has earned their Iowa Degree, and served as our Northeast District Officer. Congratulations to Isaac Wiley on being this year's Star Placement recipient.

Leadership-Merit Awards presented by Franki Evans

We have a merit point system that is used in our Chapter to encourage Agriculture Education students to get more involved in FFA. Members receive merit points for many different activities that our Chapter offers, such as selling fruit and participating in our labor auction.

Greenhands:

Jordan Andrews, Abigail Elwick, Russell Evans, Kay Fett, Alli Geiger, Raymond Goad, Charlee Johnson, Ryan T. Lane, Tess Lillibridge, Lucas Maynard, Kinzzy Miracle, Isabel Mullinex, Brady Ortner, Alexis Rumelhart, Abbiemae Schmidt, Ashlee Thomas

Bailey Weeks

Chapter Farmers:

Emma Arnold, Kailey Bahmann, Alesha Brunssen, Blake Galloway, Alyssa Hansen, Philip Kalina, Jenna Pattee, Eli Powers, Maren Redlinger, Josie Sagan, Taylor Shipley, Julia Shultis, Carly Williams, Madison Novotny, Catie Steele, Matthew Rippel, Jordan Cantrell, Morgan White

Iowa Degrees:

Brianna Lundvall, Jordan Pattee, Grant Ries

Officers:

Isaac Wiley, Eric Henkle, Franki Evans, Amy Thomas, Shelby McDonald, Kaylee Sorum, Ethan Rollinger, Emma Wiley

Fruit Sales presented by Kaylee Sorum

Every year, our chapter conducts its annual Holiday Sales fundraiser. This year, 9 members sold 1000 dollars� or more of sales, making them members of our chapter�s 1000 dollar club. The top selling members were:

$2,000 Club

Eric Henkle, Shelby McDonald, Brady Ortner

$1,000 Club

Franki Evans, Charlee Johnson, Tess Lillibridge, Kaylee Sorum, Grant Riese, Amy Thomas

Congratulations to our top overall seller Brady Ortner as he sold $2,733 worth of fruit!

Local Proficiency Awards presented by Shelby McDonald

Currently, there are 5 members that have applied for a local proficiency award in their SAE area. There can only be one member receiving an award in each area. Proficiency awards are given to each member for excellence in their Supervised Agriculture Experience, or SAE.

Specialty Animal: Ethan Rollinger

Beef Production: Emma Arnold

Equine Science: Kailey Bahmann

Ag Sales/Service: Philip Kalina

District & State Proficiency Awards

This year we had two members that were able to get district proficiency awards. Grant Ries received a Gold and alternate to state in Diversified Agricultural production, and Eric Henkle received a Gold and advanced to state in Diversified crop production entrepreneurship,

while at state Eric received first place. He will now get judged at the national level. Which will be announced in July and awarded at National Convention in October!

S.A.E. Awards presented by Emma Wiley

Each year the chapter recognizes a junior member who has done an outstanding job managing and expanding their SAE project(s). This year�s recipient has been a three-year FFA member and has just earned their Iowa FFA Degree at state convention based on an Ag Placement working for a local business. This person�s records were neat and their numbers were as accurate of any of the juniors to earn this award. Congratulations to Jordan Pattee on being this year's SAE Award Winner.

Chapter Scholars

Every year, we recognize the top student in each grade based on their cumulative GPA. This year's recipients are:

Freshman: Kinzzy Miracle

Sophomore: Ethan Rollinger

Junior: Payton Haefner

Senior: Morgan White

Outstanding Classmen Awards presented by Morgan White

This award is given to the member of each class that has shown the most involvement in our chapter, based on the number of merit points they have accumulated and activities that they have taken part in.

This year�s recipients are:

Freshman: Russell Evans

Sophomore: Ethan Rollinger

Junior: Blake Galloway

Senior: Shelby McDonald

Dekalb Winner

The DeKalb Seed Company sponsors one senior student from every chapter to be recognized as their award winner. This person should display an interest in agriculture, been successful in agriculture education classes, as well as other curriculum, but most importantly been an active asset to their FFA chapter. They receive a certificate from the DeKalb Company, a pin and have their name added to DeKalb�s national recognition list. This year�s award winner is Grant Ries!

Senior Service Award

The Senior Service Award is a tractor sponsored by the Bierschenk Farms. The outstanding senior award is presented to a senior in FFA who has shown outstanding leadership in their school, community, and FFA chapter. They are Senior and four-year member of our chapter; they have shown true leadership and responsibility, and understand the true meaning of service for this FFA chapter. This year�s senior service award goes to Jordan Cantrell!

Scholarships

$750 Farmers Savings Bank & Trust Scholarship: Grant Ries & Eric Henkle

$500 Ross & Shirley Wiley Scholarship: Shelby McDonald & Isaac Wiley

$1,000 Advisor's Scholarship-Sponsored by Yedlik Family: Shelby McDonald

$500 FFA Crop Plot Scholarship Morgan White & Luke Radeke

Honorary Degree Recipients:

Marge McDonald

Denise Evans

Alan Henkle

Brandon Farmer

To view photos from the event

News : FFA Holds Annual Awards Banquet

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