Monroeville FFA holds 92nd banquet

On Thursday April 25th Monroeville FFA held their 92nd annual banquet. The night started out as the 2023-2024 officers did their last opening ceremony together. After the opening remarks guests and members enjoyed a dinner of beef brisket, macaroni and cheese, green beans, broccoli salad and dessert catered by Bone Boys BBQ while they watched a slideshow of the year's memories. After dinner the year's awards started to be announced. The first award being handed out was our soil judging awards. All the members who competed in urban and rural judging received a plaque. Next was our public speaking contest. There were only two members that competed in public speaking. Lilly Stein competed in the creed speaking contest. Hayden Ryan competed in an extemporaneous speaking contest. Lilly Stein then presented the FFA creed to the audience. Our next awards were food science. This contest is where members have to taste different food items and judge them. Members who competed received a plaque. The next contest awarded was to members who competed in poultry judging this year. This contest is where members look at processed chicken products, live birds, eggs, and carcasses to determine food quality and production. The next team recognized general livestock where they judge cattle, sheep and hogs to determine which are the most desirable for breeding and market animals. They then announced their next award and it was to members who competed in the outdoor power equipment contest. In this contest members look at gas and diesel engines and attempt to troubleshoot them. Members who participated in the greenhand quiz came to the stage next. First year members of the FFA are tested on FFA history, locations, and facts about the FFA organization. Next was our tractor day awards. During banquet week every year Monroeville holds a drive your tractor to school day and some of the awards include most versatile, cleanest, newest, oldest, biggest, dirtiest, most unique, and loudest. After that they awarded members who competed in the job interview career development event. These members are given a choice of several agriculture jobs to apply for, cover letters, resumes and an actual interview with an industry professional are all required. Reporter Hayden Ryan was recognized for achieving a Gold rating for the reporters scrapbook. It is an accomplishment recognized by the State FFA and he will receive another award at the Ohio FFA convention. The next big award is the State FFA degree. This award is given to the top 1.5% percent of members who invest time, money, and skill into a Supervised Agricultural Experience (SAE) program. This year's recipients are Annesa Ruggles and Jarret Beard. Anessa Works on the family grain farm and Jarrett works for several local specialty crop farms. Anita Ruggles who graduated last year will receive her American FFA degree this coming November at the National FFA convention in Indianapolis. Class awards recognize individuals in each class who have given effort above and beyond what is expected. Winning star greenhand was Issac Krueger, Taylor Scheid, and Lilly Stein. Winning star sophomore was Hayden Ryan, Star Junior was Annesa Ruggles, And star senior Jarret Beard. Jarret Beard also was presented the Ag Credit 110% award for showing his continued involvement in FFA related activities. When a member outside of the organization gives their time and support the chapter honors them with the Honorary Chapter FFA degree this year Mrs. Betsy Ruggles was recognized for her support of the Monroeville FFA and being an advocate for Agriculture. Mr. Bauer then thanked the BOE, Administration, teachers and support staff at MHS for their continued support. And lastly they announced the new 2024-2025 officers. This years officers are President- Annesa Ruggles, Vice President- Cole Perry, Secretary- Maddox Bauer, Treasurer- Brycen Dunlap, Reporter- Hayden Ryan, Sentinel- Chase Horn, Student advisor- Issac Krueger, Historian- Lillian Stein, Parliamentarian- Taylor Scheid, Chaplin- Vincent Schafer, At large- Maverick Myers, At large- Genna Bragg.