Ansonia FFA Holds 80th Annual Parent Member Banquet

The new Ansonia FFA officer team. back row(left to right), Ross Dapore,
Mark Mayo, and Trenton Prasuhn. front row(left to right), Ethan Fischer
Amber Bergman, and Olivia Wright. Not pictured: Katie Werts

On March 30, 2017, over 200 members, parents, and guests attended Ansonia’s 80th Annual FFA Banquet. The Banquet included the annual silent auction, an opening by Mark Mayo, a delicious meal, an honorary degree ceremony, a speech by State President Mary Bueller, the annual freshman skit, a presentation of special awards, a year in review slide show, and the evening was wrapped up by the installation of the new officer team. The banquet was closed by 2017-2018 President Amber Bergman.

The annual silent auction was once again a huge success. This year’s auction had around 72 items sponsored by many of the local businesses. These businesses include: A.L. Smith Trucking, Abel’s Barber Shop, The Hair Shack, Ace Hardware, Anderson’s, Ansonia Auto Parts, Valvoline Instant Oil Change, Ansonia Lumber, Autozone, Sideliners, Betty’s Natural Foods, Coffee Pot, Bruns Animal Clinic, Burkettsville Garage, Dave Knapp Ford Lincoln, Schultz Motors, Butcher Block, Campbell Electric, Carriage Werkes, Inc, CBS Automotive/Napa, True Value, Worch Lumber, Cottonwood Lakes, Country Bridal and Tux, Cox Insurance, Crop Production Services, Davis Camper Sales, Winner’s Meats, Dick Lavy Trucking, Dynamic Weld Corp, Eikenberry’s, Muzzy’s Magic Spice, Ernest Sports, F-45, Fellers Auto, Floral Reflections, Flory Landscaping, Frank Miller Lumber Company, Frenchtown Trailer Sales, Granite & Bronze Memorials, Edwin F. Nickol, Greenville National Bank, Hartzell Veterinary Service, John’s IGA- Versailles, Marsh-Union City, Kaup Pharmacy, Kimmel Trucking, King’s Poultry Farm, Klingshirn & Sons Trucking, Inc, Knick Show Pigs, Koening Equipment, Lefeld Supply & Rental, Lowes, Maria Stein Animal Clinic, McBo’s Lanes, Mercer Landmark, Moody’s Auto Sales, Nancy O’s Religious Gifts, Nature Reflections, North Star Hardware & Implement, North Star Plumbing, Heating & Cooling, Reilly Auto Services, Rob’s Auto Parts, Second National Bank, Seed Consultants, Sherwin WIlliams, Snap Fitness, St. Henry Tile CO, Swag-N-Shine Wheel Polishing, The Herb Pantry, Kim Campbell, The People's Bank, The Winery at Versailles, The Wooden Spoon, St. Henry Bake Shoppe, Versailles Ace Hardware, Versailles Feed Mill, Veterinary & Poultry Supply, Vinyl Works/Homestretch Sportswear, Wayne Builders Supply, Wasson Nursery, Werling Meats, Janet’s and more. This year the auction raised over $2,400. This money will be divided between invasions of our FFA greenhouse and local charities. Some items that were up for action were dog food, salon products, tools, restaurant gift certificates, and many more incredible items.

At this year’s banquet, the Ansonia FFA installed two new members as Honorary Degree Recipients. Honorary degree recipients are people from the community who have helped the chapter over the years by donating their time and wisdom to the field of agriculture to help make the organization a success. Carleen Bisner was the first to receive a Honorary Degree. She has helped throughout the years with prepping and cleaning up all meetings and events. Every year for the FFA banquet, she makes the flowers which are given to the senior and officer parents and has help with many set ups as well.Our other Honorary Degree was given to Jim Atchley. He is the current superintendent of Ansonia schools and he has helped the FFA with a ton of events and the transportation for those events. Without his dedication to our chapter we would not have accomplished what we already have. Without the help of these Honorary Degree recipients, the Ansonia FFA would not be the wonderful organization that it is today. The Ansonia FFA would once again like to thank the newest honorary members for all that they do for the FFA.

Also, the Ansonia FFA gave the Outstanding Advisor award to Mr. Brad Lentz. Brad taught at Ansonia for 20 years and has impacted so many kids along the way. He helped create the FFA greenhouse and he also helped shape so many students into such wonderful people. He is now currently running the agricultural program at Edison Community College. We thank you for your time and dedication to our chapter. It wouldn’t be the same without you.



Throughout the night, many awards were given out to the students who have shown extreme interest in FFA and who have worked hard in and out of the classroom. Awards of the night went to: Sarah Rhoades- Dairy Production Placement, Alexis Copeland- Equine Science Entrepreneurship, Stefani Garrett- Equine Science Placement, Sam Rhoades- Diversified Crop Production Placement, Amber Bergman- Fruit Production Entrepreneurship, Andrew Rowland- Grain Production Placement, Olivia Wright- Goat Production Entrepreneurship, Amber Bergman- Sheep Production Entrepreneurship, Robert Christman- Nursery Operations Placement, Cierra Longenecker- Swine Production Entrepreneurship, Robert Christman- Turf Grass Management, Katelyn McKenna- Vegetable Production Entrepreneurship, and Sam Rhoades- Specialty Crop Production. Top fruit salespersons from both winter and spring fruit sales also received awards: In 3rd place for the winter fruit sale was Skyler Marker, selling $1,021.50, In 2nd place is Robert Christman, selling $1,084.00. Our top salesman for this year was Mark Mayo, selling $1,505.50 worth of fruit. In the spring sale, Maggi Shrock placed third with $531.10. Second place was Brandon Heck with $534.50. And, coming in first for the spring sale is Blake Thomas, selling $605.75 of fruit being sold. Congratulations to all the award winners!

The retiring officer team including President Amber Bergman, Vice President Skyler Marker, Secretary Katie Werts, Treasurer Robert Christman, Reporter Cierra Longenecker, Student Advisors Sarah Rhoades and Katelyn McKenna, Sentinel Max Wardrip, Historian Aleesha Gates, Parliamentarian Sam Rhoades, and Chaplin Mark Mayo were thanked by the Ansonia FFA advisors, Zane Fessler and Emily Williams, for all their hard work before the 2016-2017 officer team was announced. The new officer team, consisting of President Amber Bergman, Vice President Katie Werts, Treasurer Ethan Fischer, Reporter Olivia Wright, Student Advisor Ross Dapore, Sentinel Mark Mayo, and Chaplain Trenton Prasuhn, are looking forward to fulfilling their duties in the upcoming year.

Congratulations to the Ansonia FFA Chapter for having another successful banquet and to the many award winners that night. A special thank you to all that helped the Ansonia FFA throughout the year; we couldn’t do it without you. We are looking forward to another successful year!