Mount Ayr Record News
Mount Ayr, Ringgold County, Iowa
Thursday, May 10, 2012

Six Mount Ayr Community FFA chapter members received their state FFA degrees and Matt KERNS was a Star over Iowa winner in agribusiness at the state FFA convention in Ames last week. In addition the chapter picked up a number of other awards at the state meeting and participated in several ways.

The Star Over Iowa awards are presented to the top students in several areas. After being named one of the top six students in the state with their agribusiness project, KERNS was chosen to win the overall state award this year.

KERNS joined Alex SOBOTKA, Taylen ABARR, Alyssa ADAMS, Claire ANDRESEN and Katelyn WARIN in receiving their state FFA degrees at the state meeting this year.

KERNS is the son of Steve and Becky KERNS of Clearfield. As well as his many other FFA activities, he had supervised ag experience projects in dog production and hog production.

SOBOTKA is the son of Gary and Darla SOBOTKA of Mount Ayr and had a supervised ag education project in metals fabrication.

ABARR is the granddaughter of Sharon ENGLAND of Mount Ayr and her supervised ag experience project was in cattle.

ADAMS is the daughter of Darrell and Brenda ADAMS of Kellerton and she had supervised ag experience projects in cattle and working at Dari Sweet.

ANDRESEN is the daughter of Lyle and Stacy ANDRESEN of Kellerton. She has supervised ag experience working for Swine Graphics.

WARIN is the daughter of Joe and Donna WARIN of Blockton. Her supervised ag experience project was in ag placement on the family farm.

The chapter had a number of other awards from competition at the state meeting.

The ag communications team of Alex SOBOTKA, Paige DAUGHTON, Maggie JENNETT and Matt POORE took 10th place in the state and SOBOTKA placed third as an individual.

In the greenhand quiz division, Tyler TRIGGS received a gold medal and Ashton JOHNSON received a silver medal.

Morgan QUICK received an award for being second in the state in equine science proficiency.

The ag sales team of Johnathan TRIGGS, Matt KERNS, Katelyn WARIN and Logan WIMER took a silver medal. Alex SOBOTKA won a silver medal in ag broadcasting.

The marketing plan team of Taylen ABARR, Alyssa ADAMS and Jena JAMES brought home a bronze medal.

The chapter received a National Chapter award as well.

In other participation, Matt KERNS was a state FFA officer candidate, but was not selected. Nichole PHELPS and Erin DOLECHECK sang in the state FFA choir. Chapter delegates were Jeff QUICK and Morgan RISSER.

Awards were handed out in several areas when the Mount Ayr Community high school FFA chapter held its annual banquet at Ramsey Farms Monday, April 30.

Named to the Star Chapter award was Jena JAMES while Ashton JOHNSON and Tyler TRIGGS received the chapter Greenhand awards. The Dekalb Agricultural Accomplishment Award will be prsented at the senior awards day.

Scholarship award winners for the grades included:

Freshmen -- Shelbie GREENE; sophomores -- Matt POORE; juniors -- Logan WIMER, and seniors -- Alyssa ADAMS.

Leadership award winners for the grades included:

Freshmen --- Riley WEEHLER; Sophomores -- Hagan WILLIS; juniors -- Zane SICKELS, and seniors -- Matt KERNS.

Prizes were also awarded for the best fruit sales. Levi MARTIN placed first, Morgan QUICK second and Sarah REASONER third.

FFA appreciation awards were presented to the Jeff SICKELS family, Alysha QUICK from Graceland University, Jim SMITH and Allan DOLECHECK.

Honorary membership awards were presented to the parents of the chapter's senior members.

Awards were also passed out for skills and leadership CDE competitions held during the year.

Alex SOBOTKA gave the retiring president's address and Alex SOBOTKA and Logan WIMER presented a slide show of the chapter's year in review.

New officers for the chapter were installed at the meeting as well.

The banquet included a meal prepared by the Ringgold County Cattlemen and school lunchroom personnel.

Courtney TAGLAUER is the sponsor for the Mount Ayr FFA chapter.

Transcription by Sharon R. Becker, May of 2012