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County FFAs complete strong week at Indiana FFA Convention
WEST LAFAYETTE — As one Putnam County FFA adviser put it, “It is very fair to say that Putnam County cleaned house at state convention.”
North Putnam adviser Kate Skirvin’s comment was right on the money, after Putnam County’s three FFA programs came away from Purdue University last week with multiple state champions, club awards, several Hoosier Degree recipients and one North Putnam alumnus earning the highest award a state FFA association can bestow.
That honor went to current Purdue student Noah Poynter, who was named State Star in Agribusiness. The award is given in recognition of an individual’s accomplishments in his or her supervised agricultural experience (SAE).
“Noah has built a strong business surrounding the use of his drone,” Skirvin said. “He has become a licensed drone pilot and has started his own business, Noah Poynter Media.”
Poynter has filmed videos showing the planting and harvesting practices on his own family farm as well as shooting videos for Indiana Farm Bureau, Indiana FFA Foundation and even a music video for Levi Riggs.
“This award has been six years in the making,” Skirvin said. “We couldn’t be prouder of his efforts.”
Poynter is planning to run for National Star in Agribusiness in 2019.
A number of chapter awards went to South Putnam, in what adviser Amanda King called “one of the best weeks up at Purdue for FFA State Convention since I have been here.”
As a chapter, South Putnam earned a Gold Ranking, Superior Chapter, first place in Bridging Horizons (with a $600 award), fifth place in Living to Serve Community and Silver Chapter donor.
“It has been a joy to work with the kids this week,” King said. “We have made lots of memories, shared lots of laughs, shed a few tears (some from laughing so hard even) and most importantly we learned a ton about agriculture, leadership, communication, volunteering, and much more.”
Between South Putnam and North Putnam, there were also 12 recipients of the Hoosier FFA Degree, the highest degree FFA can bestow. The degrees document that the member has achieved success at a high level in their supervised agriculture experience program, leadership development and community service.
South Putnam recipients were Whitney Boswell, Andrew Carr, MacKenzie Clark, Helen Eaglin, Garrett Heavin and Eric Hinkle. Meanwhile, North Putnam students Emma Grimes, Ashley O’Neal, Jonathan Poynter, Shalyn Nelson, Mary Timm and Lainey Willis all earned their Hoosier Degrees.
The Cloverdale, South Putnam and North Putnam chapters all made the trip back south on U.S. 231 laden with awards, including 14 state championships.
For Cloverdale, Taylor Goss took the top spot for her ag sales presentation. Meanwhile in the agriscience fair, the team of Emily Sims and Hailee Young was tops in animal systems division 4, while Hannah Long and Brady Mann placed first in plant systems division 6.
The Cloverdale team of Gayle Baugh, Emily Byford, Sarah Baker, Lauren Branneman and Shelby Nees placed fourth in the agricultural issues forum.
“The Cloverdale FFA had a great week,” adviser Chris Kaufman said. “We had 22 students competing in many events over the course of the week. While attending the convention members got to meet new people, travel to Fair Oaks Farms, compete in many leadership development events and make some new friends.
“We would like to congratulate not only the winners but all the students who stepped out of their comfort zone to represent Cloverdale FFA at the top level in the state.”
For South Putnam, the success at the chapter level translated to individual accomplishments. Members placed first in four different events at the agriscience fair: Brooke Robertson and Brady Robinson in plant systems division 4, Catherine Hodge and Jacob Beadles in plant systems division 2, Bailey Proctor in social systems division 3 and Taylor Montgomery in animal systems division 5.
The chapter took several more awards in leadership development events, led by first-place finishes from Hailey Young and Ryan Cole in the agriculture mechanics and technology demonstration, Brooke Robertson and Marcus Robinson in food science demonstration and Malerie Minor and Taylor Montgomery in horticultural science demonstration.
Also in leadership development: Drew Steffy, Alex Steffy, Evan Steffy and Grace Burdge, second in agriculture communications; Drew Steffy, third in freshman prepared public speaking; Taylor Montgomery, fourth in animal science demonstration and the team of Ryan Neumann, Savannah McIntosh, Reagan Ladd, Dartagnan Neudeck, Eric Hinkle, Hailee Young, Andrew Carr and Taylor Montgomery, fourth place in chapter meeting.
Additionally, Malerie Minor will be serving the District VII FFA members as their treasurer for the coming year.
Besides Poynter’s recognition in the SAE program, North Putnam had five additional FFA members recognized for being in the top three in the state for its SEA programs.
Kristen Earley won state in the specialty animal category for her work with llamas and alpacas and will be competing at the national level this summer.
Mary Timm also won the state title with her small animal production proficiency from her breeding of sugar gliders.
Chevelle Tallman brought home a second-place finish in wildlife management, Jonathan Poynter placed third in diversified agriculture, and Anita Spencer placed third in outdoor recreation.
In Discovery Degree leadership contests, Ruby Sullivan was first in public speaking, while the team of Seth Ariens and Brant Sheldon was first in plant and natural resources demonstration.
Levi O’Neal and Carter Thomas placed second in the state in animal science demonstration, while Handley Everman was second in Discovery Creed speaking.
The team of Shelby Hilton, Jayden Simpson and Wyleigh Thomas placed fourth in ag issues.
A pair of North Putnam FFA members were also able to put their musical chops to use, as Grace Timm represented her chapter in the State FFA Chorus, in which she was elected secretary. Meanwhile, Alexi Sweet was in the State FFA Band, also elected to the office of secretary.
“We are so proud of all 24 FFA members we took to state convention,” Skirvin said. “They represented not only their school, but our county to the best of their ability. The future is most certainly bright for North Putnam FFA.”
The same could be said of all three county FFA chapters.