Bowling Green FFA members, parents and community supporters celebrated 94 years of Bowling Green FFA in March. 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 served buffet style by Nazareth Hall.
The awards ceremony started with announcing the honorary degrees, there were a total of three degrees awarded. Our first honorary degree recipient was Amanda Naus, who has taken on the duty of running the silent auction for the past two years and is constantly volunteering her time to the BG FFA. She always has a positive attitude and is beyond welcoming and comforting to all students. While she was never in the FFA herself, Naus is well known as a proud FFA parent and supporter. Regardless of whether she is cutting cake at greenhand ceremonies or getting sponsorships for senior scholarships, her hard work never goes unnoticed within as well as outside of the BG FFA chapter.
The next recipient was Harry Hiler who was unable to attend. Hiler has helped the FFA chapter immensely over the years. He is the head custodian at the high school and helps in the background making sure the chapter has everything needed for meetings and activities. Without his consistent help, the chapter would not be able to host events and meetings at the school.
The third recipient was Paul Herringshaw, who is a local farmer and big supporter of the Bowling Green FFA. He has served on the program’s Advisory Committee for many years, offering sound advice and insight from the production side of agriculture to help strengthen the chapter’s curriculum and facilities. He is also the father of two BG FFA alumni.
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 Alexa Milks, front desk secretary for Bowling Green High School. Printing flyers, posting announcements, and helping brainstorm ideas for different activities are just a few examples of what she does for the chapter. She may not always be front and center at FFA events, but her presence never goes unnoticed.
The ceremony also allowed for the chapter to recognize Proficiency Award winners. Proficiency Awards are given to members in recognition of outstanding Supervised Agricultural Experience projects. This year’s winners were:
Agricultural Mechanics Design and Fabrication-Taylor Naugle
Ag Mechanics Repair and Maintenance-Damon Manders
Ag Processing-Natalee Harris, Averie Crawford, Rylynn Paquette, Aidan Thomas
Ag Sales- Addie Naus and Annie Urban
Ag Services-Hannah Yarger, Kiersten Hendricks, and Tanner Amos
Beef Production-Natalee Harris and Luke Strow (Brian and Stacie Anderson-Sponsor)
Dairy Production-Lexie Bechstein
Diversified Agricultural Production-Landen Naus
Diversified Crop-Casey Naus
Equine Science-Torie Rosales and Levi Bateson
Fiber and Oil Crop Production-Luke Strow
Goat Production-Darla Davis
Landscape Installation-Hayden Joseph
Outdoor Recreation-Addie Brokaw
Poultry Production-Addie Helvoigt and Addison Schurger
Small Animal Production and Care-Grace Hovest
Landscape Maintenance-Gavin Roessner
Vegetable Production-Clare Tussing
The next award that was presented this year 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, 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. The “Jamie Belleville Beef Award” is a $300 scholarship awarded to a deserving student in his honor. The recipient of this year’s award was Luke Strow.
The members were also presented with the Chapter Awards. These are presented to members who excel in the areas specified by each award which are:
Star Greenhand- Emma Nester and James Mahlman
Star Agriscience-Averie Crawford (Wood County SWCD-Sponsor)
Star Ag Placement-Natalee Harris (Gene and Rita Klotz-sponsor)
Star Ag Business-Landen Naus (Germann Family Enterprises- sponsor)
Ag Credit 110% Award-Clare Tussing (Ag Credit- sponsor)
Outstanding Senior Award-Addie Naus (Mike and the late Mary Lou Shertzer-sponsor)
Star Accounting Award-Annie Urban (Premier Bank- sponsor)
Spirit of FFA Awards went to:
Freshmen- Olivia Rogers, Laina Schmeltz, Kylah Crawford, Lily Rader
Sophomores-Isabella Belleville, Konner Chambers, Damon Manders, Aidan Thomas
Juniors- Brody Garman, Kiersten Hendricks, Addison Schurger, Lilly Wilkie
Seniors-Tanner Amos and Hadley Shuey
BG FFA Alumni and Friends Scholarship Recipients:
Gold-Addie Naus and Annie Urban
Silver-Averie Crawford, Clare Tussing, Tanner Amos
This year the chapter had one candidate for the American FFA Degree. The American Degree is the highest degree attainable by an FFA member. It is based on their SAE projects and FFA leadership. Henry Strow was this year’s candidate. The chapter also has two candidates for the State FFA Degree – Addie Naus and Natalee Harris. They will receive their degrees at the State FFA Convention on May 2.
The night ended with the induction of BG FFA’s 2025-2026 officer team:
President- Gavin Roessner
Vice-President- Shawn Carney
Secretary- Isabella Bellevile
Treasurer- Grace O’Connell
Reporter- Kelsey Kline
Historian-Casey Naus
Sentinel- Aidan Tohmas
Student Advisor-Kiersten Hendricks
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.
