The East Knox FFA chapter conducted its annual member awards banquet on Feb. 28 in the high school gymnasium following a catered meal in the cafeteria.
Approximately 238 members, parents, and guests were in attendance. Scholarship awards were given to members with a 3.5 or higher overall grade point average. They were seniors Jesse Wolford, Lilly Wires, and Bryar Householder; juniors Dylan Springer and Andy Rettig; sophomores Ariel Atkinson, Jeffrey Cook, Wyatt Frost, Sam King, Zeke Proudfoot, Peyton Riel, Aidan Riggle, and Jasmine Smith; and freshmen Isabelle Bostic, Miranda Fawcett, Ava Page, Caden Ridenour, Hunter Schrienk and Rylan Winkler.
Trenton Comer, Kalvin Gallwitz, Alexandria Magers, and Joci Totten were recognized as American FFA Degree recipients. They were awarded their degree at the National FFA Convention in Indianapolis on Nov. 4, 2023. Hayden Baker and Blake Elliott were recognized for achieving the State FFA Degree. They were notified that their applications met State approval and they will receive their degrees at the State FFA Convention on May 3 at the Ohio Exposition Center in Columbus.
Officer pins were presented to the newly elected 2024-2025 team which are: Dylan Springer - president, Hayden Baker - vice president, Mackenzie Wilson - secretary, Blake Elliott - treasurer, Aiden Kapper - reporter, Quentin White - sentinel, Braylon Evans - student advisor, Kylie Griffith - historian, Miranda Fawcett - parliamentarian, and Will Stokes - chaplain. A retiring officer plaque was presented to Jesse Wolford (the only senior officer), who served as secretary.
Fifty-six different FFA members were presented with career development event awards and recognized for competing in one or more of the chapters seventeen different district elimination or state-level contests.
First-year members received the Greenhand Degree. The first-year members are Karlee Beckett, Koltin Beckett, Wesley Boggs, Isabelle Bostic, Weston Bostic, Kaden Burgess, Gaetano Capodicasa, Derek Carson, Logan Clark, Dakota Cooper, Bracen Davis, Jimmy Diehl, Robbie Downes, Jared Elswick, Miranda Fawcett, Quinten French, Madilyn Frost, Nathan Gardner, Devin Garrett, Jeremy Gilbert, Kylie Griffith, Gabriel Hanners, Keagan Harris, Peyton Harris, Thadeus Hartman, Jacyahna Hogan, Mason Keener, Will Kirk, Braxton Lahmon, Ethan Lamkins, Waylon Martin, Travis Mathes, Steven McElroy, Michael Metcalf, Ava Page, Earl Paaswe, Maliq Ramos, Caden Ridenour, Anthony Schaade, Hunter Schrienk, Gracie Smith, Will Stokes, Ashton Tarrh, Gavin Warth, Rylan Winkler, and Lilly Wires.
The Chapter Degree is earned by second-year members. Those receiving this degree were Alex Anderson, Ariel Atkinson, Jeffrey Cook, Owen Cunningham, Landen Davis, Peyton Finch, Wyatt Frost, Zayne Grennell, Sam King, Joseph Lively, Dmetrius Negron, Zeke Proudfoot, Peyton Riel, Aidan Riggle, Gianna Ruhe, Brylan Smail, Jasmine Smith, Mackenzie Wilson, and Jesse Wolford.
Third-year award plaques were presented to Hayden Baker, Allison Boggs, Blake Elliott, Braylon Evans, Bryar Householder, Aiden Kapper, Andy Rettig, Dylan Springer, Quentin White, and Raelynn Williams.
Fourth-year honors went to Nate Cunningham.
Star awards were earned by Ava Page - Star Greenhand; Ariel Atkinson, Mackenzie Wilson, Zeke Proudfoot, and Landen Davis - Star Chapter Degree; Hayden Baker, Dylan Springer, Blake Elliott, Braylon Evans, Quentin White, and Aidan Kapper - Outstanding Juniors; and Jesse Wolford – Outstanding Senior. Jesse Wolford, Blake Elliott, and Aiden Kapper were presented outstanding service awards for their state gold-rated officer books. Hayden Baker - first place and Mackenzie Wilson - second place were presented the outstanding achievement award as the chapters top fruit salesmen.
The Honorary Chapter Degree was presented to adults who have contributed outstanding service to the East Knox FFA. This award went to East Knox Local School District Treasurer Jessi Busenburg and former East Knox FFA member Nick Hardesty. The chapters’ 24th VIP award was presented to 35-year school board member Larry Campbell for his continued support of the East Knox FFA chapter.
In 2018, the chapter started a new award for adults who have continually given tremendous support to the East Knox FFA. It was named the Didinger Service Award in honor of Carol and her husband, the late Gary Didinger. The inaugural award was presented to Carol Didinger with six additional recipients since then. This year, the eighth and ninth ever Didinger Service Awards were presented to Craig Campbell and Lou Baker for continuous and tireless support of the East Knox FFA.
The East Knox FFA would like to thank all who have contributed to their success throughout the year.
