The Fort Recovery FFA held its annual banquet on April 2nd at the Fort Recovery Middle School Auditorium with well over 300 members, parents, and agribusiness leaders in attendance. The banquet serves as public display of all the hard work done by the members in the past year.
With 107 members, the Fort Recovery FFA participates in numerous events including career development events, fundraisers and community service projects. This year eight members will receive their State FFA Degree: Kelsey Brockman, Kevin Fullenkamp, Kevin Jutte, Cody Kaiser, Mark Post, Kelly Thien, Matt Wendel, and Matt Whitacre. Six other members, Dan Brackman, Lindsey Fortkamp, Valerie Fortkamp, Tyler Huelskamp, Jenessa Nietfeld, and Jeremy Siegrist, will receive their American FFA Degree. Only one-half of one percent of all members receives their American FFA Degree.
Many other awards were given out to members for dedicated service and commitment to the chapter and all its activities. The Star in Agribusiness Award was given to Kevin Fullenkamp, the Star Greenhand Award went to Taylor Guggenbiller, and the Dekalb Award was given to Chris Gehret. The chapter also awarded Jim and Ann Stammen and Mike and Sue Thien as Honorary FFA Members for their dedicated service to the chapter.
The annual Pie and Cake Auction raised $2,200, and all proceeds from the auction are returned to the students to allow them to participate at the State FFA Convention, FFA Camp, and the National FFA Convention. The chapter thanks all those that supported the auction.
Many area business donated money to support the awards program and table favors. Abels Dairy Farm, Tom and Linda Boeckman, Cooper Farms, Family Showcase Video, Farm Credit Services, Fort Recovery Equity, Fort Recovery Family Medicine, Fort Recovery Lumber Company, Hog Slat, K&L Tractor Sales, Klingshirn and Sons Trucking, Lefeld Implement, Les Wenning Motors, Mercer County Farm Bureau, Mercer County Pork Producers, Mercer Savings Bank, Mercer SWCD, Metzger Oil, Midwest Rebuilds, NAPA Auto Supply, North Star Hardware, Ohio Soybean Council, Reinhard Dairy Products, Second National Bank, St. Henry Tile Company, Wabash Garage, Wayne Oil, and Wendel Poultry Service.
