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During the three-day convention/academic competition FFA members from across the state participated in State Leadership Contests and Quiz Bowl Contests, had the opportunity to attend agriculture education and leadership workshops, and had the opportunity to hear inspirational speeches on this year's convention theme, "Dare To Live: Unleash Your Passion," and lectures on agricultural related issues from leaders in the Ag industry and National FFA officers.

The Chesaning chapter earned a Food For America Award for presentations the chapter had made to its local elementary schools regarding where food comes from. Each spring chapter members take various animals to the local schools and conduct workshops with the students on animal health and agricultural food production.

Four-year chapter member Dana Albosta was awarded the prestigious State FFA Degree and Cody Ferry received his Outstanding Junior Degree.

Ceremonies awarding the Outstanding Junior and State Degrees took place on the Wharton Center stage.

Albosta, a senior at Chesaning, currently serves as chapter president and also as Region III Vice-President. During her time in FFA she has participated in leadership contests including Greenhand Public Speaking, Extemporaneous Public Speaking, and Job Interview, along with competing in the Forestry Skills Contest and the Chicken Broiler Contest. She has attended both the State Convention and the National Convention several times.

She served as chapter treasurer her sophomore and junior years and she also raises and shows sheep at the Saginaw County Fair.

Ferry, a junior at Chesaning, currently serves as chapter secretary.

He is in his second year of FFA and has participated in leadership contests, has attended both the State Convention and the National Convention. He served as a delegate to the 2007 State Convention.

The Outstanding Junior Degree is awarded to high school juniors who have been active members of an FFA program for at least two years. The award is based on FFA leadership, hours worked and money earned through the Supervised Agriculture Experience (SAE) program, community service hours logged, and high school academics. The award also requires participating in a number of activities above the chapter level.

The State Degree is the highest level of achievement that an FFA member can earn while in high school. It is awarded to senior high school students and is also based on FFA leadership, requires a larger amount of hours worked and money earned through the SAE program, requires additional community service hours logged, and is also based on high school academics. Requirements also include being an active FFA member for at least two years and participating in the required number of activities above the chapter level. This degree also requires having previously earned the Chapter Degree.

Members Jackie Albosta, Nikki Hersch, and Josh Gordan served as delegates to the convention voting on amendments to the State FFA Constitution and state officer elections for 2008-2009 terms.

Also attending the convention were members Leo Devota and Denise Olk.

The Michigan FFA Association makes a difference in the lives of students by developing their potential for premiet leadership, personal growth and career success through agriculture education. FFA is the largest youth organization in the world with over 450,000 members. The Michigan FFA has more than 5,300 members.

New Lothrop FFA member takes Heroes in Ag State Championship

Quiz Bowl, leadership teams earn runner-up, gold, silver honors

DEB MILLER

The Tri-County Citizen

LANSING - Forty-two members of the New Lothrop FFA chapter, along with advisor Margaret Bandkau, attended the 80th annual Michigan FFA State Convention held March 5-7 on the campus of Michigan State University.

During the three-day convention/academic competition FFA members from across the state participated in State Leadership Contests and Quiz Bowl Contests, attended agriculture education and leadership workshops, and had the opportunity to hear inspirational speeches on this year's convention theme, "Dare To Live: Unleash Your Passion," and lectures on agricultural related issues, from leaders in the Ag industry and National FFA officers.

The New Lothrop chapter had three teams compete in State Leadership Contests, along with two quiz bowl teams and three speakers competing in the Crop O Rama Contests which are run by the Crop and Soil Science Department of Michigan State University.

Eric Milks placed as the State Champion for the Heroes in Ag Crop O Rama Public Speaking Contest.

For the competition Milks wrote, and presented a 200-word speech on Smokey the Bear.

Other New Lothrop FFA members competing in the Heroes in Ag Crop O Rama were Joe Weisenberger and Hannah Hajek.

New Lothrop's junior high Crop O Rama Quiz Bowl team earned State Runner Up honors.

Members of the team are Tyler Moore, Ryan Ritter, Amy Krupp, and Hailey Peterson.

The high school Crop O Rama Quiz Bowl team also earned State Runner Up honors.

Members of that team are Marissa Angst, Chelsea Parsons, Kaitlin Ebenhoeh, and Abigail Seamon.

During the State Leadership Contests New Lothrop's Junior High Conduct of Meetings team earned a State Gold Award. The Greenhand Conduct of Meetings team and the Parliamentary Procedure team each earned a State Silver Award.

Members of the Junior High Conduct of Meetings team are Cody Loll, Caitlin Clason, Haleigh Austin, Courtney Seamon, Kristen Wenzlick, Zachary Clason, and Hayden Hafner.

Members of the Greenhand Conduct of Meetings team are, Ann Weisenberger, Abby Colston, Courtney Wendling, Alaina Krupp, Jesse Streng, Katie Priest, and Jordyn Wendling.

The Parliamentary Procedure team consists of members Jon Harris, Chelsea Parsons, Kaitlin Ebenhoeh, Abigail Seamon, and Marissa Angst.

Chapter members Jessica Parsons and Jordy Koepplinger served as Delegates for the convention representing New Lothrop and voting on amendments to the State FFA Constitution and State officer terms for 2008-2009.

Hannah Hajek and Trisha Stankiewicz served as Courtesy Corps members assisting in the running of the convention and assisting guests in attendance.

Hannah Wenzlick was awarded a partial scholarship by the Michigan FFA Alumni.

Ceremonies awarding Michigan FFA Outstanding Junior Degrees and the prestigious Michigan FFA State Degree took place on the Wharton Center stage.

New Lothrop senior Jessica Parsons was awarded her State Degree and members who earned their Outstanding Junior Degree included Jordy Koepplinger, Lindsay Wendling, Joe Weisenberger, Brynn Weisenberger, Lauren Birchmeier, and Hannah Wenzlick.

The Outstanding Junior Degree is awarded to high school juniors who have been active members of an FFA program for at least two years. The award is based on FFA leadership, hours worked and money earned through the Supervised Agriculture Experience (SAE) program, community service hours logged, and high school academics. The award also requires participating in a number of activities above the chapter level.

The State Degree is the highest level of achievement that an FFA member can earn while in high school. It is awarded to senior high school students and is also based on FFA leadership, requires a larger amount of hours worked and money earned through the SAE program, requires additional community service hours logged, and is also based on high school academics. Requirements also include being an active FFA member for at least two years and participating in the required number of activities above the chapter level. This degree also requires having previously earned the Chapter Degree and Outstanding Junior Degree.

The Michigan FFA Association makes a difference in the lives of students by developing their potential for premier leadership, personal growth and career success through agriculture education. FFA is the largest youth organization in the world with over 450,000 members. The Michigan FFA has more than 5,300 members.