Cloverdale FFA going and growing

CLOVERDALE -- The Cloverdale School Board heard a report during its regular meeting Monday night from the Cloverdale FFA program.

The words "busy" and "productive" would best describe last year for Cloverdale FFA, including many awards, fundraisers and volunteer projects.

The chapter volunteered at the Clovers, Cops and Christmas toy drive, and was also part of building and installing raised beds in the Cloverdale Pocket Park, located between Arby's and the former KFC buiding. The chapter hopes to plant there in partnership with the C Bar C Expo Center and install benches.

Also with C Bar C, the FFA helped set up and scare customers for its annual Haunted Trail.

For the other local chapters, the Cloverdale FFA -- whose president, Taylor Goss, is also district president -- hosted the annual district kickoff meeting for 200 attendees.

In the fall, the chapter made a float for the homecoming parade, and the seniors met with Senator John Crane and toured the Indiana Statehouse.

As for competitions and awards, several teams qualified for state and one took gold at state last year.

The soil judging team (8th-grade students and one freshman), the middle school forestry team, the entomology team (the first for Cloverdale and the area) as well as both the novice and senior parlimentary procedure teams qualified for state. The ag sales team ranked gold at state.

The Cloverdale FFA program raised $21,000 for itself by working at the Indiana State Fair Swine Show and a C Bar C Expo Center tractor pull, making fruit sales in November and holding a seed auction in the fall.

It also received volunteer donations from POET Biorefining and local farms when it participated in Feed the Farmer, a day dedicated to giving lunches to farmers as they work. The chapter set up shop at the Cloverdale Agricenter and greeted farmers as they came.

The raised funds and donations are primarily used to make FFA membership free to any Cloverdale student. There were 72 members at last count.

This year, Cloverdale FFA is looking forward to the district leadership contests in April and the Year-End Banquet as well as livestock and horse judging in May.

"We have made strides to make improvements for next year," Chris Kaufman, ag teacher and FFA adviser, said. "Mr. Stoltz and I have worked together to create a new classroom for Mr. Sheldon and have the shop opened back up to a full shop. And we've got Mrs. Mann working in our greenhouse. We've got a lot of things moving forward and plans for new classes next year. We continue to look forward to what we can do with these kids. Our program is strong; our chapter is strong."

Superintendent Greg Linton commented, "It is amazing how busy the FFA and ag program is. I appreciate their time to be here. I want to thank Mr. Kaufman for all the work done this year. Mr. Sheldon is a big asset to Mr. Kaufman. "

In other news:

-- Absences: Vice President Daniel Hofmann was absent.

-- Claims: The board approved claims at a total of $774,729.35, an increase from last month of $82,827.08. The year's average is $733,315.80.

-- Donations: The board accepted two donations: $2,000 from Pioneer Hi-Bred International, which will be used for agricultural classroom materials and supplies, and $500 from Martin Marietta Quarry, an annual contribution to Cloverdale Elementary School which will be used for its CloverU program.

-- Personnel: The board approved the following personnel report:

-- Hire: Kathy Salter (CES substitute), Bambi Wiley (CES/CMS part-time cafeteria), Debbie Meek (substitute bus driver), Sam Jones (CHS head volleyball coach) and Cole Seward (CHS assistant track coach)

-- FMLA: Audrie Grimes (CHS language arts teacher)

-- Maternity leave: Katina Wetter (CES preK teacher)

-- Volunteer: Shelby Crncic (CHS volleyball coach), Adam Hull (7th/8th grade girls' basketball and softball coach), Gina Carter (7th/8th grade softball coach), Sheri Bernard and Tim Hunter (7th/8th grade practice softball coaches) and Charlie Lee (7th/8th grade baseball coach)

-- Students of the Month: The February Students of the Month were Jayden Armstrong-Diggs (second grade), Eli Kelley (sixth grade) and Nola Dean (sophomore).

The Cloverdale School Board's next regular meeting is set for March 12 at 7 p.m. in the Cloverdale Schools Administration Building, 401 E. Logan St., Cloverdale.