Marshall Democrat-News: : State degree recipients

State degree recipients

For Smith, joining FFA was life-changing (06/06/12)
Levi Smith credits his decision to join the Sweet Springs FFA with the desire to become a better person and a better leader. "I joined FFA because I heard that FFA was going to be a life-changing organization and an organization I wanted to be a part of that," he said...

Fuehring raises pigs for breeding and show (06/06/12)
FFA has been a big part of Lauren Fuehring's life. So when she entered her freshman year at Sweet Springs High School, naturally she joined. "My dad was in it and my sister and all my uncles," she said. "I knew it was a big organization through our school."...

Heaper started growing vegetables in junior high (06/06/12)
Sweet Springs FFA member Hope Heaper began her Supervised Agriculture Experience (SAE) at a young age, helping her older sister raise and sell nursery plants to the community. "Because of my sister being in high school, I just went ahead and joined in her business in seventh and eighth grade," Heaper said...

Holt mows lawns, works at research farm (06/06/12)
Travis Holt decided to join FFA while he was signing up for Slater High School classes before his freshman year. "In 8th grade they had some upperclassmen come talk to us about everything, and we asked them questions," he said. "Everything they did sounded pretty interesting, so I decided to try it out. I liked it, so I stuck with it."...

Boland meets new people through FFA (06/06/12)
Belonging to the Santa Fe High School FFA gave Jill Boland of rural Waverly a chance to experience many new things. "I've even got to meet a lot of new people between national convention and state conventions and contest teams," said Boland, the daughter of Richard and Judy Boland...

Zitelman loves helping on the farm (06/06/12)
For Lauren Zitelman of rural Alma, joining FFA as a freshman at Santa Fe High School seemed like an obvious choice. "I had grown up on the farm and I always helped my grandpa on the farm, and I just loved being outside and doing anything on the farm," she said. "So when I got to high school, I knew I definitely wanted to be in FFA because it was ag-related, and I could do a lot of stuff ag-related with it."...

Boland mows lawns, helps area farmers (06/06/12)
Kyle Boland, the son of Alan and Amy Boland of Waverly has been around agriculture his entire life. For that reason, when he was a freshman at Santa Fe High School, he joined the school's FFA. In April at the Missouri FFA Convention, his hard work paid off when the senior was awarded the State FFA Degree...

Limback enjoys FFA trapshooting team (06/06/12)
As a Santa Fe High School FFA member, Chance Limback said his favorite activity has been participating on the trapshooting team. "My sophomore year we did really good," Limback said. "We got third in state." In April, Limback, the son of Jim and Paige Limback of rural Corder, was awarded the State FFA Degree...

Engelbrecht enjoys time in FFA (06/06/12)
Matt Engelbrecht grew up on a farm in rural Waverly. So when he entered Santa Fe High School as a freshman, he joined FFA. "I thought it would be a fun experience," said Engelbrecht, the son of Karen and Dave Engelbrecht. Now four years later, the Santa Fe senior, who earned his state FFA Degree in April, would recommend joining FFA to incoming freshman...

Bargfrede grows up helping on family farm (06/06/12)
Taylor Bargfrede grew up wanting to be an FFA member, so when he was a freshman at Santa Fe High School, he joined the organization. "My brother was in it, and I always had to go to all his events when he got all his degrees, so that's what I wanted to do too," he said...

Vogel raises rabbits to show and sell (06/06/12)
Blayne Vogel joined Marshall FFA his freshman year because everyone else in his family had been members. Today as a senior, he would recommend the organization to incoming freshmen. "It's a good way to get out into the community and experience new things. You get to meet people, go places and learn different things," Vogel said. "There are a lot of things you can learn from it."...

Wattenbarger enjoys FFA contests (06/06/12)
Malta Bend senior Phillip Wattenbarger speaks passionately about his four years as an FFA member. "I think FFA is the best organization that we have at our school," said Wattenbarger, who lives in rural Malta Bend. "It's a good way to meet people, and it's a good way to see how good you really are."...

State degree: Gorrell excels at FFA contests (06/06/12)
As a four-year Malta Bend FFA member, Dawn Gorrell has had an opportunity to learn new things and travel new places. One of her favorite parts of FFA has been "going to national convention and meeting people from all over the place." The daughter of Brent and Ann Gorrell of Malta Bend, she will be receiving the State FFA Degree this month at the Missouri FFA Convention in Columbia...

Mistake turns into a positive for Simmons (07/13/11)
Mollie Simmons, a 2011 Sweet Springs graduate, might never have become an FFA member if not for a clerical error. "I was put in by accident," she said. However, after a few days in class she said she "learned how much fun it was." Throughout her four years in high school, she became very involved in the club. In April, she was one of just four Sweet Springs FFA members to earn the State FFA Degree at the Missouri FFA Convention in Columbia...

Hard work pays off for Vogelsmeier (07/13/11)
Matthew Vogelsmeier, a 2011 Sweet Springs High School graduate, said sometimes being in FFA is hard work, "but it all is worth it in the end." Vogelsmeier's hard work paid off in April when he received the State FFA Degree at the Missouri FFA Convention in Columbia...

Fuehring shows pigs as an FFA member (07/13/11)
Kyle Fuehring, a 2011 graduate of Sweet Springs High School, joined FFA as a high school freshman after talking to upperclassmen. "They told me there were a lot of opportunities and it gave me a lot of chances to get active and get involved," he said...

Loges keeps busy showing livestock (07/13/11)
For Taylor Loges, of rural Sweet Springs, joining FFA her freshman year seemed like a natural step. "I was always very involved with 4-H in showing livestock and all that and I knew the next step would be FFA," she said. "I also saw the opportunities that older kids got and all the fun activities that they did and I really wanted to be a part of that."...

Leimkuehler excels as a member of FFA (07/05/11)
Saria Leimkuehler, a 2011 Slater High School graduate said she has learned "so much" as a four-year member of FFA. "I used to be really shy and now I'm very outspoken and outgoing," said Saria, the daughter of Bill and Pam Leimkuehler of rural Gilliam, adding she has also learned to be a leader...

Owens operates his own lawn care business (07/05/11)
Ethan Owens, a 2011 Slater High School graduate said he would recommend joining FFA to anyone -- even someone without a farm background. "It's more than just farming. You learn everything," he said. "It kind of gives you an opportunity to go places and to meet new people."...

Owens operates his own lawncare business (07/05/11)
Ethan Owens, a 2011 Slater High School graduate said he would recommend joining FFA to anyone -- even someone without a farm background. "It's more than just farming. You learn everything," he said. "It kind of gives you an opportunity to go places and to meet new people."...

Gerlt enjoys ag construction classes (07/05/11)
Sheldon Gerlt, a 2011 Slater High School graduate joined FFA as a freshman, because he always wanted to take ag classes. In April of this year, he became one of five Slater students to earn the State FFA Degree at the Missouri FFA Convention held in Columbia...

Job at Pioneer helps Borgman find career choice (06/29/11)
Chris Borgman, a recent Slater High School graduate, knew he wanted to join FFA when he entered high school. "I was already around agriculture anyways and wanted to grow with my SAE and grow as a leader," said Chris, the son of Douglas and Kimberly Borgman of rural Hardeman...

Brownfield steps out into the world through FFA (06/29/11)
By MARCIA GORRELL Staff writer Alex Brownfield said that through his four years in FFA he has learned that "stepping out into the world, isn't as bad as it may seem." "It's showed me how to get places and apply myself," he added. Alex, the son of John and Saundra Brownfield of Slater was one of five Slater FFA members, who received the State FFA Degree in April at the Missouri FFA Convention in Columbia...

Tieman plans to return to family farm (06/23/11)
Ross Tieman of rural Alma joined FFA as a freshman four years ago at Santa Fe High School. Today, the 2011 Santa Fe graduate would definitely recommend FFA to incoming freshmen. "It's a good experience, you meet a lot of new people and learn a lot of stuff, " said Ross, the son Kent and Amy Tieman. "It's a good activity to be in."...

Peters enjoys opportunities in FFA (06/23/11)
For Sam Peters of Waverly, one of the "best weeks of his life" was spent on a bus with 30 other FFA members touring different ag businesses across the state. That experience was something he wouldn't have been able to do had he not been a member of the Santa Fe High School FFA chapter...

Lane works at greenhouse for SAE (06/23/11)
Erika Lane of Blackburn decided to join Santa Fe FFA as a freshman because she already had a couple friends who were members and "talked highly about it." "Plus our chapter is really big -- its one of the biggest extra curricular activities you can be in," she said. "It's one of those things where you see all the upper classmen doing it so you kind of do it too."...

Forqueran excels in public speaking (06/13/11)
Growing up in Malta Bend, Kelsey Forqueran was surrounded by agriculture. "I look out my window and there's a combine and cornfield or somebody's cattle, no matter where I lived," she said. "It was something I was kind of always exposed to and it was an industry I had an interest in just because I saw it around me all the time."...

Brandt learns many skills in FFA (06/13/11)
Adam Brandt, a 2011 graduate of Santa Fe High School first joined FFA as a freshman because growing up on a farm he liked agriculture. However, as a four year member, Brandt the son of Tony and Becky Brandt of rural Alma, learned more than just about farming...

Conner raises rodeo goats as FFA project (06/13/11)
Santa Fe High School senior and FFA member Bailey Conner of rural Malta Bend, said that being a member of FFA had "definitely changed" her. "I think that through FFA I've become more outgoing and into a more developed leader," she said, adding that as a freshman she could have never imagined that she would eventually do the things she has accomplished in organization...

Drake will return to the family farm (06/13/11)
Jacob Drake grew up on a farm in rural Grand Pass. As a freshman at Santa Fe High School, he first joined FFA "because it had to do with agriculture." Since then he has continued his involvement and this spring, shortly before graduating with the Santa Fe class of 2011, he received the State FFA Degree at the Missouri FFA Convention in Columbia...

Emde encourages others to get involved in FFA (06/13/11)
Heather Emde, a 2011 Santa Fe graduate from Waverly joined FFA as a high school freshman because her brother had been a member. "I saw all the things he had done and I wanted to do the same thing," she said. Heather, the daughter of Kevin and Carrie Emde, was one of seven Santa Fe members who received the FFA State Degree at the Missouri convention last April...

Davis works several jobs as part of SAE (05/16/11)
For J.W. Davis of Miami, now a senior at Marshall High School, joining FFA as a freshman seemed like a natural choice. "My sister was in FFA and my dad was in FFA. I was already in 4-H, so it seemed like the thing to do," said Davis, the son of Jerry and Kim Davis...

Hinnah learns valuable skills on the family farm (05/04/11)
Editor's note: This is the first of several stories showcasing FFA members from Marshall, Malta Bend, Slater, Sweet Springs and Santa Fe high schools who will receive the State FFA Degree on Friday, April 15, at the Missouri FFA Convention in Columbia...

FFA helps Thiel learn life skills (05/04/11)
Austin Thiel said becoming a Marshall High School FFA member as a freshman has helped him - and can help others - learn many "life skills." "There are a lot of opportunities that are involved," said Austin, who lives in rural Marshall. "Plus it is a lot of fun."...

Swisher works on family farm (05/04/11)
Ian Swisher, a Marshall High School senior, joined FFA as a freshman in high school initially because his whole family "has always been in agriculture." "And I was just interested in learning more about possible career fields," he said. Swisher, the son of John Swisher and Frances Spickerman of Marshall, was one of five Marshall seniors who were recently honored as State FFA Degree recipients at the Missouri FFA Convention held April 14-15 in Columbia...

Sprigg enjoys participating in ag contests (05/04/11)
Alex Sprigg, a Marshall High School senior from rural Nelson, said her favorite activity in her four years as an FFA member has been the Career Development (CDE) contests. "I really enjoy ag contests. It seems hard just to study and always cram for those ag contests and lots of them are hard. ...

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