Ashland students win big
in state FFA competitions
ASHLAND NEWS
by Susan Feeney-Hopkins
On May 9-10, 19 Ashland High School FFA members and 12 Junior FFA members traveled by school bus to participate in the 2013 Maine FFA State Convention held at the University of Maine at Orono and the Bangor area.
Contributed photos
OUTGOING STATE FFA PRESIDENT Isaac Wortman congratulates Gabrielle Cyr, the new 2013-14 FFA state president.
TAKING THE FIRST-PLACE TITLE in agricultural sales at the state FFA conference were Ashland FFA team members, from left: Danielle Higgins, Sydney Curtis, Fallyn Tardie and Allyx Beaulier. They are displaying the products featured in their sales presentations to the judges.
ASHLAND FFA STUDENTS recently competed in the Maine State FFA conference. Here, State FFA President Isaac Wortman, center, presents the first place Dairy Cattle Judging Team award to the Ashland team consisting of, from left: Sophie Theriault, Garrett Graham, Rachel Gillis and Marissa Chasse.
The first day’s events included creed speaking, extemporaneous public speaking, forestry, horse judging and nominating committee. In creed speaking, Tiffany Libby placed fourth, Caitlin Paradis placed third and Cassie Bolstridge was the high score individual. Bolstridge received an award of $100 and she is now eligible to compete at the Eastern States Exposition in September.
In the extemporaneous public speaking competition, Danielle Higgins was the third highest individual and Ally Beaulier was the second highest individual. Alex Gillis earned the highest score individually in the forestry contest. In the horse judging contest, the Ashland team of Marissa Chasse, Sydney Curtis, Rachel Gillis and Sophie Theriault took first place! In addition, out of more than 30 competing students, individual awards were given to Garrett Graham, third place; Sydney Curtis, second place; and Kylee Rubin, first place.
A special thank you for their service to the FFA goes to Fallyn Tardie who was a Courtesy Corps volunteer and Emma Walker who was a member of the nominating committee.
Other activities included FFA State Convention events such as agricultural mechanics, discussion meet, floriculture, job interview and livestock evaluation. In the ag mechanics contest, Alex Gillis and Garrett Graham were both awarded welding gloves, safety glasses and a cap for their participation. In the discussion meet, Rebecca Libby placed fourth, Danielle Higgins placed third, Fallyn Tardie placed second, and the first place individual was Kali Pelletier. Pelletier received a $100 award from the Farm Bureau for winning the contest.
In the floriculture contest, the Ashland team placed second overall. The team included LeAnn McNally, Kylee Rubin and Laura Sturgeon. Teammate Emma Walker was ineligible to compete on the team during the competition because she had been on a winning team in 2012. With that in mind, she competed individually and placed third. Ashland students participating in the job interview contest were Marissa Chasse, Gabby Cyr, Rebecca Libby, Rachel Gillis and Ally Beaulier. Out of all the competitors from the different FFA chapters, Rachel Gillis placed second (high individual) while Allyx Beaulier was the high scoring individual. Beaulier received an award of $100 and she is now eligible to compete at the Eastern States Exposition in September.
In the livestock evaluation contest, the Ashland team took first place and included Cassie Bolstridge, Sydney Curtis, Caitlin Paradis and Sophie Theriault. Paradis was the high scoring individual out of all competing students.
During the second day of the convention, events included agricultural sales, dairy cattle judging, environment and natural resources, and prepared public speaking. In the agricultural sales contest, the Ashland team once again took another first place finish! The team included students Ally Beaulier, Sydney Curtis, Danielle Higgins and Fallyn Tardie. Additional awards were given to Ally Beaulier, second place, and Fallyn Tardie, first place, in the individual contest. The dairy cattle judging contest team included Marissa Chasse, Rachel Gills, Garrett Graham and Sophie Theriault. The team placed first with Theriault placing second in the individual competition.
Students Cassie Bolstridge, Caitlin Paradis, LeAnn McNally and Laura Sturgeon chose to participate in the environment and natural resources contest non-competitively this year to allow them to participate in the competition again (competitively) next year. In the prepared public speaking contest, Rebecca Libby placed first with her speech on “Climate Change and its Effects on the Maple Syrup Industry.” Rebecca received an award of $100 and she is eligible to compete at the Eastern States Exposition in September.
Ashland State Degree recipients, the highest FFA level in Maine, were awarded to Rebecca Libby, Emily Resses, Fallyn Tardie and Sophie Theriault. Receiving “Proficiency Awards” and checks for $250 each, were Gabrielle Cyr in vegetable production, Garrett Graham in forage production, Jessica Johnson in equine science, Fallyn Tardie in agricultural design and fabrication, and Sophie Theriault in poultry production. Amos Ward, a 2012 Ashland District School graduate and the 2012-13 State FFA vice president also received both a Proficiency Award in agricultural education and the State Star in agri-science.
The Outstanding Chapter Officer and newly elected State FFA president is Ashland’s own Gabrielle Cyr. Mrs. Ward, dedicated coach and chaperone, was selected as an Honorary FFA Member.
Congratulations to all who participated in the 2013 FFA State Convention! You all did an outstanding job representing yourselves, your team, your school and your hometown. These students are now eligible to take these contests to the next level as the Ashland FFA members hope to take the trip to “The Big E,” otherwise known as the Eastern States Exposition held in Massachusetts in September. The 2013 dates for the FFA competitions are Sept. 12-13. The FFA members are also planning to make additional stops while traveling between Maine and Massachusetts and back to help Ashland students learn more about the agricultural opportunities in New England.
Oxbow Music Fest
Oxbow Music Fest will be held Saturday, July 20 at the Mystic Acres Campground in Oxbow.
There will be an open stage, old-time country, bluegrass and gospel music, as well as field pickin’. Music starts at 10 a.m. Bring your own drinks and lawn chairs.
For more information, contact Bernard Ayotte at 764-0823 or e-mail debwitn@msn.com.
Salmon Supper tickets on sale
The Union Congregational Church on the Sheridan Road in Ashland will be hosting its annual Salmon Supper Saturday, July 13 beginning at 6 p.m. Contact Jean St. Pierre for tickets at 435-6638. This dinner is a local favorite and tickets (and food) go fast!
Susan Feeney-Hopkins is the correspondent for Ashland, Portage Lake, Oxbow, Masardis, Garfield, Nashville Plantation and the surrounding areas. She can be reached at 227-7760 or Feenhop@aol.com.
