The Rossville FFA has reported that the 2024 season has started off well as the FFA members traveled to Huntington University for its Annual Leadership Summit in January with numerous activities and events that have followed through February and March.
Agricultural Educator and FFA Advisor Brittany Need stated that the leadership summit allowed for students to engage with current agriculture students to explore the opportunities available for those that pursue an education and career in agriculture. As well, the students heard from the current National FFA Eastern Region Vice President while the local educators were introduced to Dr. Gary Moore, a renowned leader in agricultural education and Professor Emeritus in Agriculture and Extension Education from North Carolina State University.
During that evening, Garrett Miller, Lewis Miller, Jared Root, Ryan Wolf, Clayton Wolf and Tyler Brubaker competed in the District V FFA volleyball tournament at Western High School, advancing through four matches and securing the championship title and banner.
Need continued to express the busy atmosphere of February for the Rossville FFA that was filled with weekly practices for upcoming contests and deadlines for several applications to showcase the FFA members’ efforts and alongside the program. During the month, the Rossville FFA rewarded the most involved members for their volunteer hours and commitment to the organization with the annual Ski Trip to Swiss Valley in Michigan, and then chapter members ventured to the National Farm Show in Louisville, Kentucky.
Following the excitement of travels, President’s Day kicked off National FFA Week with the highlights of students driving their tractors to school to line Robert Egly Drive, members serving the local community breakfast, members hosting the member euchre tournament with Delphi FFA and members awarding prizes during lunch time for FFA trivia.
This year, the chapter brought Elementary Ag Day back into the school and introduced topics to the students to teach students outside of the chapter about topics related to agriculture, and students Kindergarten through 5th grade learned about farm equipment safety, welding, soil layers and animal feed while the school’s students of the month were rewarded with a petting zoo.
Rossville has also succeeded through its competitions and achievements, such as sending six proficiencies to the district level this year with four being chosen as district winners, which allows for the applications to advance to the State level. Proficiencies are applications that detail a student’s job or project that is completed outside of the school walls and may be incorporated into a Supervised Agriculture Experience class to receive credit. Cortney Huffman, fruit production, Garrett Miller, turf grass management, Zach Hubler, ag maintenance and repair, and Landon Brown, diversified crop production, were chosen as the district winner and will advance to the state competition. Madison Douglas, goat production, and Audrey Thompson, agricultural education, were awarded with a second-place finish.
As well, this year, Rossville is planning to submit eight Hoosier Degrees to the State, and the students chosen have to complete a minimum of 25 hours of community service, complete five activities above the chapter level and serve in leadership roles or capacities. Makayla Spray, Brooklynn Morris, Phoebe Terry, Natalee Richey, Nick Bush, Coleton Heater, Grant Michael and Peyton Smith will participate in this program.
Need released that Nick Bush, Coleton Heater, Wyatt Patrick, Colton Crum and Blake Fearnow will advance to the state welding competition.
On March 2, 20 students competed in the District Leadership Contests at Northwestern High School, marking the largest number of students to participate from Rossville in many years. Leia Emenhiser, FFA Creed, Jillian Morris and Malachi Jones, Plant & Soil Science Demonstration, won the district contest and will adance to the State competition in June at Purdue University. Kolton Davis and Makayla Spray, Agriculture Business, Madison Douglas, Food Science, and Gracie McDonald and Madison Skiles, Plant and Soil Science, also won in very competitive areas. According to Need, out of 13 contest areas, nine placed in the top three of their division.
Need thanked the community members who support the program by participating in the member auction on March 5, which raised funds to continue the success of the chapter and provide several members with free FFA jackets, trips, expenses, contest entry fees and meals to serve the community for the FFA chapter.
“The FFA could not do what they do without financial support,” Need wrote. “The Rossville FFA chapter does its best to allow students experiences that are free of charge so that all are welcome and no one is deterred from getting involved … Rossville FFA is very grateful and looks forward to the continued growth of the program and our endeavors moving forward in 2024.”
Funds raised through FFA events may also be utilized to award scholarships and other awards to its FFA members through the support of the Rossville community.