Rhode Island FFA Alumni Donate Laptops to Chapters
January 16, 2008

Chapter personnel display their new laptops.

On January 16th the Rhode Island FFA Alumni presented all 5 chapters with laptops. The Alumni also purchased a projector and a laptop for the State Association. The Alumni had a record year in the pie booth at the Washington County Fair which enabled them to make this generous donation.

The Rhode Island FFA Alumni supports the majority of Career Development Events, as well as matching funds from the National Organization for proficiencies. The Alumni also sponsors the Leadership Conference held in January, and will be funding the purchase of T-shirts for all Rhode Island members to be presented at the State Convention in April.

The Rhode Island FFA Alumni is a very productive group and Rhode Island FFA would not be the same without them. If you are interested in joining, please come to a meeting or email an Alumni Officer ... we could sure use an extra set of hands!

Chapter Visit with Scituate FFA
December 13, 2007

Emma, Abbie, Christine and Liz are cooking something up!

On Thursday December 13, the Rhode Island State Officer team visited the Scituate FFA Chapter. They showed a workshop on opportunities displaying events from the chapter to national level. The theme for the visit was Rachel Ray and consisted of cooking oriented skits and activities. The importance of CDEs, proficiency awards and active participation in the organization were encouraged. They worked with the chapter members explaining activities and playing icebreakers/games. At the end of the presentation, the chapter members served food and beverages and discussed upcoming events.

Ask your Advisor to Book your Chapter Visit so you can see what Rhode Island FFA is cooking up!

President Steven Breene	Officers presenting workshop

Holiday Decorating Contest
December 2007
At the beginning of the Holiday season, the Exeter – West Greenwich Chapter hosted the annual State Holiday Greens Competition. There was a good turnout -- all chapters participated. There were a total of 23 wreaths and swags entered, 29 centerpieces, and 6 Yule and wooden items! There was also a special category for the teachers and a Sales and Marketing competition. For the sales and marketing contest, each chapter had a team of four people to advertise their holiday designs to the judges. The entries were judged by community members, retired FFA advisors, and professional florists.

Results:

• Centerpieces
  Best in Show - Andrew Shemick, Ponaganset
  Reserve - Stacey Moskwa and Katie Carrier, Narragansett
  Honorable Mention - Mariah Cahoon, Chariho
   
• Yule Logs/Wooden
  Best in Show - Steven Magner, Narragansett
  Reserve - Hanna Lindsley, Narragansett
   
• Wreaths/Swags
  Best in Show - Luke John Burnfeld, Narragansett
  Reserve - Jen Castro, Narragansett
   
• Teachers
  First Place - Stacie Pepperd, Chariho
   
• Sales/Marketing
  First Place – Exeter-West Greenwich
  Second Place - Narragansett
  Third Place – Ponaganset

October 23-27, 2007
National FFA Convention
In October members from the Narragansett, Ponaganset, and the Exeter west Greenwich chapters traveled to Indianapolis, Indiana for the National FFA convention. Over 50,000 members from all fifty states and Puerto Rico met in the city. The Rhode Island booth highlighted different agricultural aspects of Rhode Island. The booth also mixed coffee milk for the visitors to try; it was a big hit since most of the states don't have coffee milk.

During national convention there were many competitions running. At our state convention that we held in April many students competed in contests; if a member won a contest they then competed in this year's national convention. The results are as follows:\

• Creed Speaking: Hillary Breene(EWG) – Bronze medal
• Extemporaneous Speaking: Elizabeth LaPrise(EWG) – Bronze medal
• Prepared Public Speaking: Christine Kissinger (EWG) – Bronze medal
• Floriculture Team from Ponaganset
• National FFA Band: Bethany Wright (EWG)
• National FFA Chorus: Emily Records (EWG)
• American FFA Degree: Emily Momborquett (P), Abbie Whitford(E), Kayla Harrison (S)
• Agriculture science teacher of the year finalist: Gwen Millar

The Rhode Island Booth made by the Narraganset chapter.	Steven, Liz, Abbie, and Hillary
Most of the state together at the hotel	Mrs. Millar accepting her award

August 15-19, 2007
Washington County Fair
Our big event of the summer was the Washington County Fair. Here, we had an informational booth about FFA, "Way Beyond the Blue," which featured past FFA members and their accomplishments as well as where they are today.

There was a follow-up woodsman contest held here at Washington County. With the addition of: lighting a fire with only one match, trying to keep it burning, and to bring a can of water to a full boil. The winners of this competition were, Girls: Melody Lawrence and Brittany Sederback from Ponaganset. Boys: Steve Breene and Chris Loffredo from Exeter – West Greenwich and Narragansett.

There was a landscape design contest at the fair. Each chapter entered a landscape of an "Enchanted Garden" theme. There was also a dairy handling competition. Each competitor was assigned a dairy cow in the morning and they had to wash the cow, and show it in the show ring.

We were able to raise over $12,000 this year at the Alumni Pie Booth for the Rhode Island Association. We sold pies, apples and caramel, cinnamon rolls, and our delicious homemade apple crisp! The Alumni members ran the booth, with the help of the state officers. The Fair had a great turnout making this our highest year ever!

July 26-29, 2007
Foster Old Home Days
The State FFA held the annual woodsman's contest. Teams competed in various competitions including cross cut saw, log roll, log drag, dot split, and pulp throw. The winners for the girls' division were Bethany Wright and Lauren Woloohojian. The boys' division winners were Chris Loffredo and Steven Breene. Spectators enjoyed the show and the competitors had fun.

June 28-July 3, 2007
NLCSO @ New York
NLCSO: National Leadership Conference for State Officers
One of the first events that the Rhode Island State Officers attended was NLCSO at Camp Oswegatchie in up-state New York. During the week, the team spent countless hours learning about leadership and planning workshops and other events for the year. We all bonded as a team, sat around camp fires, and learned valuable life lessons.

The Rhode Island State Team: Front Row (left to right) Christine Kissinger, Emma Morton, Abbie Whitford, Elizabeth LaPrise. Back Row  (left to right) John Siligato, Stephen Kettle, and Steve Breene.	The National Officers: Jamie Cecil and Kacy Baugher, who taught us how to be effective leaders during the week through several workshops.

The most exciting part of the week was when we got a chance to do the High Ropes Challenge Course.  (left to right) Emma and Liz prepare for the "flying squirrel;" John and Steve show off their harnesses; and Miss Searle is getting ready for a vertical lift.

2007 STATE CONVENTION WINNERS ANNOUNCED

CAREER DEVELOPMENT EVENTS

CHAPTER PARLIAMENTARY PROCEDURE

1. Christine Kissinger – EWG
2. Madeline Colson - EWG
3. Madeline Colson - EWG

CHAPTER PREPARED PUBLIC SPEAKING

1. Ethan Farell- Narragansett

1. Hillary Breene - EWG
2. Joe Harris - EWG

2007 PROFICIENCY AWARD WINNERS ANNOUNCED

• Agriculture Processing: Chris Loffredo, Narragansett
• Dairy Production: Elizabeth La Prise, EWG
• Equine: Samantha Cluk (Placement)
• Home/Community Development: Mollie-Jean Burgess
• Outdoor  Recreation: Lucas Littlefield, Narragansett
• Ag Mechanics: Steven Breene, EWG
• Small Animal Care: Melody Lawrence, Ponaganset
• Vegetable Production: Eric Wilcox, Scituate
• Agriculture Sales: Stephen Kettle, Chariho
• Poultry Production: Daniel Iannucci, Narragansett
• Landscape Ent: Ed Spicer, Scituate
• Landscape Placement: Ethan Minson, Narragansett
  ------------------------------------------
• Star Farmer: Steven Breene, EWG
• Star in Agriculture Placement: Katherine Fish, EWG
• Star in Agribusiness: Ed Spicer, Narragansett
• Star in Agriscience: Christine Kissinger, EWG

A Special Thanks to RI FFA Alumni, Foundation, and Local Sponsors for a Great Convention.

2006 STATE CONVENTION WINNERS ANNOUNCED

CAREER DEVELOPMENT EVENTS

CHAPTER PARLIAMENTARY PROCEDURE

• Ponaganset

1. Elizabeth Laprise - EWG
2. Mary Ruth Travers – Ocean State
3. Justin Stamp – Ocean State

2006 PROFICIENCY AWARD WINNERS ANNOUNCED

• Agriculture Processing: Mario Forte, Narragansett
• Dairy Production: Abbie Whitford, EWG
• Diversified Livestock: Westin Place, Narragansett (Placement)
• Diversified Livestock: Sarah Balmforth, EWG (Entrepreneur)
• Equine: Lauren Antrop, Scituate (Entrepreneur)
• Equine: Emily Mombourquette, Ponaganset (Placement)
• Forestry: Kyle Schnaible, Scituate
• Home/Community Development: Ellen Ryan, Ponaganset
  ------------------------------------------
• Star Farmer: Abbie Whitford, EWG
• Star in Agriculture Placement: Chris Loffredo, Narragansett
• Star in Agribusiness: Allison Toles, EWG

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