Three of Jackson County’s five FFA chapters were represented in various ways during this year’s virtual state convention.
Crothersville’s adviser won a prestigious award, a former member served as the keynote speaker and the chapter won an award for the second year in a row.
Brownstown Central had members elected district and section directors and receive Hoosier Degrees.
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Seymour also had a member earn her Hoosier Degree, while another member made the top four in a program.
The 91st annual Indiana FFA State Convention was moved online because of the COVID-19 pandemic, but it still gave the state association’s 12,600-plus members an opportunity to be recognized, find out project results and see members and teachers be honored.
Crothersville
Crothersville FFA Adviser Linda Myers was recognized as one of two recipients of the Distinguished Service Award.
The award is presented to those who have already earned their Honorary Hoosier Degree but continue to go above and beyond to help Indiana FFA succeed. The other recipient was Cindy Raker, an agriculture educator at Carroll High School in Fort Wayne since 1982.
Myers has been the agriculture educator and FFA adviser at Crothersville Junior-Senior High School since 1989. She received her Honorary Hoosier Degree in 2019.
In the winter, she led the 31st annual Crothersville FFA Toy and Food Drive, during which toys and 19.9375 tons of food were delivered to 101 families. She also has overseen a craft show that benefits the Toy and Food Drive, had many students compete in state-level competitions and advised district and state officers.
She also is active in Jackson County 4-H, is a member of the Jackson County Fair Association and serves as a liaison with Jackson County Industrial Development Corp. to provide resources to Crothersville students.
Myers learned she was nominated for the award by Seymour FFA Adviser Jeanna Eppley, who represents District XI at the state level.
“You don’t do it for the recognition,” Myers said of her job. “You just do it and you don’t ever think of it, but it’s such an honor. … Because my love for FFA is so deep, since I was 2 years old probably, that’s what means so much. … It has just been forever in my heart.”
Her early ties to FFA are credited to her late father, Bob Myers, who was a longtime adviser at Brownstown Central High School. She later became an FFA member in high school.
“When I graduated from high school, my dad said, ‘What do you want to be?’ and I said, ‘I want to be a lifelong FFA member.’ ‘Pick something else. You can’t do that,’ he said,” she said, laughing. “I think that kind of sums it up.”
Myers also thought of her father with Crothersville FFA being the state winner of the Living to Serve — Safety Initiative for the second year in a row. The chapter works with the Crothersville-Vernon Township Volunteer Fire Department in conducting farm and fire safety activities for students.
“On a personal level, I do it because of my dad because he taught ag for 34 years and died on a tractor,” she said. “You can teach that for 34 years and those things are still going to happen, so if we can teach one kid one year, one time something that’s going to protect them, then that’s what we’re in it for.”
The chapter’s safety initiative also included painting two crosswalks near the school building.
Also during the state convention, Crothersville FFA placed second in the state for the Living to Serve — Food Security Initiative for the Toy and Food Drive and was recognized as a superior chapter by the Indiana FFA Association and a bronze emblem donor by the Indiana FFA Foundation.
Individually, Rebekah Cook and Kaylee Caudill served as voting delegates, and Karley Gillis participated in the extemporaneous public speaking contest.
Myers also considered it a big honor for Crothersville to be represented by Scott McKain as the keynote speaker. He served as the FFA state president from 1973 to 1974 and then was as a national officer.
Now an internationally known speaker, McKain has presented business strategies on platforms in all 50 states and 17 countries, was inducted into the Professional Speakers Hall of Fame and is a member of Speakers Roundtable, an elite invitation-only group of 20 business speakers considered by many to be among the best in the world.
During the state convention keynote address, as he does with every speech, McKain mentioned Crothersville. He also offered congratulations to Myers on her “extraordinary achievement,” which meant a lot to her.
McKain spoke via video from his home in Las Vegas, Nevada.
“My ties with Indiana FFA are deep and strong,” he said. “Everything that’s great and true in my life today, all of the privileges and all of the opportunities that I’ve been able to take advantage of are simply because I was a member of the greatest student organization on the face of the Earth — the Indiana FFA Association.”
McKain told the state’s FFA members that he has experienced various ups and downs in life, but he has been able to respond and react to changes and challenges and have the right attitude, which all carried him forward.
He also noted the most powerful lesson he has learned is to have specific, realistic and written goals.
“How are you going to take advantage of these opportunities that are presented to you to make the most of a situation and create specific, realistic and written goals that can change your life the way that FFA changed mine?” he asked. “I believe that you can take the goals and the principles and everything we’ve talked about and make a difference, that you in fact can grab hold of the good stuff in life.”
Brownstown Central
Incoming Brownstown Central seniors Abby Stuckwisch and Macey Stuckwisch were elected to serve on the Indiana FFA Executive Committee.
Abby was elected District XI president, and Macey was elected Section IV director.
Abby and Macey also were among 465 students earning their Hoosier Degree, which is the biggest honor a state association can bestow a member.
Also, Abby placed first in the state in agriculture education career development event, Emma Winks competed in the employment skills leadership development event, Winks and Taylor Loudermilk served as chapter delegates and the chapter was recognized as a silver emblem donor to the Indiana FFA Foundation.
Seymour
Seymour FFA member Kourtney Otte also earned her Hoosier Degree.
Fellow chapter member Sydney Wiesehan interviewed for the Indiana FFA Star Farmer honor and made it into the top four for leadership ambassador. The program recognizes FFA members who have excelled in the supervised agricultural experience programs.
The video Wiesehan submitted shows her supervised agricultural experience in sheep production. Her sheep operation has grown tremendously over the last few years, starting out as a project and developing into a small business.
The Seymour FFA chapter recognized Wiesehan on its Facebook page, saying it’s a huge accomplishment for Wiesehan being a finalist for the prestigious award.
“Help us in congratulating Sydney for all her hard work and dedication,” the post said. “Congratulations, Sydney. We are proud of you.”
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For information about the 91st annual Indiana FFA State Convention, which was conducted virtually, visit inffa.org/page.aspx?ID=304.
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