June 17, 2009 09:32 pm
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From Staff Reports
Emily East, Erik Erwin, Anna Calhoun, Dalton Leopard and Ethan Weaver of the Blooming Grove FFA Chapter will be awarded the Lone Star FFA Degree at the 81st annual Texas FFA Convention on July 7 in Dallas. The Lone Star Degree is the highest degree bestowed by the Texas FFA.
The Lone Star Degree recognizes the members’ agricultural awareness, leadership, career development, and active involvement in the FFA organization. The Blooming Grove honorees are part of more than 1,300 members receiving this esteemed degree. According to records on file with the Texas FFA, Blooming Grove FFA has earned 47 Lone Star Degrees in the past 41 years.
Blooming Grove FFA advisors Monica Patrick and Harry Dotson and Blooming Grove FFA members are proud of all five recipients for passing state degree check June 11-12 at Tarleton State University. This year, Blooming Grove was excited to advance these degrees along with Area VIII winners Trenton Herod and Anna Calhoun. These two members competed with their records kept on productively invested funds in a SAE or Supervised Agricultural Experience.
Herod was first in the sheep production proficiency competition at the Corsicana District and the Area VIII contest. His solid foundation along with phenomenal success in the show ring allowed him to earn a fifth place spot at the state contest.
Calhoun competed last year with her specialty animal production proficiency just to follow in big brother Andy Calhoun’s footsteps. She was second at the Area VIII contest in 2008, and this only made her more determined to advance her books in 2009. That is exactly what she did. Calhoun won the Corsicana District FFA contest along with the Area VIII contest held in late May. This allowed her to compete at the state contest June 11-12. She was so humble and happy to just be a state qualifier, she never expected to win state. Calhoun is the 2009 state winner of the specialty animal production proficiency and has qualified as a National FFA regional finalist. Her records will compete at the National FFA Headquarters in August and she will travel to the national convention in October if chosen as a finalist. Calhoun will receive a $1,000 scholarship and plaque at the state convention. She is the first from Blooming Grove FFA Chapter to have won state level competition based on her agricultural productivity, contributions as a leader of her chapter, and community service.
The theme for this year’s convention is “Discover Your Dreams.” For 81 years, FFA members have accomplished their dreams and been successful through the FFA. Members of the youth leadership organization will spend the week attending workshops, participating in events and activities, being recognized for their achievements, and serving as the legislative body for the Texas FFA Association.
The Texas FFA is one of the largest state FFA associations with a membership of more than 63,000 and approximately 1,000 FFA chapters. FFA gives students the opportunity to apply practical classroom knowledge to real world experiences through local, state, and national competitions.
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CUTLINE:
Members of the Blooming Grove FFA team, posing at West High School at the Area VIII FFA Convention. Front, from left, Emily East, Katie McGraw and Anna Calhoun. Back, from left, are Ethan Weaver, Dalton Leopard, Zach Chaffin, Drew Whistler, Trenton Herod and Erik Erwin.
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