The Smyrna FFA Chapter wrapped up a successful showing at this year’s 91st Annual Delaware State Fair with numerous award recognitions at the Delaware FFA Awards Breakfast held on July 30.
Retiring Smyrna High School teacher and FFA advisor Mr. Russell Stinson was recognized with an Outstanding Educator Award for his 33 years of teaching AgriScience in Delaware. He also received the National Association of AgriScience Educators Teacher Mentor Award.
“He’s been a role model to so many of his students, including myself and my AgriScience colleagues here at Smyrna High,” said Agricultural Structures teacher Jay Davis. “They say the measure of a man is by how many people he knows, but I think in this case, it’s how many people know him and have come to respect him.”
Stinson brought his successful FFA legacy to a close on June 30 of this year.
Smyrna High FFA named Delaware Ag Products Display Winner
The Smyrna High School FFA Chapter was recognized with a first place victory in the Delaware Agricultural Products Display competition, sponsored by the Delaware Department of Agriculture. The chapter display themed “Delaware Agriculture is Right” after the popular television game show, “The Price Is Right” featured a variety of agricultural facts and statistics in an eye catching display filled with lights, action and themed background music. The display will be featured at the National Career Show in Indianapolis, Indiana this October as a part of the National FFA Convention.
Smyrna's FFA program was recognized as the largest in the state, with 260 members.
The chapter also earned a Silver Emblem in the National Chapter awards, finishing in 5th place overall in the state.
Individual & Team Awards
Among the award winners from Smyrna High was Emily Smith, who won first place individually in the National Dairy CDE Competition. Smith, along with fellow team members Amanda Scotton (5th place individual) , Laura McClements (8th place individual) and Amber Cherriman, captured first place as a team and won the right to compete at the National FFA Convention this Fall.
The Smyrna FFA Livestock team of Kelsey Knab, Colleen Donahue, and Amanda Jones placed 4th as a team with Knab receiving 4th high individual and Donahue 10th place individual.
The Smyrna FFA Ag Mechanics team of Michael Severson, Lee Severson, JJ Harris and Amie Lee also placed 4th as a team in their competition.
Individually, Steven Scuse placed 2nd in the Safe Tractor Equipment Operations CDE and Sierra Dillard placed 8th in the National Poultry CDE competition.
Jewell honored as State Star Greenhand
Smyrna High's Morgan Jewell won the State Star Greenhand Award, which is presented to the most outstanding first-year FFA member.
AgriScience Fair & Exhibits
The Delaware FFA Association also held the 2010 State AgriScience Fair competition for individuals and two-person teams to showcase their research and scientific skills at the State Fair. Top individual efforts came from Michael Severson, won first place in the Agricultural Engineering Division for his project entitled, “Watts Best?” which compared standard and energy efficient light bulbs in trial settings. Colleen Donahue, won first place in the Food Science Division for her project entitled, “Maximizing Your Pop” which compared name brand microwave popcorn products, based on their popping efficiency. Heather McTheny placed second individually in the same division for her popcorn research.
In the team competition, Rebecca Urian and Kelsey Knab placed second in the Zoology Division for their project entitled, “What’s The Buzz About?” which compared fly catching products. Lee Severson and Tommy Smith also placed second in the Botany Division for their project, “Upside Down or Right Side Up” as it compared the growth differences of tomato plants using traditional growing methods and the inverted hanging approach.
When it came to growing, arranging, harvesting or building fair exhibits, the Smyrna FFA Chapter had 30 members who supplied over 151 competitive FFA entries. Premium ribbon winners included:
• Jason Baker- 5th Place Table Welding Project
• Sam Hartle- 6th Place Yellow Squash
• Morgan Jewell- 2nd Place Potato Varieties; 6th Place Cucumbers
• Tim King- 2nd Place Welding Display
• Chris Klase- 3rd Place Welding Display
• Kelsey Knab- 4th Place Orchard Hay, Timothy Hay and 6th Place Alfalfa Hay
• Michael Lennon- 4thPlace Welding Display
• Laura McClements- 4th Place Yellow Sweet Corn; 6th Place Beets
• Heather McTheny- 3rd Place Slicing Tomatoes
• Will Powers- 3rd Place Orchard Grass Hay and 6th Place Exterior Woodworking project
• Khaliq Rider- 6th Place Hitch Welding Project
• Matt Ryan- 4th Place Hitch Welding Project
• Lee Severson- 3rd Place Italian Tomatoes & White Onions; 4th Place Radishes; 5th Place Yellow Squash; 6th Place Banana Peppers and Yellow Onions.
• Michael Severson- 2nd Place White Onions; 3rd Place Radishes; 4th Italian Tomatoes & Banana Peppers; and 5th Yellow Onions.
• Craig Simmons- 6th Place Welding Display
• Amanda Scotton- 4th Place Gallon of Wheat and Gallon of Shelled Corn; 5th Place Timothy Hay; and 6th Place Peppers
• Rebecca Urian- 1st Place Potatoes and Cherry Peppers; 2nd Place Timothy Hay; 3rd Place Yellow Corn, Gallon of Wheat, 12” Container Planting and White Onions; 4th Place Corn Sample, Winter Wheat Bundle, Gallon of Barley, 7 inch+ Hanging Flowering Basket, Potted Foliage Plant, and Radishes; 5th Place White Onions, Hot Peppers, Yellow and Zucchini Squash, Banana Peppers, Italian Tomatoes, Garden Vegetable Display; and 6th Place Foliage Hanging Basket, Potted Foliage Plant and Yellow Onions.
