ANSONIA – Ansonia FFA hosted its 87th annual banquet Wednesday evening, honoring students, parents and friends.
The theme of the event was “To Infinity and Beyond with Ansonia FFA,” focusing on members’ involvement and accomplishments in the program. Also featured throughout the evening was a banquet and its annual silent auction, with its proceeds benefiting the chapter.
The banquet opened the ceremonies with the 2023-24 officers providing the welcome and blessing, which preceded the meal and the viewing of a slideshow.
Guest speaker for the evening was Ohio’s 40th District State Rep. Rodney Creech.
The officer team conducted the announcement of the Star Greenhand, which went to Kaitlyn Barga, and Star Chapter Farmer, Kiera Spencer.
Recipients of the Greenhand Degree were William Aultman, Kaitlyn Barga, Evan Ellis, Alexa Kreiner, Logan Moore and Kaitlyn Tollefson, and Chapter Degree recipients were Nick Barga, Grace Graf, Coleton Longenecker, Kody Schlechty, Austin Singer, Kiera Spencer, Wyatt Unrast and Kaeden Waymire.
The FFA advisers, Emily Williams and Jennie Bohman, presented the service awards. Recipients were Avalyn Locke and Jayda Mangen for the secretary’s book and Carl Schlechty and Kiera Spencer for the treasurer’s book, while Sophia Aultman was presented the State FFA Degree award. Also presented service awards were Taylor Stuck for planting and harvesting the FFA’s crop plot and Ross Dapore, for coaching the ag power diagnostics team.
County awards in Ag Power and Diagnostics went to Carl Schlechty and Troy Stuck for placing fourth and Kody Schlechty and Nick Barga, who placed fifth.
Advanced Parliamentary Procedure recipients were Grace Graf, Avalyn Locke, Jayda Mangen, Sophia Aultman, Ben Barnt, Makayla Stachler, Kensey Homan, Troy Stuck and Austin Singer.
Extemporaneous Public Speaking winners: Conner Williams and Grace Graf. Job Interview: Sophia Aultman.
Rural Soil Judging Rural Soil Judging winners were Grace Graf, Kensey Homan, Kiera Spencer and Troy Stuck.
Equine Management Equine Management honorees were Kiera Spencer and Lexie Osterloh.
General Livestock Judging award recipients were Troy Stuck, Nick Barga, Kaeden Waymire, Coleton Thornhill, Grace Graf, Kaitlyn Barga, Kenesy Homan and Elly Locke.
The recipient of a service award was Bob Mayo, a local farmer and businessman.
Proficiency Awards recipients were in Diversified Horticulture, Sophia Aultman; Vegetable Production, Makayla Stachler, Agricultural Sales, Maverick Sanders, Equine Science, Kiera Spencer; Fruit Production, Avalyn Locke; Beef Production Entrepreneurship, Grace Graf; Been Production Placement, Austin Singer; Poultry Production Entrepreneurship, Sophia Aultman and Avalyn Locke; Poultry Production, Kensey Homan; Small Animal Production, Kaeden Waymire; Agricultural Mechanics. Repair and Maintenance, Avalyn Locke; Dairy Production, Grant Barga and Jared Schmitmeyer; Diversified Crop Production, Troy Stuck; Grain Production, Jared Schmitmeyer; and Diversified Crop Production, Jayda Mangen.
Grace Graf was given the leadership award.
Outstanding students recognized were freshmen Blazen Ranly, Wyatt Unrast and Elly Locke; sophomores Nick Barga and Coleton Thornhill; and junior Brady McGriff.
Four-year members recognized were Devin Geyer, Grant Barga, Isabella Bella Routt, Jakob Creager, Jared Schmitmeyer, Mikayla Stachler, Matthew Barga, Maverick Sanders and Nick Thornhill.
Three-year members are Alice Young, Austin Pacheco, Avalyn Locke, Brady McGriff, Eli Meyer, Ethan Reichert, Jayda Mangen, Logan Prince and Sophia Aultman.
Two-year members are Ben Crow, Ben Zerkle, Benjamin Barnt, Byron Young, Cameron Grilliot, Carl Schlechty, Coleton Thornhill, Conner Williams, Dylan Runner, Gavin Moody, Isaac MacNutt, Kaeden Waymire, Kiera Spencer, Kody Schlechty, Lance Watkins, Lexie Osterloh, Mason Ranly, Matthew Middleton, Nick Barga, Noah Heck, Nolan Kammer Peyton Kelch, Troy Stuck and Tyler Howell.
Bob Mayo, a local farmer, was also presented with a service award.
Once again the Ben Overholser Memorial Foundation Scholarship was awarded to a student, and that student was Makayla Stachler. Ben Overholser’s widow Gail and son Josh presented her with the $2,000 scholarship.
Also honored at the banquet were the Work Study program students and their employers.
Outgoing president Makayla Stachler gave her final remarks.
“It’s been an amazing eight years in FFA. I learned so much in the organization,” she said. “I started in eighth grade when I recited the creed. FFA has played a major impact in my life.”
The 2023-24 officers are President Makayla Stachler, Vice President Sophia Aultman, Secretary Avalyn Locke, Assistant Secretary Jayda Mangen, Treasurer Carl Schlechty, Assistant Treasurer Kierra Spencer, Reporter Ben Barnt, Sentinel Kody Schlechty, Student Adviser Austin Singer, Historian Kensey Homan, Parliamentarian Troy Stuck and Chaplain Kaeden Waymire.
The 2024-25 officers are expected to be announced at a later date, according to Superintendent PJ Burgett who closed the program, congratulating all of the award recipients.
