Year in review for Future Farmers of America

WARWICK VALLEY — During the year of 2005, the Warwick Valley Future Farmers of America were busy. In January, they prepared for sub-district competition in February, and submitted State Officer candidate and Empire Degree applications. The parliamentary procedure team studied for sub-district competition. Many members competed at the sub-districts (practice) competition at the Grahamsville High School, home of the Tri-Valley FFA Chapter. During March, they were editing, revising, saying, memorizing, and getting speeches ready to go for districts, the next level of competition, held two weeks after the district competition. The group visited St. Anthony’s Community Hospital’s senior care center, delivering spring flowers for the residents. The State FFA Convention was held in Greenwich in May. The chapter had contestants in parliamentary procedure, junior high prepared, junior high and senior extemporaneous speaking, and junior high “People in Agriculture” poster contests. Chris Thiessen received the highest state FFA degree, the Empire Degree, with agriculture placement as his area of work. The chapter banquet in June was held for the very first time at the Warwick Valley High School. In July, members prepared their Orange County Fair entries, and studied for the night of contests. Meanwhile, officers gained leadership and teamwork skills at the W. Rogowski farm during officer training. While attending Week Four of Camp Oswegatchie in August, the 2005 Camp “O” staff prepared for the New York State Fair contests. Their teams placed 1st, 2nd, and 3rd in nursery and landscaping, and 1st in vegetable and horticulture at the State Fair. In October, Bob Blanco, Danny Geoghan, and Kevin Rogowski attended the National Junior Horticulture Convention and competition and placed second in the nation. Bob Blanco, Chris Theissen, Jackie Geoghan, and Danny Geoghan attended the National FFA Convention in Louisville, Ky., competing in nursery and landscaping, and earned gold as a team. At Applefest, the group sold apples and cider, thanks to donations from Jessup Road Orchards, Penning’s Farm Market and Produce, Jack Pennings Orchards, Ochs Orchards, and Warwick Valley Winery. During November, they hosted their first Thanksgiving Feast, with Kathy Sidoti supplying the meal. For December, they held a Citrus Fruit Sale, and all the fruit was delivered before they went on winter break. Information supplied by Steven Debuck.