On April 13, Bowling Green FFA members, parents and community supporters came together to celebrate 93 years of Bowling Green FFA. The chapter had the opportunity to celebrate the fact that the Bowling Green FFA Chapter was named a top chapter not only in the state of Ohio, but a top chapter in the nation.
The banquet consisted of a meal and an awards ceremony. The meal for this year’s banquet was catered by BGSU Catering Services.
The awards ceremony started with announcing the honorary degrees, there were a total of four degrees awarded. The first honorary degree recipient was Cara Maxey, the marketing teacher and DECA advisor at Bowling Green High School as a satellite program of Penta Career Center. In her role, Maxey has supported our FFA chapter by partnering with our program on events such as Bobcat-A-Thon, serving as a judge for career development events and overall support of all the chapter does.
The next recipient was Amanda Barndt, who has continued to support Bowling Green FFA in a multitude of ways since she graduated from the program in 2014. She has served as a judge for career development events and as a valuable member of the program advisory committee offering industry insight to keep the program up to date and relevant.
The third recipient was Belleville Meat Market, which donates hot dogs to the chapter’s tailgate every year and provides the sausage links for pancake breakfast. The business has also employed many students throughout the years helping them to earn State and American FFA Degrees.
The final recipient was Kyla McCoy. McCoy has spent the last 12 weeks with the program as a student teacher. The students said they appreciated all that she taught them and the leadership she provided the chapter during her time here.
The Blue and Gold Award is given each year to a faculty member, administrator, or employee of the Bowling Green School District. This award recognizes a person who has promoted or supported the FFA in a multitude of ways. This year’s Blue and Gold recipient was Michele Wolf, athletic director for Bowling Green High School. Her support of the FFA chapter is truly appreciated. Coordinating gym space for various FFA events, providing athletic passes to use as giveaways at Bobcat-A-Thon and her overall support of the chapter makes Wolf essential to the organization’s success. She may not always be front and center but her presence never goes unnoticed.
The ceremony also allowed the chapter to recognize winners of Proficiency Awards given to members in recognition of outstanding Supervised Agricultural Experience projects. This year’s winners were:
- Agricultural Mechanics Design and Fabrication-Ben Hardy, Jerrad Main and Cole Brokaw
- Ag Processing-Natalee Harris and Drew Thomas
- Ag Sales-MJ Walters, Addie Naus, and Annie Urban
- Ag Services-Landen Naus and Brynn Wilhelm
- Beef Production-Henry Strow (Brian and Stacie Anderson-Sponsor)
- Dairy Production-Wyatt Bechstein
- Diversified Crop-Henry Strow
- Diversified Horticulture-Cece Dye
- Goat Production-Ben Hardy
- Landscape Management-Tanner Amos
- Poultry Production-Zack Bechstein and Addison Schurger
- Outdoor Recreation-JT Webb and Kate Suter
- Sheep Production-Drew Thomas
- Small Animal Production and Care-Cece Dye
- Vegetable Production-Aiden Meyer
The next award presented was the Jamie Belleville Beef Award. Jamie Belleville was a four year member of the Bowling Green FFA and held the office of president his senior year, 1964-1965. Agriculture was a huge part of his life, and he co-owned the family farm with his brother Mike. They raised beef cattle and owned a meat processing plant and a retail market, Belleville Brothers Market, in Bowling Green. Jamie would be honored to support a member of Bowling Green FFA who is taking a beef project to the Wood County Fair. The “Jamie Belleville Beef Award” is a $300 scholarship awarded to a deserving student in his honor. The recipient of this year’s Jamie Belleville Beef award was Natalee Harris.
The members were also presented with the Chapter Awards, which are presented to members who excel in the areas specified by each award which are:
- Star Greenhand- Aidan Thomas and Juliana Firsdon
- Star Agriscience-Cece Dye (Wood County SWCD-Sponsor)
- Star Chapter Farmer-Henry Strow (Mark and Melissa DeSmith-Sponsor)
- Star Ag Placement-Cole Brokaw (Gene and Rita Klotz-sponsor)
- Star Ag Business-Wyatt and Zack Bechstein (Germann Family Enterprises- sponsor)
- Ag Credit 110% Award-MJ Walters (Ag Credit- sponsor)
- Outstanding Senior Award-Drew Thomas (Mike and the late Mary Lou Shertzer-sponsor)
- Star Accounting Award-Aiden Meyer (Premier Bank- sponsor)
Spirit of FFA Awards were presented to:
- Freshman- Grace Hovest, Luke Strow, Isabella Belleville, Levi Bateson
- Sophomore-Gavin Roessner, Casey Naus, Kierstan Hendricks, Shawn Carney
- Junior- Natalee Harris, Landen Naus, Clare Tussing
- Senior- Brynn Wilhelm, Kate Suter, Jerrad Main, Ben Hardy
This year’s Senior Scholarships were awarded to three students of the graduating class of 2024. Scholarship recipients were Cece Dye, Drew Thomas, and MJ Walters.
The night ended with the induction of BG FFAs 2024-2025 officer team: President- Addie Naus, Vice-President- Averie Crawford, Secretary- Clare Tussing, Treasurer- Annie Urban, Reporter- Casey Naus, Historian-Grace O’Connell, Sentinel- Shawn Carney, and Student Advisor- Gavin Roessner.
The banquet is the last big FFA event for the school year, therefore the last for the seniors. As it is sad to see them go they have all contributed so much to the FFA Chapter, and the new officer team is ready to continue the traditions and carry on the legacy to take the Bowling Green FFA to the next level.
Bowling Green FFA is a satellite program of Penta Career Center.
