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 Left to right: Grant Smith, Matt Ross, James Anderson, Kayleen Faine and Harley Jerew. Five North Union FFA members receive the Ohio FFA Degree Five North Union FFA members received the coveted State FFA Degree at the 81st State FFA convention. The State FFA degree is given only to the top two percent of the over 23,000 Ohio FFA members. The following members received their degrees based on the 30 mandated criteria's; some of these are they must have earned $3000 gross earnings from their Supervised Agricultural Experience projects, competed in various FFA Career Development Event's, and attended or have been involved in FFA and school activities.
James Anderson, son of Anthony and Karen Anderson, had Supervised Agricultural Experience projects that included market steers and dairy feeders. In the FFA, James was involved in the wildlife management, parliamentary procedure, greenhand quiz and nature interpretation career development contests, junior fair board and attended both national and state FFA conventions. James also attended Washington leadership conference. He served as FFA Reporter for the 2008-09 school year.
Grant Smith, son of Nevin and Jean Smith, had SAE's that included market lambs and steers. In FFA, he was active in the Agronomy CDE and Farm Management CDE. In the Agronomy CDE, he was a member of the 2007 state winning agronomy team that also placed second in the nation. He attended FFA camp and the State and national FFA conventions. In school related activities, Grant has participated in football, basketball, and baseball. Grant served as the FFA Sentinel for the 2008-09 school year.
Kayleen Faine, daughter of Jerry and Kristen Faine, has SAE's of market rabbits, improvement projects and Job placement at Gypsy Wood Farms. Kayleen’s FFA experience's has her involved in the Parliamentary Procedure, Rural Soils, job interview CDE's, Jr. Fair board, and Community Care day. She has been involved in the Food for America Program, beef expo clean-up, attended FFA Camp, and national FFA and state FFA conventions. Kayleen was named as state finalist in both rural soils and the job interview CDE’s. Kayleen served as FFA Vice President for the 2008-09 school year.
Matt Ross, son of Rick and Julie Ross, had SAE's that included improvement projects and job placement. He has attended FFA camp, both state and national FFA conventions. Matt has participated in CDE's of Wildlife management, rural soils, agronomy and greenhand quiz. He was a state qualifier in the rural soils CDE and was part of this year’s state winning agronomy CDE team. In high school, he has participated in the track program. Matt served as FFA Treasurer during the 2008-09 school year.
Harley Jerew, daughter of William and Kelly Jerew, has had SAE's of improvement projects, market animals and job placement. Harley’s FFA experience's had her involved in public speaking, parliamentary procedure, greenhand quiz, and wildlife management CDE's. She has been involved in Jr. Fair board, Community Care day, attended State and National FFA Convention and the Washington Leadership Conference. Harley has been very active in school related activities. She has been in student council and a member of the golf, softball and basketball teams. Harley served as the 2008-09 FFA Secretary.
The State FFA Degree is the highest degree a member can receive through the State FFA Association. These five members have worked long hours and have devoted their time to gain valuable skills that FFA has to offer, like personal growth, premier leadership, and career success. These members will now have the opportunity to try for the coveted American FFA degree.
There are more than 457,000 FFA members across the country. Student members belong to chapters that are organized at the local school level. Agricultural education instructors serve as chapter advisors. FFA members develop leadership skills and are preparing for one or more of the 350 careers in the science, business and technology of agriculture. FFA programs allow members the opportunity to practically apply the knowledge they gain in the classroom to real-world experiences. They also measure their expertise through local, state and national competitions. |