Centre FFA chapter celebrates 25th year years ago
Centre FFA chapter held its annual banquet May 11 at Centre High School. The meeting was conducted by chapter officers Laura Klenda, Joseph Forsberg, Andrea Carlson, Aaron Barney, Jackie Klenda, Nathan Brunner, and Shaina Makovec.
The school's FFA program was established 25 years ago under the guidance of sponsor Cary Granzow, a first-year teacher. Superintendent Demitry Evancho presented Granzow with a 25-year certificate from the University of Kansas School of Education.
The 31 FFA members received recognition for their accomplishments throughout the year. Many previously have been reported.
Star award recipients were: star farmer, Brent Carlson; star greenhand, Alfonse Klenda; and star in agricultural placement, Laura Klenda.
Chapter proficiency awards were: ag communications and swine production, Jackie Klenda; ag mechanics design and fabrication and sheep production, Aaron Barney; beef production-entrepreneur, Dana Beltz; beef production-placement, Laura Klenda;
Dairy production, Kevin Mueller; diversified agricultural production, Savannah Forsberg; diversified crop production, Gavin Shields; diversified livestock, Alisha Barney; equine science, poultry production-entrepreneur, specialty animal production, Jo Terwilliger; floriculture, Dawnyele Rose;
Food science and technology, Joe Forsberg; forage production, Tim Baker; grain production, Trent Hajek; home and/or community development, Jeremy Kristek; poultry production-placement, Alfonse Klenda; small animal production and care, Brandy Kaiser.
Aaron Barney, Joseph Forsberg, and Laura Klenda will receive state FFA degrees at the June convention in Manhattan. Former chapter members Derek Belton and Kristin Mueller will receive American FFA degrees this fall at the national convention in Louisville, Ky.
Scholarship awards were given to members having an overall grade point average of 3.5 or above. They were: seniors Andrea Carlson, Brent Carlson, Trichia Pauls, and Laura Klenda; junior Shaina Makovec; sophomore Jackie Klenda; and freshmen Gloria Belton, Lance Diepenbrock, Savannah Forsberg, Kevin Mueller, and Jo Terwilliger.
Duane Carlson, president of the Centre FFA Alumni Association, awarded alumni scholarships to Laura Klenda, Trichia Pauls, Andrea Carlson, Joe Forsberg, Aaron Barney, and Brent Carlson.
Francis Jirak presented a $500 Leo S. Jirak Memorial Scholarship to Laura Klenda.
A memorial contribution toward the local FFA chapter by the late Michael and Elizabeth Evancho, parents of Superintendent Evancho, resulted in a $250 scholarship to Joe Forsberg.
An anonymous donor provided scholarships of $500 to Laura Klenda and $250 to Aaron Barney.
High school principal Neal Weltha was awarded honorary membership in the local chapter.
The 2004-2005 officers were announced and installed. They are: sentinel, Alfonse Klenda; student council representative, Shaina Makovec; reporter, Alisha Barney; treasurer, Savannah Forsberg; secretary Gloria Belton; vice president, Jeremy Kristek; and president, Jackie Klenda.
