FFA banquet recognizes student accomplishments

Thursday night saw the annual Thermopolis FFA Banquet, with FFA Alumni providing a milk can dinner at the Hot Springs County agricultural building. Following the meal, awards were presented in the school auditorium.

Community, chapter, and student development are all very important parts of Thermopolis FFA activities and programs. Students work all year to fulfill the requirements of the Chapter Application. This year the chapter earned a One Star rating. Consistently they are one of the best chapters, and congratulations were expressed to the FFA members and helpers for making that possible.

Most of the students' spring is designated to competing in Career Development Events (CDEs). The contests are always challenging and competitive. Due to their hard work and dedication, the Thermopolis FFA was very competitive in these events. The competition in Wyoming CDEs is very tough; most contests have 40 to 50 schools working to win.

Among those recognized were:

•The State Booth team of Strite Daniels, Jefferey VanAntwerp and Chandler Maddock. The team placed first, and the team will travel to national convention to represent our state in October.

•The Ag Sales team of Kaitlyn Schmuck, Keegan Robbins, Chandler Maddock and Maggie Jones. This year the team placed 20th at State Convention.

•The Meats Judging team of Eric Bleak, Riley Shaffer and Keegan Robbins. This year the team placed 13th at State Convention, and the high scorer of the team was Keegan Robbins.

•The Livestock Judging team of Strite Daniels, Jessie Pennoyer, Dreama Thorpe and Barbara Kissel. They placed 27th. Team high scorer was Kissel by 12 points.

•The Environmental and Natural Resource team of Jeffery VanAntwerp, Jason Clouse, Eric Bleak and Riley Shaffer. At state Convention they placed 16th. The team high scorer was Shaffer.

•Jason Clouse and Spencer Axtell as the creed speakers. Clouse advanced on to regionals but was just short of making it to state this year.

•Jessie Pennoyer as the Star Chapter Farmer

Senior awards were given to Logan Bartholomew, Jessie Pennoyer, Keegan Robbins, Taylor Nuttall, Ryan Bleak and Dreama Thorpe

The FFA has several steps on the ladder of achievements. The very first step on the ladder is the Greenhand FFA Degree. It is for the first year members who have knowledge of the FFA, have been enrolled in an agricultural education course and have a satisfactory plan for an SAE (Supervised Agricultural Experience) program. Members earning the Greenhand FFA Degree are Spencer Axtell, Hunter Bartholomew, Eric Bleak, Jason Clouse, Aidan Ozmon, Riley Shaffer, Logan Shumway, Blake Williams, Kolby George and Mary Ryan. Shaffer received the Star Greenhand award.

Chapter FFA Degrees are earned by members who have already achieved a Greenhand Degree. The members must have an SAE program, earn and productively invest $150 or work at least 45 hours outside of class time on their program. Members earning Chapter Degrees - Dusty Barnes, Maggie Jones, Chandler Maddock, Colton Dobbins, Barbara Kissel and Jeffery VanAntwerp.

State FFA Degrees were earned by Taylor Nuttall, Jessie Pennoyer, Dreama Thorpe, Logan Bartholomew and Ryan Bleak.

The Greenhand quiz bowl is for freshman and sophomores that have earned their Greenhand degree or are on track to earn their Greenhand degree. The Greenhands competing in the quiz bowl test their knowledge on the history of FFA. The team was made up of Jason Clouse, Riley Shaffer, Eric Bleak and Blake Williams. The boys placed 16th at state.

A.M. Hartwig was the very first Ag teacher at Hot Springs County High School in 1938, in honor of his outstanding influence on the Hot Springs County High School Agriculture Education Program, we would like to take this chance to recognize those individuals who have gone above and beyond to help out Thermopolis FFA members. Those members this year are: Joanna Kissel, Craig Redland, Clay VanAntwerp and Bruce Thurgood

Those recognized for maintaining a high grade-point average while being involved in sports and/or activities were:

•Jeffery VanAntwerp and Mary Ryan, 4.0 GPA

•Taylor Nuttall, Barbara Kissel, Josi Thurgood, and Tyne Vialpando, 3.5-3.9 GPA

•Hunter Bartholomew, Eric Bleak, Jason Clouse, Aidan Ozmon, Riley Shaffer, Logan Shumway, Blake Williams, Chandler Maddock, Logan Bartholomew, Strite Daniels, Hannah Hurley, Lauren Reed, Kaitlyn Schmuck, Ryan Bleak and Jessie Pennoyer, 3.0-3.49 GPA

Every year, honorary members are inducted in the FFA. This year, honorees include Everett Jones, Bill and Valerie Bartholomew, Carrie Basse, Joanna Kissel and Arnold Pennoyer

There are several requirements members have meet in order to earn their letter and letterman's bar(s). Lettering in the FFA is in its third year in Thermopolis and it is one of the few programs in the state. Requirements are: having received a Greenhand pin, competed at a state level activity, having a 2.5 GPA, no chapter debt, having attended five chapter activities, never losing active status, and wearing official dress to all chapter meetings and required functions.

Those receiving a letter and one bar were Barbara Kissel, Maggie Jones, Chandler Maddock, Jeffery VanAntwerp and Jason Clouse.

The FFA Alumni also presented scholarships in amounts of: $500 to Taylor Nuttall, $500 to Jessie Pennoyer and $300 to Ryan Ble ak.

As a matter of final action at the banquet, the newly-elected officers were introduced. Among them are President Mary Ryan, Vice President Barbara Kissel, Treasurer Jeffery VanAntwerp, Secretary Tyne Vialpando and Reporter Kaitlyn Schmuck.