STATE FFA CONVENTION - 2010

Eleven FFA members attended this year's state FFA Convention in Columbia Missouri. The chapter stayed at the Stoney Creek Inn on Thursday night. Competitions were held on both Thursday and Friday of the convention.

Mary Barnett (Front, Left) was selected to sing in the State FFA choir on Friday Evening.

Official Chapter Delegates: Haleigh Jeffryes and Luke Tebbe

Parliamentary Procedure Team: Back Row - Cheyenne Harman, Kaleb Killingsworth, Josh Buckner and Advisor Bruce Blakemore. Front Row: Mary Barnett, Daryl Smith, Luke Tebbe and Haleigh Jeffryes (alt.)

Parliamentary Team Highlights:

1st Place - Area 10 FFA contest

3rd Place - Southwest District Contest

1st Round - State FFA Contest

Horse Judging Team: Back-Josh Buckner, Kaleb Killingsworth; Coach-Kenny Killingsworth.

Front- Stephanie Gilkey and Jessica Misner

Horse Judging Team Highlights:

5th Place - Pleasant Hope Contest

12th Place - District Contest

25th Place - State Contest

1954 FJ-CUB

Pictured: Trent Miller, History Teacher Robert Vestal and Josh Peck

As a part of agriculture power class, Walnut Grove agriculture students Trent Miller and Josh Peck refinished a 1954 FJ-cub owned by the Vestal family of Marshfield, MO. This tractor was purchashed in the 1950's from College of the Ozarks, which at the time was still offered a high school program.

This tractor was brought into the shop at the beginning of school and was dismantled, sandblasted, cleaned, primered and painted. Students were assisted by Buster Voris, a Retired Case-IH mechanic who lives in the Walnut Grove community. The tractor was finished in December and was given to Robert Vestal's sister as a Christmas present.

SAE-Jacob Glouse

During the summer of 2009, Jacob Glouse and his brother Parker, raised 400 hardy mums as a Supervised Agriculture Experience Project. These mums consisted of eight different colors with 50 plants of each color.

In the month of September, the Walnut Grove FFA purchased the mums at wholesale price and students sold the mums as a fundraiser to pay for national FFA convention. This turned out to be a great project for both Jacob and the chapter.

In February, Jacob received 3rd place in Nursery Operations Proficiency for Area 10 FFA. Jacob and Parker plan to expand their operation next summer by adding an automatic watering system.


Pictured: Jacob Glouse pinches mums in July to force foliage growth.

2009 AMERICAN FFA DEGREES

FFA members Kody Killingsworth and B.J. Anderson recieved the American FFA Degree at the 2009 National FFA Convention in Indianapolis, IN. The American FFA degree is only recieved by the top FFA members.

To recieve the American FFA Degree students must:

-Obtain the State FFA Degree

-Have an Supervised Agriculture Experience Project that has earned at lest $7500

-Have outstanding leadership as achieved by participating FFA activities

-Be out of high school for at least one year

-Have a satisfactory scholastic record in high school.

Kody is currently attending Northeast Oklahoma College and will be transferring to Missouri State University in the Fall of 2010. Kody is majoring in agriculture education.

B.J. is currently attending Missouri State University and majoring in agriculture communications. B.J. currently serves as a residence assistant and hopes to work in the communications field in the future.

FFA Helps in The Kitchen

On Thursday, February 25 members of the Walnut Grove FFA volunteered at the Kitchen in Springfield, MO. This volunteer project was part of the chapter's Agriculture Service Day held annually during FFA week. Students were required to bring at least 5 canned goods to be eligible to participate in the program. In all the chapter brought 134 lbs. of food to the Kitchen as well as volunteered for approximately 6 hours.

During the day, the students had to do jobs such as sorting food, cleaning a warehouse, preparing and serving meals and organizing other donated goods. Students were exposed to the homeless population in Springfield and was given an eye opening experience.

This turned out to be one of the best activities of the year and plans are already in progress to repeat the activity during the 2011 FFA Week.

Mary Barnett, Aislinn Barnett and Chelsie Naquin prepared lunch in the cafeteria.

Cheyenne Harman and Blake Thomazin sort donated goods.

Students Participated in Agriscience Competition

INDIANAPOLIS- Two local students recently participated in the national agriscience competition. Kaleb Killingsworth and Josh Buckner, members of the Walnut Grove HS FFA a chapter of Walnut Grove, MO, competed in the National FFA Agriscience Fair program. The event was held during the 82nd National FFA Convention in Indianapolis, Ind., October 21-24. More than 400 Participants from across the nation defended their projects against other entries for judging in 20 divisions.
Killingsworth's and Buckner's project "The effect of Container Color and Tarp Coverage on Moisture Content in Fescure Seed", was on display at convention in the National FFA Agriscience Fair area of the Indiana Convention Center. Categories for competition were;

• biochemistry
• microbiology
• food science
• botany
• engineering
• enviormental science
• zoology
  

Four divisions divided students by grades 7-12. Each National winning participant received either a cash award or scholarship. Kaleb and Josh received a 'silver' rating which put their national ranking at 7th place. This was an outstanding accomplishment for these individuals.

Veteran's Day

This year, just like every other year, the Walnut Grove FFA had their yearly FFA Veteran's Day Lunch. This is when the FFA members cook meat, beans, and fry potatoes all day until our guests arrive. This year we had total of 40 guests present (this included Veterans AND their family and friends). Josh Buckner praying before lunch.
Mr. Blakemore talking to the Color Guard.
Veterans, their friends and family getting their delicious lunch.

Some of the FFA members serving lunch and drinks to the Veterans.