The Sweet Springs FFA Chapter topped the field at the State FFA Convention in Columbia, earning first place from among 311 chapters. (Contributed photo) [Click to enlarge]

Two area FFA chapters received Gold Chapter Awards on the first day of the 80th Missouri FFA Convention, while four local students took first place proficiency awards for the state.

The Sweet Springs FFA chapter was named first out of the state's 311 chapters, while Marshall's chapter was named 22nd.

"We're on cloud nine," said Brent Niemeyer, Sweet Springs chapter advisor. "We are pretty excited and a little shocked."

The top award was given during the 30th and final year of advisor Dan Hill, who will be retiring after this year.

"For me, the kids, the community and the former students it makes it that much better, that he's leaving the chapter in the best possible shape he could have left it," said Niemeyer, who has been with Hill for the last eight years and will be taking over the program next year. Last year Sweet Springs placed second in the state.

Niemeyer said since it is Hill's last year, it meant a lot to the students to win the award and for the competitors in this year's events to do well.

After placing third in districts, the Sweet Springs soils team is again competing in state competition for the 30th time in a row.

"Every year since he's been here the soils team has made it to state competition," said Niemeyer.

Sweet Springs' Superintendent Boyd Jones also praised the FFA's accomplishments; especially considering the high school only has 140 students, a relatively small number compared to some of the other schools competing.

"Dan Hill and Brent Niemeyer do a wonderful job with the FFA. It's not only a tribute to our students, but also a tribute to them for their hard work."

Niemeyer said the award, sponsored by FCS Financial, is judged in three areas, student, chapter and community development.

Some of the Sweet Springs' activities include taking part in Produce for Profits. The program allowed students to gain valuable skills in business and marketing as they helped to earn funds for chapter activities. The skills of sales, packing, distribution and customer service are vital skills many will use in future operations.

Sweet Springs' community development includes Project Wildlife, where FFA members work with junior high students to build squirrel feeders and birdhouses to be distributed throughout the community. FFA members also worked with student government to conduct two blood drives for the Community Blood Bank.

Niemeyer also noted they were the only chapter in their district that had a team and speaker in every competition on the area and district levels. Dennis Dohrman is also a chapter advisor.

Taking 22nd in the state, Marshall advisor Jason Price said they were excited to get a chance to be "back in the top 31," or the 10 percent of chapters given Missouri's Gold ranking.

"We were excited not only for us, but for the kids who have worked very hard for this award," he said.

The Marshall FFA student development activities included a local speaking contest held in March. Members competed in FFA creed, public and extemporaneous speaking contests and are judged by a panel of community members. All chapter members participated in a ski trip, where they met other FFA members from area schools.

Students also received a medal for maintaining an "A" in agricultural classes all four quarters of the school year.

Chapter members also grew 650 poinsettia plants from rooted cuttings and sold them to the general public. Members raised the plants, figured costs involved and set a price that would ensure a profit.

Marshall's community development activities included going to a local stream each quarter to evaluate the quality of the stream and its aquatic life.

Members also mixed salt and sand packages to melt ice and distributed them to individuals who attend the local senior center.

Marshall's FFA advisors are Price, Callie Dobbins and Randy Plattner.

The top chapters are submitted to the National FFA Organization, where they compete for the National FFA Chapter Award.

The competition will be this fall at the National FFA Convention in Indianapolis, Ind.

Several area students also took first place in Proficiency Awards, including two Marshall students.

"We are definitely ecstatic about that," said Price, adding they had never had two state winners before. "We are really excited for these two kids."

Brandon Thiel was named first place in Diversified Crop Production, while junior Hannah Sandidge took first place in Grain Production Entrepreneurship.

Other winners from Saline County were Slater FFA's Hannah Boyer for Outdoor Recreation and Malta Bend FFA's Justine Gorrell for Nursery Operations.

Also during the first day of competition, Marshall's Farm Management Team took ninth place overall, while Marshall's Floriculture team took 10th overall in state competition.

Today, Friday, April 18, is the last day of the Missouri Convention in Columbia and several area students are taking part in state contests again today. The Marshall Democrat-News will provide additional coverage on the area FFA students next week.

The Missouri FFA has 24,137 members representing 311 chapters. The national organization has over 500,000 members representing 7,358 local chapters in 50 states, Puerto Rico, Guam and the Virgin Islands.

Contact Marcia Gorrell at marshallag@socket.net