Western Reserve FFA holds annual banquet

COLLINS — The Western Reserve FFA held its annual banquet on Thursday, April 21, in the Western Reserve High School auditoria. This event is held in order to celebrate the FFA student's successes and all of their accomplishments throughout the past year. There were 17 members and 54 guests in attendance. The 2021-2022 FFA officers began the evening's events with opening ceremonies followed by Gaven Green's recitation of the FFA Creed. Holden Nuhn followed with the invocation for the evening's meal. The meal consisted of pulled pork, cheesy potatoes, green beans, baked beans and bread with butter. Drinks for the evening were punch or bottled water. The dessert was a choice of chocolate or vanilla cake provided by Farm Credit-Mid America. Once guests were finished with the meal, Lilli White recognized Western Reserve Board of Education members, administration, faculty, staff, past State FFA Degree recipients, and parents of FFA members for their support and all of their time put into our FFA. Allyson Benesh then announced the Certificates of Appreciation, while FFA adviser, Mr. Starkey presented them with their certificates. All of these recipients have devoted hours of time and services to help make our FFA year a success. The Greenhand Degrees were then announced and recipients were given a certificate, pin, and stamped their handprint on this year's mural. The following members were recognized for exemplary SAE's and earned Proficiency Awards in their respective areas: Holden Nuhn in Agricultural Mechanics Repair and Maintenance, Dairy Production-Entrepreneurship, and Landscape Management Placement, along with Kelsey Lasch in Forest Management and Products, Vegetable Production, Poultry Production, and Turfgrass Management Entrepreneurship. Recognition for outstanding sales in fundraising activities was the next award area. For the fruit and cheese fall fundraiser, the top three sellers were Joselyn Charville selling $844 worth of fruit and cheese, Colton White selling $1,253 worth of fruit and cheese, and Holden Nuhn selling $2,100 worth of fruit and cheese. For the strawberry spring fundraiser, the top three sellers were: Holden Nuhn, who sold 21 flats of strawberries, Katie Woodruff, who sold 22 flats of strawberries, and Anna Woodrum, who sold 30 flats strawberries. Career development events build on what is learned in the agricultural education classes and encourages members to put their knowledge into practice. These events are designed to help a member prepare for a career in agriculture by testing and challenging the student's technical, leadership, interpersonal and teamwork skills, as well as their knowledge of the subject matter. Those members participating in events throughout this year were awarded with a certificate. The participating members were Holden Nuhn, Colton White, Joselyn Charville, Katie Woodruff, Anna Woodrum, Grace French, Kelsey Lasch, Mason Kinney, Hannah French, Renee Miller, Hazel Green, Caleb Kuenzuel, and Haley Lax. To close the banquet, new chapter officers were installed and the previous year officers were given their retiring officer plaques. The newly installed 2022-2023 officers are Katie Woodruff as president, Lillian White as vice president, Hannah French as secretary, Kelsey Lasch as treasurer, Mason Kinney as assistant treasurer, Allyson Benesh as reporter, Anna Woodrum as sentinel, Caleb Kuenzel as student adviser, and Grace French as social media influencer.