Carroll FFA chapter one of top 10 in Indiana
Comet staff report

Carroll FFA members attended the State FFA Convention at Purdue University this summer.

Both the chapter and the members received many honors during the week.

The Carroll Chapter was recognized as being in the top 10 chapters in the state out of over 180 chapters in Indiana. Carroll received this honor for the fifth consecutive year. The chapter is scored on its activities in the areas of Community Development, Student Development, and Chapter Development. The chapter will now be ranked on the national level.

Kara Overholser received her State FFA Degree at a special evening ceremony. This is the highest degree a member can achieve on the state level. The degree is based on the student's Supervised Agricultural Experience, leadership, and scholarship. Kara is the daughter of Rex and Suzan Overholser.

Carroll had five different teams participate in the State FFA Leadership Career Development Events. Kara Overholser and Sarah Brown won first place in the Ag Production Demonstration, and Jill Griffin placed second in the Freshman Extemporaneous Public Speaking Contest.

Others competing were Travis Martin, Cody Harter, Megan Garrison and Jill Griffin in Quiz Bowl; Chandler Keown and Kierstyn Harper in Horticulture Demonstration; and Lucia Zook and Katie Pearson in Natural Resources Demonstration.

The chapter also had four entries in the area of Agri-Science Fair. All four placed first in the state and will move on to national competition. The winners were: Jonathan Bush and Aaron Spesard, Bio-Chemistry; Daniel Huckstep and Chad Griffin, Environmental; Trey Overholser and Dan Budreau, Engineering; and Alisha Turnpaugh, Individual/Environmental. All of these research projects will now advance on to national competition.

Carroll FFA members also competed in the proficiency contests. These are based on the students' Supervised Agriculture Experience Program. Scott Guckien and Travis Martin both took home first place - Scott in Grain Production and Travis in Home and Community Development.

Receiving third place in the contests were: Malena Zook, Ag Communications; Sarah Griffin, Diversified Livestock Production; and Kara Overholser, Home and Community Development.

Those placing fourth were: Chandler Keown, Small Animal Care, and Walon Peters, Placement in Swine Production.

Two Carroll judging teams were recognized for their success this past year. The Dairy Judging Team of Sarah Griffin, Jill Griffin, Malena Zook and Chandler Keown were recognized for winning the state at their contest in May. They will continue on to national competition. The Forestry Team of Malena Zook, Travis Martin, Chandler Keown and Lucia Zook were recognized for their fourth place finish in the state.

Kara Overholser and Sarah Griffin were elected District V secretary and treasurer. Kara also was elected Section II director. This office puts her on the State Executive Committee where she will be helping make decisions for the Indiana FFA Association during the 2007- 2008 year.

One of the highlights of the convention for the Carroll chapter was being on hand for the final week of Desiray Simmons' service to the Indiana FFA and its members. She served as the Indiana FFA Northern Region Vice President this past year. She plans to attend Purdue University this fall and major in agriculture education.