MCHS FFA SPECIAL POINTS OF INTEREST:
November Newsletter V O L U M E
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Food Drive starts NOW! Bring in as many items as you can for the Madison County Food Bank Join FFA! Membership is still open for all students in an agriculture class! Club Day meeting December 7th Young Farmer Meeting December 8th Join the FFA Alumni and support your students in the FFA
INSIDE THIS ISSUE:
Job Interview
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Land Judging / Floral Design
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Area CDEs
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Cain Speaks at Chapter Meeting
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National FFA Convention
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Student Spotlight 4
2010-11 Freshman Academy FFA Chapter of the Year Twenty-four students from the Madison County High School FFA chapter attended the North Region Leadership Rally held in Covington, Georgia at the FFA/FCCLA center. During the two day rally students competed in various academic quiz bowls, an opening ceremonies contest, and had fun learning new skills on how to communicate and work on a team lead by the area officers. During the last session the area state agriculture education staff gives out awards to the top ten chapters in the region. The freshman academy competes against other schools that have all four grade levels in the area. The chapter of the
year program is determined by how many students total
that a chapter has compete and the number of gold emblems that students receive by competing in contests. Our MCHS 9th graders won the chapter of the year award because the record of number of different students, Above - Awards ceremony at the total students North Region Rally. Current 9th and and gold emblems 10th grade students with Chapter of earned. The chapter has been give a banthe Year Banner for their school. ner to display in their school.
Farm Bureau - Supporter of the Month The Madison County High School FFA Chapter has started a new tradition this month of November. Each month after this month the chapter members will choose individuals, organizations or groups to be recognized as our supporter of
the month. After voting and determining the supporter of the month the FFA Officers will travel to that person’s home or place of business and place a sign in the yard for all to see! This month the supporter of the month is our Madison County Farm Bureau. This group of peo-
ple have continuously supported our chapter by monetary donations as well as their time and efforts as judges for scholarship applications and speaking events! Thank you Farm Bureau for being so great for our students and congratulations on being named the first Supporter of the Month!
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Hilburn Takes Job Interview The Madison County FFA Job Interview CDE individual, Stephanie Hilburn recently placed 1st out of more than 50 students, in the Area II FFA Job Interview Career Development Event (CDE). The event was held at Oconee County High School on September 6th, 2011. The students must turn in the following materials before the contest, and should be put on
Above - Junior Stephanie Hilburn after winning the area II CDE
white bond paper: A) Cover Letter B) Resume C) Three letters of reference During the contest the students complete: A) Application B) Personal Inter view C) Follow Up Letter Students must go through what would be a real life
interview with a panel of judges. The state contest will be held at ABAC in Tifton, GA in December. This is Stephanie’s 3rd year competing in this event and she was the top scorer in the contest. Stephanie’s parents are Teresa and Jeff Hilburn and they reside in Danielsville, GA.
Good Luck Stephanie!!!
Going to State - Land / Floral Design “I am so excited to compete on the STATE level! I know it will be an event of a lifetime!” - Bailey Seabolt
Recently two of Madison County CDE teams/individuals placed 2nd and earned a set to compete at the state level. The Senior Land Judging team, team members included: Olivia Minish, Morgan Dooley, Bri Kittle and Savannah Roberts, will travel down to ABAC and compete at the State Land Judging CDE after placing 2nd in the area II competition last
month. The Junior Land Judging CDE Team that competed on the area level included: Josh Huff, Gabrielle Gantley, Ethan Tiller and Chris McMickle. This team placed 5th in the area.
on the state level and senior Jade Andrews. Jade placed 13th out of more than 40 students in the contest.
In the area of Floral Deign the Madison County FFA Chapter had two students compete on the area level. Bailey Seabolt whom placed 2nd and will also travel to ABAC and compete
Gold Emblems at Area CDEs
Bri Kittle tied for 2nd high individual
Recently the Madison County FFA Chapter was well represented on the area level in receiving several GOLD Emblems for their work and placement in the various CDEs held at Oconee
in the are a Farm Business Management CDE.
MCHS
FFA
County High School. In the area of FFA Quiz Sarah Spradlin placed 4th out of more than 40 students. She was tested on her knowledge of FFA and Parliamentary Procedure. The Environmental Natural Recourses CDE team placed 5th and was the first ENR team that Madison County has had
in years. They used their knowledge of wildlife management and forestry and was proficient in using a Global Positing System. The Farm Business Management team had to use high level math skills to successfully take a 50 question test and placed 3rd in the contest out of 25 teams.
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Cain Thurmond Speaks at Chapter Meeting members about being leaders and how to be more involved in your County FFA local chapter. members to During this time get involved. he was a candidate for National FFA Office and recently at the 2011 National FFA Convention in Indianapolis he was During the Madison County elected as the Southern Region FFA meeting in October Cain Vice President. This is the Thurman came and spoke to the highest honor for both him and Left - Cain challenges Madison
the state of Georgia being represented on the National FFA officer team. He is a Jefferson City High School Alumni and was State North Region Vice President in 2008-2009. The Madison County FFA members would like to say congratulations on your achievements and good luck during this following year. - Written By Olivia Minish MCHS Reporter
2011 National FFA Convention in INDY
“I encourage
On October 18th twenty Madison County FFA students headed for National FFA Convention in Indianapolis, Indiana. During this convention students were able to attend a leadership workshop where they learned how to be an influential person within their chapter and with everyone they came in contact with. They were also able to attend several sessions one where they listened to the Keynote Speaker who fought in the Vietnam War and had a hand grenade explode in his hand. He was very inspirational and talked about how we can still make a difference if we will just even if we think we aren’t worth anything. Also during one of the awards sessions the late Madison County Freshman Academy Chapter received an award for being a National 2 Star Chapter, based on their efforts last year. On Thursday, October 20 the students attended a concert that consisted of Steel Magnolia, Little Big Town, and
congratulations to everyone who received an award or competed and this just shows that hard work pays off. And we hope to see YOU at the next National FFA Convention!”, Olivia Minish, MCHS FFA Reporter.
come back and
Group attending the National FFA Convention – first row – Zack Taylor, Ereck Larkins, Samantha Cofer and Makayla Kellum, Jesse Chitwood, Jesse Griffith, Amber Wilbanks and Jade Andrews, Levi Simmons, Cody Seagraves, Shelby Smith, Jordan Collins, Olivia Minish, Gabbrielle Gantley, Trey Cleveland, Kevin Jones, Travis Tankersley, Brandon Smith, Zack Tankersley, and Garrett Whitworth.
Cody Seagraves
Blake Shelton. The Madison County Poultry Judging Team competed on the national level during this trip and placed 10th in the nation. Eric Larkins was the 10th high individual, in the nation and won $1000.00 for his hard work and was the highest individual on the team that consisted of him, MCHS FFA member and senior Jesse Griffith, and two recent graduates Jesse Chitwood, and Zach Taylor. This team was recognized as being a gold emblem team, placing in the top ten in the nation! Also competing on the national level was Brianna Roberts who competed in the Extemporaneous Public Speaking competition. Whom received a bronze emblem for her speech. There were also to former Madison County FFA members , Cody Segraves and Shelly Patton, who received their American Degree which is the highest degree that can be received through the FFA. “We [FFA officer team] would like to say
- Written By Olivia Minish MCHS Reporter
all active FFA members to
receive their American FFA Degree. Its Worth it!,”
Group that attended the National FFA Convention in INDY!
Zack Tankersley won grand champion in the woodworking competition at Perry. You too can participate in the woodworking CDE. Our chapter can enter 3 student works in April!
Above Jesse Rowell, Hunter Handsford and Jake Bridges package 600 Boston Butts for pick up!
Madison County FFA High School 600 Madison Street
FFA Mission FFA’s mission is to make a positive
Danielsville, GA 30633
difference in the lives of students by
Phone: 706-795-2110
developing their potential for pre-
Josh White - jwhite@madison.k12.ga.us Kay Farmer - kfarmer@madison.k12.ga.us Trisha Lastly tlastly@madison.k12.ga.us Cindy Jones - cjones@madison.k12.ga.us
mier leadership, personal growth and career success through agricultural education.
November Student Spotlight - Brandon Smith Brandon is the Sentinel for the Madison County High School FFA Chapter, and as Sentinel he has many goals for himself and the chapter. One of such goals for himself is to receive a better than 3rd place ranking in the state Parliamentary Procedure Career Development Event, as a freshman he and his team placed 3rd on the state level and want to achieve a higher standing this year. As an officer he must complete two CDEs one of which is Parliamentary Procedure, and Brandon is willing to participate in any CDEs that aren’t popular in the fear of our chapter not being represented on the area level he will fill in CDE that needs an extra person. In any agricultural classes you enter every student
has to complete a SAE. An SAE is a supervised agricultural experience, for Brandon he is shadowing his uncle. Brandon Smith is like a handy man; Brandon takes time out of his busy week to help take care of the 80 head of cattle on his uncle’s farm. He may also make some bunk beds for him and his brother. Through these Supervised Agriculture Experiences Brandon learns responsibility and how to get the hard jobs done. He is also learning lots about the cattle industry and hopes to one day have his own cattle farm. Being a sophomore at MCHS Brandon has kept his grades up and will in the future, apply and attend a college in some field of agriculture. Brandon Smith is also very active in the local chapter by being one of the
We ’r Ch e on eck Fac US ebo OU ok! T!!
Above is Brandon Smith working hand and hand with his uncle on his beef cattle farm.
top sellers for the chapter’s Boston Butt Sale and attends every chapter meeting during the day and after school. Brandon would like to encourage all students in an agriculture class to join FFA and figure out how to get involved. - Written by Freshman Reporter - Bailey Seabolt