FFA honors achievement

FALLS VILLAGE — It’s called the Annual FFA Parent Member Banquet. But seeing as how it was the 72nd annual banquet of the Housatonic Valley FFA Chapter (Friday, Nov. 19), in a place where families tend to stick around for generations, it was more like a reunion.

About 300 people came, 75 of them FFA student members.

A large percentage of the crowd that filled the tables in the Housy cafeteria Nov. 19 for a delicious meal catered by Theresa Freund of Freund’s Farm Market in East Canaan were former FFA members. Before the night was over, some of them received special honors for their support. Not all of them are parents of current FFA members, as one might expect. Many are recent grads and haven’t started families of their own yet.

It is a thrill to watch this group of students in their dark blue corduroy FFA jackets. Those students who are just earning their first FFA degree do not yet have jackets of their own. Instead, they wore jackets of former members — with names embroidered in gold — often owned by someone  they are close to. Christian Allyn, for instance, wore Brian Allyn’s jacket, and said he was proud to be following in his uncle’s footsteps.

Thanks across generations

It was also a thrill to watch as these students went up on the auditorium stage at Housatonic.

In their speeches, they celebrated new members and the past year’s travels and accomplishments; they honored their teachers, supporters and past members; and they expressed their appreciation for the work of all these people, who embody what FFA stands for: Future Farmers of America. The name was officially changed a few years ago to the three-letter acronym, to reflect the diverse areas that FFA students specialize in. Many of its members, including Housy students spurred by a broad course offering within the agricultural education department, are pursuing careers in everything from forestry to horticulture to environmental and agricultural sciences to, yes, traditional farming.

The motto for the 83rd National FFA Convention, held in October in Indianapolis, was Infinite Potential.

The ceremony at Housatonic on Friday included the awarding of Greenhand Degrees to 75 students. Earning a Greenhand means a student is involved in a local FFA chapter and has proven to have at least basic knowledge of the FFA.

Another 34 students earned advanced degrees.

FFA Chapter President Ryan Long announced that FFA alumna Sheri Boardman had earned the 2010 American Degree, the highest award (and one that is rarely bestowed) an FFA member can earn.

Honorary membership

Each year, one or more honorary members is installed. It was an effort to keep it a surprise to the one honoree this year, and required keeping the script out of his hands.

Teacher Matt Schwaikert came on board last year as a student teacher in agricultural education. He is now a regular faculty member and has clearly endeared himself to the students, for his attitude and dedication.

He seemed truly surprised, and, as an FFA alumnus, truly honored.

Special Chapter Citation Awards, given to notable supporters of FFA, went to Steven Allyn, Dr. Carrie Cannon, Richard Crane of Crane’s Power Equipment, Phil Ghi of Ghi Sign Service, Joseph Gullota, Darrell Long, Vinny Noad and Stanton Equipment.

The 2010 Proficiency Awards went to a group of accomplished students, with challenging criteria established under their SAE (supervised agricultural experience).

2010 FFA Awards

The “P,†for placement, signifies the student has developed the specialized skills needed toward a career in that field. Those with an “E,†for entrepreneurship, are given to those whose SAEs are related to ownership of an agribusiness or agriculture-related organization.

Agricultural Mechanics Repair & Maintenance E, Nate Purdy

Agricultural Mechanics Energy Systems P, Cooper Brown

Beef Production E, Arielle Betti

Dairy Production E, Arielle Betti

Diversified Agricultural Production E, Will Schutt

Diversified Agricultural Production P, Dalton Jacquier    

Diversified Crop Production P,  Austin Jacquier

Diversified Horticulture P, Joey Habacker

Diversified Livestock Production P, Laura White

Emerging Agricultural Technologies P, Austin Jacquier

Equine Science E, Martina Sprague

Equine Science P, Mellissa Hosier

Environmental Science & Natural Resources E, Ryan Long

Forage Production P, Dalton Jacquier

Home and/or Community Development E, Ryan Long

Landscape Management E, Griffin Randall

Specialty Animal Production E, Alyssa Haddon

Prepared Public Speaking, Emily Studer

Tractor Driving, Austin Jacquier

A list of 2010-2011 Housatonic Valley FFA Chapter officers may be found at tcextra.com.

President, Ryan Long, North Canaan, senior

Vice President, Dalton Jacquier, North Canaan, junior

Secretary, Cooper Brown, North Canaan, senior

Treasurer, Martina Sprague, North Canaan, junior

Sentinel, Dylan Thorpe, Falls Village, junior

Parliamentarian, Matthew Aragi, Sheffield, sophomore

Reporter, Alexa Curtiss, Sharon, junior

Historian, Marissa Larson, Cornwall, sophomore

Junior advisor, Lauren Kosciusko, Cornwall, senior

FFA junior officers

President, Eric von Dwingelo, North Canaan    

Vice president, Will Stevens, North Canaan

Secretary, Sara Rodger, Kent

Treasurer, Evan Bradley, Salisbury

Sentinel, Erika vonDwingelo, North Canaan

Parliamentarian, Deanna Silvernail, Salisbury

Reporter, Dylan Vadney, North Canaan

Historian, Brian Rosier, North Canaan

Junior advisor, Ben Kosko, North Canaan

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