By Keeghan Gittins
For The New Era
Sweet Home’s Future Farmers of America chapter celebrated its annual awards banquet Wednesday, May 21, honoring student achievements, presenting awards, and reflecting on a successful year of agricultural leadership.
The event, the chapter’s third since its founding, drew a record-breaking number of attendees, filling up seats in the high school cafeteria and forcing organizers to set up extra tables. The food was provided by Andrea Foley, with help from FFA members and other volunteers.
Outgoing President Anabelle Morris led FFA members in the FFA pledge to start the meeting.
Star Award winners, which honor individuals in each grade who were top performers and heavily involved in activities, competitions and organizational efforts, were: seniors Conner Stevens and Jarron Slaytor, juniors Selah Wright and Ashley Duncan, sophomore Kaden Foley and freshman Carlie McQuistion.
The Distinguished Service Award went to Radiator Supply House.
Slaytor and Stevens both spoke about how they were proud to see the program grow since they started as sophomores, nearly quadrupling in size.
They also thanked chapter adviser Scott Jacobsen for his efforts in building the program.
“Over the last three years our FFA chapter has grown from 12 members at our first banquet to over 30 at our banquet,” Jacobsen said after the event. “Our chapter has roughly 30 active members that regularly compete and attend meetings, but we have over 150 members that have membership nationally.
“We have had some struggles growing over the years, as this is something new to SHHS, but I believe that we have a very solid group of students who are excited to help grow our chapter even more.”
Student officers for the upcoming school year were announced, following an election on Monday, May 19: President Selah Wright, Vice President Ashley Duncan, Secretary Kaylie Cooley, Treasurer Kaden Foley, Reporter Ella Forum, Sentinel Natalie Conn,
Junior Advisor Ellie Dominy and Historian Carlie Mcquistion.
Jacobson noted that the officer team is a mix of seniors, juniors, and sophomores, the freshmen class, who, he said, have “brought in a lot of energy that I believe we will build upon in the future years to come.”
“The foundation has been set, it is now time to build on it.”
Wright said the FFA gives participants a chance to learn leadership and communication skills, as well as “courage and responsibility.”
“In FFA there is something for everyone. I am so grateful for everything it has taught me and where it’s gonna take me in the agricultural community. I am excited to grow more this year with my chapter.”
Morris recognized all the teams that competed in districts and state.
Sweet Home competed at the FFA districts in Soils, Conduct of Chapter, Ag Sails, Food Science, Creed, Dairy, Beginning Public Speaking, Co Op Quiz, Poultry, Meats, Crops, Vet Science.
Bannering in three events, Conduct of Chapter and Meats finished first and Dairy was third in the district.
Keeghan Gittins finished with the third overall high score and Stevens was the top finisher for the second year in a row in the meat competitions.
There are two types of FFA events Sweet Home competes in: CDE’s (Career Development events) and LDE’s (Leadership Development events).
At state, Sweet Home competed in Meats, Dairy, Poultry, Horse Evaluation and Crops.
Cooley of the Horse Evaluation team was able to get her second top-five finish in a row, winning fourth place this year. The Poultry and Meats team finished within the top 10.
Chapter Degree recipients were Ella Forum, Caden Foley and Stevens. They were recognized for their commitment towards providing for the chapter and always being willing to help.
Honorary Chapter degree winners, volunteers who went above and beyond for the chapter, were Zech Brown and Andrea Foley.
Cooley said she and her fellow participants have grown “in ways that I never could have imagined” as they have worked to build the chapter.
“ FFA has grown to be such a huge and important part of my life and I have made more memories, new friends, and experiences than I can count from this chapter,” she said.