Successful sales start Genoa FFA’s year

The Genoa-Penta Future Farmers of America chapter started the year with our fall sale of mums, pumpkins, and gourds. All of the mums were grown by Junior Lyla Sprague at her family’s farm. Lyla created her business, LJ Mums this year.
The pumpkins and gourds were grown by Senior Emersen Bickel. Emersen grew all her pumpkins and gourds from an acre of land in town and was able to do the entire process.
Our Urban and Agricultural soils teams competed in Henry County for our district contest on Sept. 26. Our soils team placed second out of 17 teams with Seniors, Jaylin Smith and Jessica Baker placing second and seventh overall individually. Our Ag Soils team consisted of mainly new FFA members to learn the process and participate in their first competition.
On Sept. 28 we sent our first Forestry team to the state contest at Hocking College. The contest includes not only identifying trees, but also timber cruising, map reading, compass reading, and equipment identification.
We hosted our annual food drive again, participating in the “Gridiron Giveback” this year. Students from all three buildings brought in cans throughout the week for various prizes given by the FFA. On Friday at the high school, we had a special assembly that allowed the winning teacher team a chance to pie a student or teacher of their choice. Congrats to Mrs. Cannon for her overwhelming victory as the top teacher to collect cans. All cans collected are able to stay in our school district food pantries. We were able to collect more than 6,100 pounds of food this year.
On Oct. 9 our Animal and Aquarium management teams competed at Penta. Aquarium management placed third in the district and Animal Management placed 4th, both earning district honors. Our state contest for these is Nov. 11 at the Ohio State Fairgrounds. Congratulations to Emersen Bickel, Olivia Mihlbauer, Taylor Costley, and Emma Kable for qualifying for the state Animal Management contest. This is the first team we’ve have had qualify for state.
On Oct. 10 our Dairy Cattle and Dairy Foods teams competed at Edgerton High School for the district contest. Our Dairy Foods team placed sixth and Dairy Cattle placed seventh. Both of these teams had a large number of first time competitors.
On Oct. 29 our Novice and Advanced Parliamentary Procedure teams competed in our sub-district contest at Eastwood High School. Parliamentary Procedure introduces students to how to properly run a business meeting. Both of our teams made it to the district contest on Nov. 19.
Oct. 30 we hosted the sub-district job interview contest and participants came from Genoa, Oak Harbor, and Woodmore to compete. In this competition students must make a resume, cover letter, fill out a job application, participate in an in-person interview, and write a follow up letter. Congratulations to Senior Ellie Myers, Juniors Brady Lay and Lyla Sprague, and freshman Ava Estrada for qualifying to compete at the district contest at Clay High School.
We hosted our annual “Creep for a Cure” event. Things were switched up this year and we had a trunk or treat style, food trucks, an outdoor movie, and a corn hole tournament. This event had a wonderful turn out and we are excited to continue it in the future.
In October, 14 of our members went to the National FFA Convention in Indianapolis. Members toured an apple orchard, watched a rodeo, ate at Fogo de Chao, went to an escape room, and toured the John Brown racing museum. Alumni, Gracie Sprague won the national Agricultural Sales proficiency contest. She has been working towards this goal for many years, earning awards at the state level before this national award.
On Halloween morning members went to the elementary school for a tree scavenger hunt with 5th graders. Members and students explored the cross country course to discover different kinds of trees and had to bring back leaves, berries, or bark from the trees, and answer questions about each of them.