FFA members 'show' up

COLUMBUS — During the last two weeks of July, the Ohio State Fair was in full swing and four local FFA members participated at the state level. Nash Feichtner, son of Heath and Joey Feichtner, participated in two sessions of swine shows where he participated in swine breed classes where he had the fifth overall Duroc gilt, a Yorkshire that was fifth in class, a third place in crossbred breeding gilt, an overall Berkshire class winner and he placed 6th in swine showmanship. Isabella Kimberlin, daughter of BJ and Jenn Kimberlin, participated in the first swine session where she showed her breeding swine, where two of her pigs placed fourth, participated in swine skillathon and swine showmanship. Claire Huffman, daughter of Jeremiah and Alisha Huffman participated in the rabbit breed show, rabbit skillathon where she placed third, and rabbit showmanship. Claire additionally participated in the poultry skillathon where she placed third as well. Isabella Lucha, daughter of Tom and Sarah Lucha participated in the poultry breed show, poultry skillathon where she won her age division and was overall skillathon champion, received 1st place in her record books and poultry breed showmanship where she placed fourth in her division. Congratulations to these four individuals who went above and beyond in the show ring by competing at the state level and best of luck to them next week at the Huron County Fair. FFA members go to Washington, D.C. On July 7, 10 South Central FFA members began their trip to Washington D.C. for the National FFA Leadership training called Washington Leadership Conference for five days. Members in attendance were Bryan Chaffee, Abby Fannin, Autumn Fry, Landon Gamble, Alex Hamons, Claire Huffman, Isabella Lucha, Riley Major, Jenna Shepherd and Alivia Walcher. On the way to the conference, members stopped at the Flight 93 Memorial in Stoystown, Pennsylvania and Monticello, Thomas Jefferson's home in Charlottesville, Virginia. Members toured the grounds and learned about Thomas Jefferson's historical significance in writing the Declaration of Independence and his influence as our third president. Afterwards, members toured Carter Mountain Orchard, which specializes in peaches and apples. Carter Mountain Orchard hosted a line dance opportunity for the South Central, Bellevue and Plymouth FFA members. On July 8, members started their morning by visiting the United States Army Museum in Springfield, Virginia, where they learned about the formation and evolution of the United States Army. Continuing on to Washington D.C., members visited the Albert Einstein Statue and then the members went to the Vietnam Wall. At the Vietnam Memorial, members located names of the fallen soldiers from Huron County and left remembrance cards to honor them. Then members went to tour the National Cathedral before checking into the conference. Once in the conference, members are put into groups with other FFA members where they learned leadership skills and techniques. On July 9, the South Central FFA members continued their leadership training and learned about being active citizens in their local communities and ways to participate in making their communities better. In the evening, the South Central FFA chapter members in attendance toured the Jefferson Memorial, the Franklin D. Roosevelt Memorial, the Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial, the World War II Memorial, the Capitol Building, the Lincoln Memorial and the Korean Memorial. On July 10, the South Central FFA members met with representatives from Congressman Bob Latta's office who spoke to us about the representative's responsibilities and how to be active citizens with a voice. After the meeting, members toured the United States Capitol, visited the House Gallery, toured the Supreme Court House and toured the Library of Congress. Members then went back to the conference where they began to create Service Learning Plans to help better the local community. On July 11, members from all across the nation worked together for Meals of Hope, a community service project to help those less fortunate through packaging safe, wholesome meals such as oatmeal breakfast packages fortified with vitamins and minerals. After the project where they made over 20,000 meals, the members went to Arlington Cemetery, where they toured the grounds, watched the changing of the guard at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, and toured Robert E. Lee's House while learning the history of the Cemetery. Then the members traveled to the White House and the World War I Memorial before returning to the conference for motivational speakers and finalizing their service projects. Before their return trip home that evening, members visited the Iwo Jima Marines Memorial and the Pentagon 9/11 Memorial. The South Central FFA members in attendance were able to learn about leadership and service in an amazing opportunity at the National FFA Washington Leadership Conference. Members will be putting their service plans into action this year and we look forward to the impact these members will have on our community.