VERSAILLES – On March 9th, the Versailles FFA Chapter held its 91st Annual FFA Parent-Member Banquet at the Versailles High School. Everyone present enjoyed a catered dinner by Mary Bergman and her staff, followed by an evening of awards highlighting the accomplishments of the Versailles FFA over the past year. Among the list of awards were Honorary FFA Degree Recipients, Chapter Awards, the Induction of the 2025-2026 Versailles FFA Officer Team, and much more!
The first order of business was to recognize the capstone students and their employers. Juniors and seniors have the opportunity to participate in the capstone program where they leave school for the second half of the day to go to work. The student’s employers were awarded a plaque with the name of the capstone employee with room to add more names in the future. The plaques were proudly Sponsored by The Versailles FFA Alumni. The Versailles FFA put together a slideshow featuring the capstone employers and student employees. The senior capstone employees and employers include: Boring, Richards and Associates Student Employee Eden Barga, Feruguson Construction Student Employee Joey Barger, Knapke Poultry Farms Student Employee Carson Bergman, Versailles Feedmill Student Employees Jace Bohman and Junior Nate Marshal, Glick Construction Student Employee Hunter Brown, Eb Real Estate Student Employee Isaac Brown, Bubeck Plumbing Student Employee Caleb Bubeck, Superior Aluminum Student Employees Jacob Dues and Colton Spadlin, Arch Student Employee Nick Ellis, Brilliant Beginnings Students Employees Amelia Grilliot and Junior Jaelyn Hecht, Groff Mowing and Lawn Care Student Employees Jacob Groff and Jacob Simons, K and L Tractor Sales Student Employee Dylan Hemmelgarn, Hess Fencing Student Employee Simeon Hess, John’s IGA Student Employee Dalton Johns, Versailles Subway Student Employee Gabe Padernal, Versailles Ace Hardware Student Employee Logan King, Custom Foam Student Employees Ava May and Haley Mescher, All About Tops LLC Student Employees Owen Mendenhall, Daycare Discoveries Student Employee Karmindy Mertz, Smith Pallets Student Employees Logan Nerderman and Evan Weaver, JAFE Decorating Student Employee Mitchell Phlipot, Koenig Equipment Student Employee Allison Pierron, Kraut Creek Regenerative Ag Supply Student Employee Zach Rahm, Rethman Farms Student Employee Daniel Rethman, Knapke Kitchens and Baths Student Employee Owen Rindler, Grillot Construction Student Employee Austin Ruhenkamp, Matty’s Q Restaurant Student Employee Seth Shafer, AL Smith Trucking Student Employee Gavinn Simons, Village Of Versailles Student Employee Mason Smith, Classic Carriers Student Employee Levi Subler, Acumen Building Solutions LLC Student Employee Cole Williams, Brian Winner Farms Student Employee Roger Winner, And Versailles Automotive Student Employee John Yerick.
The Following People Were Rewarded With An FFA Honorary Degree For Their outstanding services and contributions to the chapter. The first being the Darke County Beef and Pork Tent, represented by President Janelle Bell for their support in chapter fundraising and providing meat products for the Warren Davidson Farm Forum. In addition, Janelle Weiss and The Pollinator Patch were initiated because of her support of the Greenhouse and Floral Design classes with discounted and free floral rates as well as field trips to her flower farm. Finally, Bonnie Frantz became an honorary member for her service to the chapter as our custodian and for her monetary support in fruit sales and floral sales. Former members inducted into the Hall of Fame included 2024 graduates who all received national FFA recognition: Zoe Billenstein and Trevor Luthman.
The FFA also recognized its Proficiency Winners who completed a 25-plus page application that was submitted to the regional and state evaluations. These members are among the top 4 in the state for their proficiency. Plaques were sponsored by Phelan Insurance Agency, represented by David Coons. Versailles FFA Proficiency Winners included: Diversified Crop Entrepreneurship: Jake Bergman, Beef Entrepreneurship: Gracie Henry, Ag Services Entrepreneurship: Patrick McGlinch, Dairy Placement: Cale Henry, Ag Services Placement: Ben Pitsenbarger, Organic Proficiency: Nathan Timmerman, Swine Placement: Cody Billenstein, Ag Processing: Grace Borchers, Agriculture Services: Allison Pierron, Diversified Agriculture: Roger Winner, Diversified Livestock: Shawna Schmitmeyer, Goat Production: Eden Barga, Vegetable Production: Paige Gehret. Members who were awarded for their National Recognition at the 2025 convention were National Winner in Ag Processing: Blake Schmitmeyer, Top 4 in Agricultural Communication: Paige Gehret, Top 4 in Diversified Livestock: James Schmitmeyer, National Winner in Diversified Agriculture: Lincoln Winner, and National Winner in Dairy Placement: Collin Batten.
Having good record books is a key part of the SAE. At the banquet, the Versailles FFA recognized those individuals with outstanding record books. Outstanding Record Book Winners: 8th Grade Class: Chris Delzeith, Alayna Patton, Claire Bergman, and Sylvia Schmitmeyer, Freshmen Class: Ian Bergman, Blake Pitsenbarger, Maverick Keller, and Aleta Longfellow. Sophomore Class: Josh Henry, Noah Hayes, Cale Garland, and Brooklyn Livingston. Junior Class: Simone Grieshop, Jace Bergman, Luke Demange, and Jack Subler. Senior Class: Jace Bohman, Jack Borchers, Owen Rindler, and Amelia Grillot.
High scholastics is an important part of each high school student’s life. The Versailles FFA Chapter recognizes those students from each class who excelled in academics in all high school classes. Outstanding Scholarship Winners: 8th Grade Class: Julia Evers. Freshman Class: Kyra Bergman, Allison Bergman, Abigail Wilker, and Blair Schellhase. Sophomore Class: Monica Evers, Gabe McGlinch, and Monica Evers. Junior Class: Adam Rauh, Patrick McGlinch, Rhylan Broerman, Luke Borchers and Hank Smith. Senior Class: Sam Albers, Brooke Bergman, Eden Barga, Paige Gehret, Ruthie Smith and Brayden Wagner.
The fruit selling winners are as follows: Top selling family was Hank and Ruthie Smith, 2nd place family was Greta and Simon Broering Grace, Luke and Eli Borchers, and 3rd place family was Grace, Luke and Eli Borchers. The top-selling individual was Haley Mescher, the 2nd-place individual was Ava May and the 3rd-place individual was Paige Gehret.
2025 State FFA Degree Candidates were recognized which includes: Grace Borchers, Rhylan Broerman, Gracie Henry, Patrick McGlinch, Ben Pitsenbarger, Lucy Schmitmeyer, Hank Smith, and Nathan Timmerman. 2025 American Degree Candidates were recognized which includes: Blake Schmitmeyer, Luke Kaiser, Andrew Lyons, Colin Batten, Maggie McGlinch, Lauren Grogean, James Schmitmeyer, Lucas Timmerman, Lincoln Winner, Danica York and Allee Grimme.
The Chapter also gave recognition to members who assisted with all types of activities during their study hall which include: Jenna Breeze, Rhylan Broerman, Greta Broering, Paige
Gehret, Jayna Luthman, Blake Pitsenbarger, Cale Demange, Brandt Patton, Maraget Schmitmeyer, Jack Borchers, Eden Barga, Lucy Schmitmeyer, Hank Smith, Simon Broering, Monica Evers, Landyn Knapke and Ben Kaiser.
The highlight of the awards program was the announcement of the top awards.
Lincoln Winner has recently been selected as Ohio’s Star American Degree Candidate.
2026 8th Grade Class Star Greenhands: Allison Mertz, Julia Evers and Drew Farver. The 2026 Freshman Class Star Greenhand: Colby Peters. The 2026 Star Leadership Award: Paige Gehret. The 2026 Chapter Farmer Award: Eden Barga. The 2026 Ideas Unlimited winner is Jayna Luthman. The 2026 Star chapter ag placement was Roger Winner.
As part of the evening, Versailles FFA conducted a silent and live auction to benefit the Versailles FFA Chapter, and FFA Alumni: whole hog with processing donated by The Butcher Block and Smokehouse and purchased by Brian Winner, handmade rocking holstein; donated by Paige Gehret and Family purchased by Wyler and WuebkerFamilies; In memory of Dean and Marilyn Wyler, reds gift basket and 4 tickets; donated by Nick and Amber Broerman, purchased by Chad Grieshop, Pedal tractor donated by North Star Hardware and Implement purchased by Dr. Bruns Animal Clinic and Third Base Bar and Grill, 3 bags of seed corn donated by Dan Simons and Keystone Cooperative purchased by the May Farms, 2 night cabin stay in Eastern Ohio donated by Jon and Julie Bergman purchased by Aaron Flatter, buy local gift basket; donated by the Broering Family purchased by Kelly Luthman, Milwaukee Bundle donated by Kevin and Gwen Bergman Family purchased byTrevor Luthman, Homemade Baked Goods; donated by Jayna Luthman purchased by Rick Hemmelgarn, table rental donated by Hank Smith purchased by Danielle Luthman, 1/16th toy tractor donated by Evers Family purchased by Shawn Wehrkamp, Local Flower Basket donated by Janelle Weiss and The Pollinator Patch purchased by Jessica Groff, Americana John Deere picture donated by Jeff and Dena Wuebker purchased by First Choice Ag, coffee cakes and coffee gift box donated by Jeff and Dena Wuebker, purchased by Doug Giere, homemade cake donated by Eden Barga purchased by Shawn Wehrkamp, engraved Yeti and grill set donated by Greenville Ace Hardware purchased by John Wyler, Canned Meat Basket donated by Versailles FFA purchaeed by Sharon Osterloh, poultry feed donated by Down Home Farms and Greg McGlinch purchased byMallory Phlipot, pork meat bundle; Jeff and Dena Wuebker purchased by Janelle Bell, and finally a wheelbarrow donated Versailles Ace Hardware purchased by Greg McGlinch. Both the Versailles FFA and the FFA alumni would like to offer a huge thank you to all who supported the organizations through both the silent and live auctions.
Two scholarships were also offered at the banquet. There was a scholarship awarded with the help of the Versailles FFA Alumni. Roger Winner and Shawna Schmitmeyer received the Doug and Craig Meier Scholarship, given to students who plan on entering full-time farming or who are full-time farmers after graduation. The last scholarship given was the Ben Overholser award from Gail and Josh Overholser with the help of SISCO, Ruthie Smith and Brooke Bergman received this scholarship.
The Versailles FFA would like to say thank you to the following people and businesses for making the banquet a success: Mike Goubeaux, Max Kindell, Larry Weyand and the custodial staff for setting up the Banquet. Those who donated to the auction, 2025-2026 Versailles FFA Officer Parents, Jeff and Dena Wuebker, Versailles Ace Hardware, Jon and Julie Bergman, North Star Hardware and Implement, Greenville Ace Hardware, to those who purchased items at the 2026 Versailles FFA Banquet Auction. To Phelan Insurance- David Coons for sponsoring the plaques. To North Star Hardware and Implement for donating banquet supplies. To Mrs. White and the Life Skills Class for wrapping the silverware. To the Floral Design Class for arranging the centerpieces.
