Pickaway-Ross’ FFA chapters are excelling in community engagement and CTSO competitions.
Last month, members of Circleville and Westfall’s FFA chapters gave a primer on the agriculture organization at the Circleville Sunrise Rotary meeting.
FFA (Future Farmers of America) gives students experience in agriculture education through classroom labs and projects and supervised agricultural experience in the industry.
Presenting for the Circleville chapter, with advisor Megan Moorman, were Allie Mullins, Lillianna Stafford, Sterlin Mullins and Auri Travis.
The Circleville chapter formed this year after district administration conducted career-interest surveys last year and agriculture was the top interest of Circleville High School students.
Now, CHS offers ag-related courses, including Agriculture Food & Natural Resources, Animal & Plant Science, and Livestock Nutrition Selection Management.
Representing the Westfall chapter, with advisor Rachel Scior, were Anna Snyder and Mitchell Ruff.
Students also promoted a community breakfast sponsored by the FFA chapters April 4 at the Pickaway County schools.
FFA competitions give members opportunities to improve their public speaking abilities and to network.
At the 2023 Agriscience Fair, Mitchell Ruff and Issac Stevens advanced to state in Structural & Technical Systems, Division 4; Abigail Brethover and Reese Paudicz advanced in Food Products & Processing, Division 4; and Grace Artis advanced in Social Science, Division 3.
Other points of pride for the Westfall chapter were 2023 State FFA awards recognition: one member earned his American Degree; five earned a State FFA Degree; and three earned gold for their Officer books.
In addition, Westfall and Zane Trace FFA chapters have been named Gold Medal chapters. This designation is given to approximately the top 10 percent of chapters in Ohio.
Zane Trace’s FFA had 14 chapter members compete in the state Equine, Livestock and Poultry judging competition at the Ohio Expo Center last month.
The Equine team placed 42nd with Adison Muntz leading the team individually. The Livestock team placed 73rd and was led by Kailee Adkins. The Poultry team placed 27th, led by Isaac Detty.
The chapter’s Dairy Cattle Judging team competed during the Ohio Spring Dairy Expo and placed 45th out of 72 teams. Malia Vick was the highest-placing individual for ZT in the contest.
The FFA chapters are satellite programs of Pickaway-Ross.