Students honored at FFA convention
A summer job at age 14 at Aunt Bee’s greenhouse followed by helping manage the garden of her parents, Allen Stapleford and Marie Clark, helped earn Marion FFA member Carley Stapleford a state proficiency award in diversified horticulture at last week’s state FFA convention in Manhattan.
Stapleford, recognized for having one of the best agricultural career development programs in the state, hopes to become an agriculture business consultant.
Also at the convention, a Centre ag sales team of Zach Barney, Jensen Riffel, Cole Srajer, and Max Svoboda placed sixth. Svoboda placed first overall.
Austin Peterson of Centre was honored as south-central district winner and finalist for a State Star in ag placement.
He and 10 other Marion County students received state FFA degrees.
Recipients must have received a chapter degree, been an FFA member and ag education student for at least two years, earned at least $2,000 or worked 600 hours in a supervised ag experience program, given a six-minute speech, participated in eight different leadership activities, earned a “C” average or better, and shown a record of leadership and community involvement.
Winners included:
- Centre — Barney, Jacob Bittle, Grace Knepp, Austin Peterson, and Grace Peterson.
- Goessel — Emily Meier and Madeline Meier.
- Marion-Florence — Kaitlyn Goebel, Caleb Hett, Carley Stapleford, and Antone Vinduska.
- Peabody-Burns — Devon Gaines.
The Centre FFA scrapbook placed fifth in the state.
Emily and Madeline Meier and Gaines were among 50 students receiving $1,000 to $5,000 scholarships from National FFA Foundation.
Svoboda and Callyan Lacio of Hillsboro were among 60 students winning $1,000 scholarships from Ford Trucks.
And, Cecilia Rziha of Centre was among 26 students selected from auditions and music instructors’ recommendations to perform in the state FFA chorus.
Also announced this past week was that SaRae Roberts of Hillsboro, who will attend Garden City Community College this fall, was among 27 students statewide receiving $500 scholarships from Kansas Farm Bureau.