Proceedings S T E P U P
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PROCEEDINGS S T E P U P. S TA N D O U T. 1 Table of Contents 2009 National Officers ............................................................................................... 77 Ag-Entreprenuers ............................................................................................................2 Agricultural Proficiency Winners ............................................................................. 15 Agriscience Fair Awards ............................................................................................... 9 Agriscience Student of the Year ................................................................................8 Agriscience Teacher of the Year .................................................................................8 American Degree Recipients ....................................................................................45 American Star Winners ............................................................................................... 25 Band and Chorus Participants .................................................................................69 Candids ............................................................................................................................. 79 Career Development Event Winners ......................................................................10 Days of Service Candids ............................................................................................. 78 Delegates .........................................................................................................................70 Honorary American Degree Recipients ................................................................62 H.O. Sargent Diversity Award Winners .................................................................68 National Officers Nominating Committee and Candidates .......................... 76 Retiring Address: Becky Sullivan ............................................................................30 Retiring Address: Brady Revels ...............................................................................36 Retiring Address: Kari Boettcher ............................................................................39 Retiring Address: Morgan Parker ............................................................................42 Retiring Address: Tyler Tenbarge ............................................................................ 33 Retiring Address: Zach Kinne ................................................................................... 27 Top Chapters ...................................................................................................................63 VIP Citations ...................................................................................................................65 S T E P U P. S TA N D O U T. 2 Ag-Entreprenuers Honored The Agri-Entrepreneurship JUSTIN ALLEN, 18, of Holton, Kan., owns a football scholarship, and is studying Education Program is designed to and operates Rockin’ Lazy A Ranch farm and ranch management as well as increase the amount of entrepreneurship Bucking Bulls, an enterprise that pro- graphic design. He is the son of Steve being taught in local agriculture pro- duces registered bucking stock bulls. and Aleta Allen. grams across the country. This program Allen started his business in 2004 with two registered Brahma cows. focuses on entrepreneurship — the values, LINDSEY GUNTER, 18, of Batesville, Ind., “I took my interest in Brahma cattle requirements and challenges of owning owns and operates Gunter’s Farm Fresh and combined it with my passion for your own business. With this informa- Eggs, a business that produces and mar- rodeos and bull riding,” Allen said. “I tion, students will be better prepared kets organic eggs locally. She began this applied for and received a $5,000 loan to become entrepreneurs and begin to business venture in 2006 by selling farm from the USDA Farm Services Agency perceive entrepreneurship as a viable fresh eggs to family and friends. Since through the Young Farmer program. I career choice. The Agri-Entrepreneurship then, Gunter’s business has converted to used those funds to purchase two more Awards honor FFA members who have organic production and is marketing to a bred cows and started raising bucking recognized a market opportunity that was wider scope of customers, including Ertel stock.” overlooked by others and conceived a Cellars, a local restaurant, vineyard and As a way to draw interest and diver- plan to pursue that opportunity. winery. sify his product offering, Allen designed During the 81st National FFA Conven- “My customers appreciate being and produced hats, T-shirts, coasters, tion, 10 students were named National able to purchase organic eggs produced coffee mugs and other items. These Agri-Entrepreneurs. They received locally,” said Gunter. “I currently offer items, along with Allen’s bucking stock $1,000 and a commemorative plaque white and brown eggs and am work- and straws of semen from his herd sires, during an onstage ceremony. USDA Rural ing to add organic, free-range chickens are marketed on his website, www. Development sponsors the National to my sales list. I am meeting the USDA rockinlazya.com. Agri-Entrepreneurship Award Program requirements but am still completing the “Justin is a hard-working student as a special project of the National FFA final steps necessary to be officially certi- who has set high goals for himself and is Foundation. fied as a USDA organic producer.” working diligently to achieve them,” said In addition, Gunter has enhanced her his FFA advisors Jason Larison and Alex business by increasing her flock size to Bartel. “He researched what it would take meet local demand and makes a concen- to be successful in the bucking stock trated effort to build strong relationships business and developed a plan. He is with her customers. “A happy customer is implementing that plan and making his a future customer,” Gunter said. dreams become reality. Justin has done “When Lindsey first entered the class- an outstanding job of applying what room, she set very lofty goals in terms he has learned in the classroom to of planning and developing a business his business.” that could be successful in the Batesville Allen is a 2008 gradu- area,” said Jessica Geisler, Gunter’s agri- ate of Holton High School. culture teacher and FFA advisor. “Lindsey While in high school, Allen definitely has an entrepreneurial spirit was active in FFA, was a about her and is always considering all member of National Honor of her options. She has developed many Society, 4-H, the football and skills through her business, but probably track teams and he participated the most important is to produce prod- in winter weights. Allen is currently ucts that her customers’ demand.” attending Garden City Community Gunter is a senior at Batesville High College in Garden City, Kan., on School. She has been an active FFA S T E P U P. S TA N D O U T. 3 Agri-Entrepreneurs Honored continued member for three years, serving as the learning business skills, as well as the MARK JOLLY, 16, of Hillsboro, Ohio, secretary of the Batesville FFA Chapter opportunities afforded through FFA. owns and operates Jolly Farm, an enter- for two terms, competing in several lead- “My agriculture teacher told me about prise that houses and cares for cull sows ership career development events and people who had been involved in FFA from larger hog operations nearby. Jolly serving on numerous committees. She and established great programs. I wanted provides a safe and comfortable place has also been a member of the German to be one of those people,” she said. “I for the sows from the time they leave the Club, FCCLA, the Junior Red Cross and think working for yourself is one of those farrowing barn until they are marketed. 4-H. She is the daughter of Eugene and things that most people dream of, and I Jolly started his business when he Elene Gunter. have been able to do that. Now my goal discovered several local hog operations is to attend college needed a place to house non-productive and major in econom- sows until enough of them had been ics or business. I have collected to fill a semi-truck, which then an interest in food sci- transports them to a packer. After care- ence, which could be an fully calculating the time and expenses avenue into running my the operation would require, and con- own food company.” sidering the compensation he would “Amanda is the receive, Jolly decided to launch the epitome of entrepre- enterprise. neurship,” said Darryl “I am presently managing four barns Matherly, Jewell’s agri- full of sows and would like to fill one culture teacher and FFA more barn when the opportunity pres- advisor. “She recognized ents itself,” Mark said. “My overall goal is a business opportu- to create a situation, through diversifica- nity that no one else tion, that would allow me to stay on the saw, surveyed people family farm full-time when I graduate. to determine if it was This means that the business must gener- AMANDA JEWELL, 17, of Taylorsville, a viable idea, then developed a plan ate enough income to support me, and, Ky., owns and operates AJ’s Berries, an to turn her dream into reality. She has eventually a family of my own.” enterprise that produces and markets increased her acreage by learning how “Mark manages every step of the blackberries, strawberries and jam. Jew- to propagate plants, which was a very operation from grinding feed, feeding,