Mount Ayr Record-News
Mount Ayr, Ringgold County, Iowa
Thursday, November 08, 2012

Three Mount Ayr Community graduates were awarded the American FFA Degree at the 85th annual FFA National Convention in Indianapolis October 24-27.

Tiffany WIMER, Drake SCHAEFER and Matt SOBOTKA were honored for their "utmost dedication to the organization through their desire to develop their potential for premier leadership, personal growth and career success through agricultural education," according to an FFA press release. To be eligible for the award, FFA members must have earned and productively invested $7,500 through a supervised agricultural experience program in which they start, own or hold a professional position in an existing agricultural enterprise. Recipients must also complete 50 community service hours as well as demonstrate outstanding leadership abilities and community involvement.

In addition, MAC graduate and eight Mount Ayr Community students participated in the Pride of Iowa Conference Honor Choir held November 6 on the Graceland University campus. Altos Jazimne GIBSON and Makayla O'MAILIA; sopranos Leigh JAMES, Nessie BRAND, Erin DOLECHECK, Allison WALLACE and Christiana OVERHOLTZER and baritone Lew KNAPP participated in the event. Honor choir musicians are carefully selected as the top student musicians in their program by their high school instructors.

Guest conductor was Lisa EVANS, director of Parkview and Prairie middle schools in Ankeny.

Former FFA member Matt KERNS was awarded a $2,000 scholarship.

The Mount Ayr FFA chapter was represented by current members (pictured at left, from left) Miranda WAUGH, Leigh JAMES, Morgan QUICK, and Wyatt JACKSON, and (not pictured) Alisha LINK, Shelby COMER, Sarah REASONER, along with FFA adviser Susie CATANZARETI and chaperone Rhonda QUICK.

Approximately 55,000 FFA members and their advisers from across the nation attended the convention, which this year followed the theme, "Grow."

"'Grow' was an appropriate choice," said CATANZARETI, "because it embodies so much of what weare all about – growing our leadership skills, our businesses, our crops and livestock, our families, our responsibility to our fellow man and woman and more."

This year brought the FFA Rally to Fight Hunger effort to improve food security and engage in many hunger-related activities.

Transcription by Sharon R. Becker, November of 2012