American FFA Degree recipients (left to right): Ian Gehret, Emma Peters, Austin Timmerman, and Deanna Hesson (absent from the photo Caden Buschur).
Provided photo
Laura Wuebker served as a official FFA delegate for the Ohio FFA Association in serving as Ohio FFA Vice-President at Large
Provided photo
Versailles FFA Members who attended the 94th annual National FFA Convention. Back row (left to right) Dylan Dunn, Wyatt Browder, Dalton Hesson, Clay Bergman, Autumn Petitjean, Maggie McGlinch, Hayley Smith, Alex Mangen, and Cory Timmerman. Front row (left to right) Emma Middendorf, Lauren Sherman, Lizzy May, Elise George, Mallory York, Nick Gehret, Lucas Timmerman, and Lucy Petitjean.
Provided photo
Staff report
VERSAILLES — The Versailles FFA attended the 94th Annual National FFA Convention held Indianapolis, Ind., Oct. 27, 2021. There were more than 58,000 FFA members in attendance, making the National FFA Convention the world’s largest youth convention.
FFA members from all over the United States, Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Islands were in attendance. Versailles FFA traveled to the National FFA Convention on a school bus with the St. Mary’s FFA chapter.
At the convention, the Versailles FFA was recognized as a Three Star National FFA Chapter, the highest individual ranking that the National FFA bestows upon chapters. A special thanks to FFA Chapter President Dalton Hesson and FFA Chapter Secretary Elise George for representing Versailles as they received the award.
The Versailles FFA chapter also had the opportunity to compete in the National Environmental and Natural Resources (ENR) contest. The Versailles ENR team placed first in the state contest, allowing them to move on to the national competition at the National Convention. The team consisted of FFA members Caleb Kaiser, Jayden Groff, Kristopher Marshal, and 2021 graduate Alex Kaiser.
The team had to take a test, complete a team activity on waste management, evaluate soil, and complete a practicum on data interpretation, GPS navigation, and water quality. The Ag Comm team placed ninth in the nation and was rated a gold emblem team. Jayden was recognized on stage as the eighth-place individual. Congratulations to the Environmental and Natural Resources Team.
Along with the success of the Versailles FFA, there were the five American Degree recipients. The American FFA Degree is the highest honor an FFA member can receive at a National Level. Emma Peters, Deanna Hesson, Caden Buschur, Ian Gehret, and Austin Timmerman all received the degree.
Our National Proficiency Finalists included Renea Schmitmeyer, Wes Gehret, and Noah Barga. Renea was named a National Proficiency Winner. The National finalists were based upon the proficiency application these FFA members submitted. The application included goals, plans of practices, resumes, pictures, letters of recommendation, financial records, and hour documentation.
Versailles FFA members who attended the National FFA Convention were: Hayley Smith, Alex Mangen, Dalton Hesson, Autumn Petitjean, Lucy Petitjean, Dylan Dunn, Lucas Timmerman, Emma Middendorf, Maggie McGlinch, Lizzy May, Clay Bergman, Lauren Sherman, Wyatt Browder, Elise George, Mallory York, Cory Timmerman, Nick Gehret, and the St. Mary’s Chapter.
A special thank you to TSC Distribution Center for supplying each FFA member with a metal tube, a hat, a nerf football, and a TSC ring toss. Most of all thanks to the Versailles Board of Education for allowing the Versailles FFA Chapter to participate in the National FFA Convention.
