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Highland County commissioners, local FFA members celebrate National FFA Week

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Highland County commissioners issued a proclamation in honor of National FFA Week. Pictured (l-r) are commissioner David Daniels; Riley Collins and Reagan Eastes of Hillsboro FFA; commissioner Brad Roades; Tyler Wessner and Addison Roberts of Mowrystown FFA; Hunter Miller and Cade Sponcil of McClain FFA; Avery Teeters and Emma Fraysier of Fairfield FFA; Ella Barry of Lynchburg-Clay FFA; and commissioner Terry Britton. (HCP Photos/Caitlin Forsha)
By
Caitlin Forsha, The Highland County Press

Highland County commissioners David Daniels, Brad Roades and Terry Britton issued a proclamation in honor of National FFA Week in Highland County, which is being observed Feb. 17-24, during their Wednesday, Feb. 21 meeting.

According to the National FFA Organization, “Each year, FFA chapters around the country celebrate National FFA Week. It’s a time to share what FFA is and the impact it has on members every day.”

Daniels, the commission president, observed the occasion by wearing his FFA jacket. 

Representatives from all five Highland County FFA chapters were on hand to accept the proclamation and meet with commissioners, as those local FFA members included Riley Collins and Reagan Eastes of Hillsboro FFA; Hunter Miller and Cade Sponcil of McClain FFA; Ella Barry of Lynchburg-Clay FFA; Emma Fraysier and Avery Teeters of Fairfield FFA; and Addison Roberts and Tyler Wessner of Mowrystown FFA.

At Daniels’ invitation, the FFA members spoke about some of the activities planned during this special week. 

Barry told commissioners that the Lynchburg-Clay FFA’s “dress-down” days have themes such as farmers, USA, blue and gold and “rivalry day.” They are working on recruiting middle school students this week to raise awareness about the chapter. In addition, she said they have done a community service project.

“We served a luncheon for a local church as appreciation, to give back to all of them,” Barry said.

Collins said Hillsboro is holding dress-up days at school throughout the week, and the chapter was hosting a teacher luncheon on Wednesday. 

“This week, we are getting our students ready to help with our annual alumni auction this weekend,” she said.

The Hillsboro FFA Consignment Auction, hosted with Rick Williams Auction Company, will be held Saturday, Feb. 24, starting at 10 a.m., at the Highland County Fairgrounds.

Roberts said that “similar to everybody else,” Mowrystown FFA has dress-up days at school, while they are hosting a teacher breakfast.

“We also do an Ag Olympics at the end of the week, where it's an assembly where we promote FFA,” Roberts said. “We hold our chapter degree and Greenhand night, where we recognize those attending with their chapter and Greenhand degree. That will be this evening.

“We’re also recruiting seventh graders, teaching them about FFA and informing them on when they can take our eighth grade class.”  

Sponcil said that at McClain, the chapter started their week on Sunday by attending a service at the Greenfield Church of Christ, then going snow tubing. 

“Throughout the week, we've had different days where you could show your support,” Sponcil said. “Today, you could dress up as an adviser. Friday, you dress up in blue and gold, and then Friday, if you participate in all these things, you can go laser tagging. We try to do a lot and make it worth our while.”

According to Teeters, Fairfield FFA is also having “dress-up days” throughout the week.

“One way we like to show our appreciation is we have a teacher luncheon at the end of the week for all of our teachers who support FFA,” she said.

Daniels, whose FFA jacket had “Greenfield FFA” emblazoned on the back and listed his former role as Ohio Department of Agriculture director on the front, told the students that he was a member of FFA in “two different school districts when I was in high school.” (Roades teased him by asking him to list the years.)

“I’m sure things have changed,” Daniels said. 

Daniels then read the proclamation and distributed copies to each chapter, as the commission posed for photos with the group.
  
Also on Wednesday: 

• Local bell enthusiast and C.S. Bell historian Tim Koehl met with commissioners to discuss two bell-related topics related to the Highland County Courthouse. For more, see: https://highlandcountypress.com/news/old-and-new-bells-highland-county-….

• Commissioners heard reports from leaders of several different county offices, on topics including workforce development, the state of the recorder’s office and permissive sales tax receipts. Read the story at: https://highlandcountypress.com/news/new-program-workforce-development-….
 


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