Pattonsburg FFA leads area chapters at 79th convention

Chapter activity awards, sponsored by Farm Credit Services, are given to chapters achieving excellence in student, chapter and community development. Pattonsburg FFA chapter advisor is Amy Sullivan-Hodder.
Pattonsburg student development activities included working in the convention press room, a blood drive, and laborers at the local livestock show. Chapter members who maintain a B average for three consecutive quarters and attending meetings of local guest speakers received an award.
The Pattonsburg FFA also had several activities for chapter development including a welcome BBQ, fruit sales, and promoting agriculture in the communities. The chapter member attended officer training seminars and workshops plus family activities.
Community development is a major part of Pattonsburg FFA activities – hosting a car show, participating in adopt a highway program, organizing a toy drive for deprived children from around the world, adopting a family giving them gift bags, and going into elementary schools educating children about agriculture.
Gallatin FFA student development activities included a scholarship they developed and implemented for members pursuing a career in agriculture. Gallatin FFA advisors are Chris Henderson and Jamie Rogers.

The Gallatin chapter worked with five other chapters and the community to host three Career Development events (CDE). Chapter members set up these events, totaled scores, and presented awards. Students also participated in the Students Together Achieving Results (STAR) Project. This encouraged chapter members to develop individual and cooperative skills to enhance their lives.Chapter development activities are designed to promote excellence within the chapter. Members created a Recruitment Committee to help increase the enrollment in their FFA chapter. To keep continual support from the community and also gain new support, members honored the school staff with a luncheon during FFA week and honored community friends with certificates of appreciation.
Gallatin FFA’s community development activities made their community a better place to live and work. Members worked with Lake Viking Kid’s Kamp to make a petting zoo for sight-impaired children. This activity helps people with little knowledge of farming to understand agriculture. The chapter also has a project called Project Santa, conducted each Christmas. Members collect 500 pounds of fruit to donate to local charities and arrange for Santa to visit the pre-kindergarten through third-grade elementary classes.
The top state chapters are submitted to the National FFA Organization where they compete for the National FFA Chapter Award. The competition will be this fall at the National FFA Convention in Indianapolis, Ind.
;@center = Riley Rains named Area 2 Star in Agribusiness

The Missouri FFA Association named Riley Rains, member of the Gallatin FFA Chapter, as Area 2 Star in Agribusiness. His parents are David and Julie Rains of Gallatin. His advisors are Chris Henderson and Jamie Rogers.
Area Star in Agribusiness is based on outstanding agribusiness activities as part of the student’s Supervised Agricultural Experience Program and FFA leadership activities. Area 2 covers 25 chapters in the Northwest District.
MFA Inc., Columbia, sponsored the Area Star in Agribusiness awards.
Rains’ SAEP is with Rains Natural Meats and Rains Farms. Both businesses are owned and operated by his family. Rains’ SAE includes raising Tamworth Hogs, Hereford and crossbred cattle and goats. At Rains Natural Meats, Rains worked on the kill floor, was responsible for cleaning the facility and worked with customers. Rains fed and worked with livestock at Rains Farms.
Rains served as the Area 2 vice president and chapter reporter. He was the Area Diversified Livestock Placement Proficiency Winner in 2005, the Area Food Science and Technology Proficiency Winner in 2006 and the Area Diversified Livestock Entrepreneurship Proficiency Winner in 2007. Rains competed on the knowledge, dairy cattle, livestock and floriculture CDE teams. He is a graduate of the 2005 Missouri Agribusiness Academy.
Rains is a member of the football, wrestling and track teams at Gallatin R-V high school. He is on the Honor Roll and is active in FBLA and FCCLA. Rains also a member of the youth group at the First Christian Church of Gallatin, where he serves as a junior deacon.
After graduating high school Rains plans to attend a four year university. After college, Rains hopes to become a dentist and practice in a rural community. Rains also plans to own a farm and continue raising livestock.
;@center = Shay Esbeck wins proficiency award

Shay Esbeck, of the Gallatin FFA Chapter, Gallatin, Mo., won the Environmental Science and Natural Resources Management Proficiency Award at the 79th Missouri FFA Convention.
Esbeck, a junior at Gallatin R-V High School, is the son of Barney and Robin Esbeck. His advisors are Chris Henderson and Jamie Rogers.
Esbeck’s Supervised Agricultural Experience Project (SAE) is being a member of Stream Team. Stream Team checks water quality on various bodies of water around the Gallatin area. They check water flow, temperature, pH, water clarity, bacteria count and aquatic organism count. Esbeck has participated in the school’s Envirothon team, where he has learned about forestry, aquatic plants and animals, soils and wildlife management.
Esbeck’s future plans include expanding all areas of his SAE. He plans to continue to be a part of the stream team and hopes the Envirothon team will advance to nationals. After graduation he plans to attend the University of Missouri-Columbia to pursue a degree in Natural Resources and Wildlife Management.
;@center = Geoffrey Eads takes second in turf grass management
Geoffrey Eads, member of the Jamesport FFA Chapter, was named the second-place winner of the FFA Turf Grass Management Proficiency Award at the 79th Missouri FFA Convention.
Eads, a senior at Jamesport high school, is the son of Geoffrey and Pennie Eads. His advisor is Jeremy Dodds.
Proficiency awards recognize FFA members who excel as agricultural entrepreneurs, employees or volunteers while gaining hands-on career experience. Turf Grass Management is one of 47 proficiency awards presented at the state level. The Missouri FFA Association sponsors this award.
Eads began his agricultural program owning and operating a lawn care business. He maintained this profitable entrepreneurship for three years.
As a member of the Jamesport FFA Chapter, Eads received the Chapter Leadership Medal, Landscape Management Proficiency, Turf Grass Management Proficiency, and Chapter Star in Agribusiness. He also attended workshops, conferences, and social activities with his chapter.
;@center = Mariah Wood member of press corps
Mariah Wood from the Pattonsburg FFA Chapter was part of the press corps during the 79th Missouri FFA Convention, writing press releases about convention events.
Wood serves as sentinel of her local FFA chapter. She is a member of the flag corps and basketball, softball, cheerleading, dance and academic teams. She plans to major in journalism at the University of Central Missouri.
;@center = Local members receive state’s highest FFA honor

Area FFA members will receive the State FFA Degree, the highest degree members can receive at state level. Awarding of the degree is based on a member’s Supervised Agricultural Experience Program in agribusiness or production agriculture, and leadership ability as demonstrated through involvement in FFA, school and community activities. The State Degree award charms are sponsored by MFA Inc., Columbia.

Receiving the State FFA Degree are <197>Gallatin: Kari Youtsey, Laura Youtsey, Crystal Rogers, Dennelle Rhoades, Riley Rains, Samantha Mott, Brandon Meseberg, Ethan Merrigan, Derrick Eaton and Colt Bohannon; Pattonsburg: Aleah Sperry, Justin Nalle; Winston: Blaine Martin; Jamesport: Lance Huston, Goeffrey Eads; North Daviess: Trevor Hunter; Gilman City: Randee Prindle, Kyla Payne, Abbie Herrold.