FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 24, 2012 A5THE ADVOCATE-MESSENGER  |  WWW.AMNEWS.COMA4 FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 24, 2012 THE ADVOCATE-MESSENGER  |  WWW.AMNEWS.COM

The Mercer County FFA Chapter is preparing for a greatcelebration and that is National FFA Week. The week will befull of food and fun for FFA members and supporters of theorganization. The chapter will conduct themes each daysuch as favorite truck/tractor t-shirt Tuesday, camoWednesday, overalls, flannel, and boot Thursday, and crazyblue and gold Friday. Community service activities includ-ed a fundraiser for the Mercer Co. Humane society and acooperative canned food drive with Burgin and Boyle Co.FFA. Last but not least a meal cooked and served to all FFAmembers.

The FFA is gearing up for regional competition as well asstate FFA contests. Members have been working very hardwith parliamentary procedure, impromptu speaking, pre-pared public speaking, creedspeaking, and preparing for stateand American degree programs.Then co-curriculum event willstart with welding, small engine,floral design, and agriculturemechanics. To show off SAE pro-grams, members will be partici-pating in regional paperwork dayat Jessamine County whichincludes several proficiencies.

FRESHMEN NEWS:Kendra Rowland reported the

following highlights from the 9thGrade Academy. Seventy fourfreshmen earned the Greenhanddegree. Kandace Gash will becompeting in the Creed SpeakingContest. The freshman officerteam is collaborating with theKentucky Farm Bureau for FoodCheckout Week. . The 2012Junior Chapter Meeting Team,Record Keeping team and publicspeakers are practicing for com-petition in March. They have big shoes to fill since the2011 Junior Chapter Meeting team won the regional andState Competition. In the Greenhouse, students have beenraising cucumbers and tomatoes for the school cafeteria.Soon, they will start preparing for the Spring GreenhouseSale. Leadership classes have focused on team building,communication skills, and are entering a public speakingunit.

HIGH SCHOOL NEWS:Michael Jones reported the following highlights from

production agriculture and leadership. The EquipmentOperation & Maintenance class has constructed round balemovers; several feed troughs, and welded numerouspieces of equipment for different people in the communi-ty. Ag Power class rebuilt two tractors for farmers in the

community. The small engine class cleaned and servicedlawn mowers and weed eaters for community members aspart of their class curriculum. Projects PALS has kicked offwith high school students mentoring elementary students,developing a nursing home program and implementingteam activities for high school students.

Dan Stoltzfus reported the following highlights from hisclasses The class also did an awesome job in Floral Design.It is always fun in the Small Animal Class, where studentslearn all about companion animals and built various animalhousing projects. The highlight for this class was going tothe Louisville Zoo and taking care of their animal project forthe semester. The Greenhouse I class is cleaning out theGreenhouse and preparing for a huge bedding plant sale.

Our students are working very hard and would love for youto come out and buy quality plants at a great price. The saleusually starts the last week of April.

The Ag program is so blessed to have the support of theadministration. Because of them, we are able to provide labexperience in the shop, greenhouse, and school farm thatare second to none. Our community is also very support-ive. They are so gracious in providing clinics, field trips, andspecial speeches to greatly enhance the Ag Educationexperience. As a result of the above support along withwonderful parents and three Ag teachers that have a com-bined 50 years teaching experience here in Mercer County,our FFA ROCKS!

FFA ACTIVITIES: The Mercer County FFA chapter has a very strong tradi-

tion in participating in the state fair and this year was nodifferent. In “Team Events”we participated in the following:livestock judging, dairy judging, nursery judging, floricul-ture judging, small engine, equine bowl, beef bowl, smallanimal bowl, and agriculture sales, agronomy and won theregional welding contest and went to state. Studentsshowed in the following areas: dairy, sheep, hogs, goats,and rabbits. The Parliamentary Procedure Team won theregional contest and participated in the state contest inLexington. For the second year, the FFA has raised feedercattle on the Ag Farm. Students maintained a health pro-gram for the cattle and insured they were properly fed andwatered daily. The cattle were sold at Bluegrass Stockyardsand the profits will go toward purchasing more cattle for

the program next year.

RECREATIONALACTIVITIES:

The Mercer County FFAbelieves that membersmust take a break fromworking and have a bit ofrecreational time. This year’srecreational events havebeen the best ever! Therehave been two FFA FunNights full of food andgames with over 80 mem-bers attending each night.The Christmas Party isalways an event that themembers enjoy comingtogether for food, fun, andthe annual SWAT game. Thisyear members attended agreat week of events at the82nd National FFAConvention in Indianapolis,Indiana.

COMMUNITY SERVICE ACTIVITIES:Mercer Co. FFA made a bold goal at the Ky FFA Leadership

Training Center this year. They decided to focus on helpingthe community out this year by volunteering at least 500hours of community service. As of January, we have com-pleted nearly 400 hours with several months left to reachour goal. Community Events included the following:Assistance with orientation of new high schools studentsthrough scheduling, greeting, room awareness andteacher introductions. Over fall break we had 25 memberssacrifice a day of fall break to paint a community membersfence, assisting in 3 MCSH blood drives, canned food drive,Love Tree wrapping, and helped Mercer Co. Farm Bureauunload semi trucks from Florida for local members and vol-unteered at the Intermediate school unloading fundraiserproducts.

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MERCER COUNTY

FFA Volunteers and participants at the Mercer Co. Farm Bureau OutstandingYouth Contest.

The floriculture judging team display their floral arrangements at the KentuckyState Fair. Members are Amber, Jamie, Geneva and Hayley.

Allisa Sowder and Matthew Hamilton serve lunch at Southern States inHarrodsburg for community members.

The Ag. Consumerism class visits the FFA farm to care for feeder calves anddevelop a nutrition plan.

Levi, Dakota and Hunter enjoy a BBQ with Anderson Co. FFA for the Mercer vsAnderson football game

FFA members donate a day of their fall break to assist a community memberwith their fence.

Dynamics of FFA class participates in a leadership activity that involves team-work and communication skills.

2011 Regional FFA Day participants. Mercer County represents the BluegrassRegion very well!

Aquaculture Bowl, Equine Bowl, Beef Bowl, Small Animal Bowl and Ag SalesTeams participate in regional competition.

74 9th Graders are recognized for receiving their FFA Greenhand Degree (Group 2)

The 2011-2012 Mercer Co. FFA Officer team installs Greenhand Candidates.

74 9th Graders are recognized for receiving their FFA Greenhand Degree (Group 1)

State FFA President Kendall Mallory visits the Agriculture classes at the MercerCo. 9th Grade Academy for a Leadership Workshop.

MERCER COUNTY FFA: NEWS UPDATE

PRESIDENTHUNTER DRURY

VICE-PRESIDENTALLISA SOWDER

SECRETARYOWEN WATKINS

TREASURERASHTON JONES

REPORTEROLIVIA NICHOLS

SENTINELJAY MILLIONPARLIAMENTARIAN

KEVIN PEAVLERHISTORIAN

RAYCHEL PETECHAPLAIN

MEAGAN PINKSTON

ASSISTANT PRESIDENTSARAH CURTSINGER

ASSISTANT VICE-PRESIDENTAUSTIN HAZELWOOD

ASSISTANT SECRETARYCANDACE ANDERSON

ASSISTANT TREASURERLANDON BISHOP

ASSISTANT REPORTERCELESS DARLAND

ASSISTANT SENTINELKANSAS CHUMBLEYASSISTANT PARLIAMENTARIAN

CHASE WAKINS

ASSISTANT HISTORIANLEHA BLAKE

SAEP COMMITTEELAYNE HAHN

LEADERSHIP COMMITTEEKARISSA RAKES

COMMUNITY SERVICE COMMITTEEJESS ROBINSON

RECREATION COMMITTEECOLIN PINKSTON

CONDUCT OF MEETINGS COMMITTEEMEGAN SHEWMAKER

SCHOLARSHIP COMMITTEEMATTHEW HAMILTON

ALUMNI COMMITTEEALESHIA CHILTON

PUBLIC RELATIONSREBECCA KAENZIGCOOPERATION COMMITTEEBRITTANY GIBSONEARNINGS AND SAVINGS

ZACH MILLERFFA ADVISORS: KENDRA HORN • MIKE JONES • DAN STOLTZFUS

2011-12 MERCER FFAOFFICER TEAM

2011-12 MERCER FFAASST. OFFICER TEAM

2011-12 MERCER FFACOMMITTEE CHAIRMEN

9th Graders attend their first Mercer Co. FFA Fun Night.

2011 - 2012 FRESHMAN EXECUTIVE TEAM 2011 - 2012 COMMITTEE CHAIRMEN

PRESIDENT KYLE ELLIS • VICE-PRESIDENT BECCA DRURY

SECRETARY KRISTIAN CRANK

TREASURER CHELSEY BUGG • REPORTER TORI CARTER

SENTINEL BRANT GOODLETT • PARLIAMENTARIAN JACKSON JOHNSTON

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TEAM EQUIPMENT SPECIALISTS

The Mercer County FFA Officers, Asst. Officers and Committee Chairmen visit the Ky FFA Leadership Training Centerduring the summer for chapter development.