Super CDE Day

Spring CDE Day was held at Highland Community College on Wednesday, April 11. There were many CDEs that members of the Doniphan West Chapter participated in. Several members also placed in these CDEs.
Ag. Communications
A-team (1st place)

• BreAnne Caudle, 1st
• Aisha Diveley, 2nd
• Laura Rush, 6th
• Kassiday Blevins, 8th
• Maggie Johnson, 10th

B-team (1st place)

• Brielle Clary, 1st
• Meghan Larson, 2nd
• Jessica Neibling, 3rd

Floriculture
A-team (1st place)

• Kassiday Blevins, 3rd
• Maggie Johnson, 4th
• Tyler Diveley, 8th
• Laura Rush, 9th

B-team (1st place)

• Jessica Neibling, 2nd
• Brielle Clary, 3rd
• Julie Vonderschmidt, 6th
• Jessica Wood, 8th
• Clarissa Billups, 10th

Ag. Business
A-team (2nd place)

• Derek Gibson, 6th
• Adam Wilmes, 8th
• Aaron Halling, 9th

Ag. Sales
B-team (2nd place)

• Brandon Caudle, 5th
• Ian Crandall, 7th
• Jacob Hughes, 9th
• Tynan Bollinger, 10th

Food Science
B-team

• Katie Smith, 6th

State Proficiency Winners

Two members of the Doniphan FFA chapter were named state proficiency award winners:

Laura Rush- Diversified Horticulture
Keaton Blevins- Agricultural Services

Because of their accomplisments, they will be able to continue on to the national level.

The Greenhouse is Blooming

Agricultural education students at Doniphan West have been working in the greenhouse for the past several weeks for the upcoming FFA plant sales. Preparations in the greenhouse have included transplanting plugs, arranging hanging baskets and large planters, and watering. Some of the plants that will be for sale are:
Bedding Plants
-Coleus
-Ageratum
-Sweet Alyssum
-Snapdragon
-Zonal Geranium
-Garden Petunia
-Cockscomb
-Marigold

Hanging Baskets
-Wandering Jew
-Swedish Ivy
-Bridal Veil
-Purple Heart
-Zonal Geranium
-Garden Petunia
-Mixed

Large Planters
Mixed
-Zonal Geranium
-Vinca Vine
-Sweet Potatoe Vine

Dates and times of the plant sales will be announced later in the spring.

Students receive awards for work in agriculture

Several members of the Doniphan West FFA Chapter received recognition for their Supervised Agricultural Experience programs Wednesday, Feb. 29, at the Northeast District Selection Day. District proficiency winners' application will advance to state judging on March 17. State degree recipients will be recognized at the Northeast District FFA Banquet and the Kansas FFA State Convention.
District Proficiency Winners
Keaton Blevins - Agricultural Services
Ian Bollinger - Landscape Management
Allen Dorrell - Agricultural Sales
Laura Rush - Diversified Horticulture
Luke Rush - Grain Production

District Proficiency Runner-up
Ian Bollinger - Turfgrass Management
Laura Rush - Vegetable Production

Kansas FFA State Degree
Tyler Diveley
Derek Gibson
Aaron Halling
Dylan Wood

District Star Finalist
Tyler Diveley - Placement

District Star Greenhand Winner
Allen Dorrell - Agribusiness

District Star Greenhand Runner-Up
Ian Bollinger - Placement
Luke Rush - Farmer

Valentine's Day Flowers

Reds and pinks are a common sight this time of year.
Hearts are everywhere,
Celebrating the season of love.
Give some flowers to your special someone.

The D-West FFA Nursery and Landscaping class along with the Floriculture class sold and arranged carnations for the Highland community. The customers could chose from red, pink, white, or a combination of colors for their purchase. Each vase arrangement included five or six flowers, greenery, Baby’s Breathe, and a card with a personalized message. The members spent one morning to take a trip to visit Baisch and Skinner wholesale supplier. We were able to get a tour of the facilities as well as a little practice on our floriculture identification skills. After picking up our flowers and feeling inspired we headed back to school. After completing them all, the handmade arrangements were delivered on Valentine' Day to the different school buildings in our district as well as the community of Highland. Seeing the smile on an unexpecting face made the whole experience worth while.



Wildlife Management

Students in Mr. Schmitz's Wildlife Management class are getting their hands dirty with this year's taxidermy project. In prepartion for taxidermy, the class has been skinning and washing the animals. Some of the animals are coyotes, a beaver, and deer. Kathleen Nolte from Seneca and Mr. Schmitz will help the students finish their projects throughout the semester.

 

Decorating the Town

Every year the Doniphan West FFA Chapter offers a helping hand in preparing our town for the holiday season. The Nursery/Landscape and Ag Communication classes gathered greenery and poinsettias to fill flower planters up and down Main Street. Member Kassiday Blevins states, "Being able to add some cheerful color and Christmas Spirit to the Highland community not only makes yourself feel better, but brings a smile to others" about her experience. Other FFA members decorated Degginger Park for the winter season by hanging snowflake lights from the trees to create their own winter wonderland.

MERRY CHRISTMAS TO YOU!