The annual California FFA Banquet was held Friday, May 1, in the CHS Auditorium, with students and adults recognized for achievements and assistance. Parents, school board members, administrators, present and retired agriculture teachers were recognized. Many proficiency and vocational agriculture award recipients were recognized.
Scholarship awards were also presented as were the recipients of the Star Awards. The Star Award recipients of California FFA for this year were, Halle Oliver - STAR GREENHAND; Jacob Hoellering - STAR Farmer; and Rylee Glenn - STAR Placement.
From the California FFA Chapter, the winner of the Agricultural Accomplishment Award was Madelyn Jobe.
FFA Scholarship Award winners were Allee Koestner - freshman, Cameron Meyer - sophomore, Sydney Draffen - junior, and Rebecca Hamilton - senior.
The four students selected to sing in the FFA Chorus were Allan Burger, Garrett Imhoff, Cameron Meyer and Matt Oerly.
Winners of the Charles Parkes Camp Scholarships were Paige Johnson and Desiree Hoellering. Winners of the Robert H. Denker Scholarship Award were Jacob Hoellering, Preston Peters, Matt Oerly and Garrett Imhoff. State FFA Degree recipients were recognized. They are Rylee Glenn, Rebecca Hamilton, Jacob Hoellering, Garrett Imhoff, Madelyn Jobe, David Mosley, Matt Oerly and Jasmine Wells.
The American FFA Degree recipient at the National FFA Convention, Anna Parry, was recognized at the event.
At the close of the meeting, the retiring FFA Chapter officers turned the symbols of their offices over to the incoming officers who will serve for the 2015-16 school year. Incoming officers are: Katie Imhoff - president, Ethan Hodges - vice president, Halle Oliver - secretary, Dylan Ratcliff - treasurer, Cameron Meyer and Brittany Ellington - reporters, Brayden Ash - sentinel, Leanna Reichl - parliamentarian, Addison Embry - historian, Caleb Bleich - chaplain.
The Junior Chapter Officer Team is Madison Ratcliff - secretary, Bobby Bryant - reporter, Wyatt Bestgen - sentinel, and Paige Johnson - historian.
Many of the students who participate in contest teams, won in State competition. Those State competition winners include: FFA Knowledge Team -Halle Oliver and Allee Koestner; Decision I Public Speaking - Jack Johnston; Advanced Public Speaking - Ethan Hodges, third place; Extemporaneous Public Speaking - Jacob Hoellering; Chapter Scrapbook - Taylor Werdehausen; State Chorus members - Allan Burger, Garrett Imhoff, Cameron Meyer and Matt Oerly; Missouri Fairs and Festivals Speech Contest - Madelyn Jobe (third at State) and Taylor Werdehausen (Group II State).
Students who took Career Development Event State Awards; Agronomy, Group II State - Kayla Allison, Gunnar Baquet and Jackson Trachsel; Dairy Foods, 10th at State - Emma Baer (Group I State), Sara McCord, Liam Schatzer and Jacob Wolken; Soils 12th at State - Ethan Hodges, Cameron Meyer (Group I State), Jacob Hoellering (Group I State) and Katie Imhoff.
Trapshooting drew 13 members to compete on three teams. Ethan Hodges placed ninth high individual at Area competition. At the District shoot, Matt Oerly tied for first shooting 97 out of 100 targets. The results were not in for the State FFA competition.
Adam Bieri is the FFA Advisor and Lee Longan is the Ag instructor.