FFA bids farewell to Christine MacNeil

By Gabriel Napoleongabrieln@millertonnews.comPine Plains — The Annual Pine Plains FFA Banquet was held in the Stissing Mountain High School gym on Friday evening, June 6.The banquet opened as a regular FFA meeting, with a table of student officers seated at one end of the room. After “The Star-Spangled Banner,” sung by Kara Porell, and an invocation by Anthony Patricola, both student members, President Abigail Arsenault moved to waive the regular meeting rules and recess for dinner. The officers approved the motion.Once guests were seated with their meals, the program resumed with speeches, awards and other ceremonies.Guest speaker and Dutchess County Legislator Gregg Pulver (R-19), an alumnus of the Pine Plains chapter, talked about his connection to and passion for the FFA. Pulver also told current members that they are in an important period of agriculture.“We’re kind of in the new generation,” he said. “I always said when I was coming up in agriculture that I wish I had the heyday of agriculture that my father had, growing up when he did, when everything around and surrounded him was ag.“But I’m telling you right here and right now, the future of agriculture, especially in Dutchess County, is brighter than anything,” Pulver added. “And a lot of it has to do with the blue jackets that are in front of us tonight.”Pulver gestured toward the FFA officers seated at their table.“It is very exciting to be a young person in the FFA even if you’re not going to be in an active production farm,” he said. “I will guarantee, the parliamentary procedure, the public speaking, the leadership that you learn from this organization, and by participating in ag classes, will serve you for the rest of your life.” Pulver recalled the Board of Education (BOE) meeting on Tuesday, June 3, where FFA supporters spoke about the reduction of Christine MacNeil’s agricultural teaching position in the district from full-time to .6 part-time due to declining student enrollment. MacNeil is also the FFA advisor. However, she resigned from her position in the district and the BOE accepted the resignation at the June 3 meeting (see story, Page A1).MacNeil has accepted a position with the Highland Residential Center, as vice principal of their vocational department. Pulver said he was encouraged by Superintendent Martin Handler’s words at the meeting, “that we were going to try to do everything we can.”“As Dr. Handler said, we have a great FFA. It’s strong, it’s supportive, but we need to get kids into the ag program, and we identified a few problems with that and we’re going to work on those,” Pulver said.The county legislator encouraged the audience to work together and with the BOE and administration to help increase enrollment in the agriculture program, “so that we can bring back a full-time ag teacher.”New York State Assemblymember Didi Barrett followed Pulver, agreeing with his sentiments and adding that she would lend her support in anyway she could.Student Kara Porell offered a memorial to former member Gian Stagnaro, who died in a car accident last August.Several awards and honors were given to members of the FFA and community. Among those, three members received Star Degrees, a high distinction in the organization: Keara Nielsen for Star Discovery, Frances Snyder for Star Greenhand and Cody LaBombard for Star Chapter Farmer.Jack and Jean Pulver were named honorary members. Jack received the American Degree during his regular membership; Pine Plains has only had six American Degree recipients, according to MacNeil.The couple owns Pleasant View Farm on Winchell Mountain. They have remained supportive of the FFA chapter in numerous ways for several decades, MacNeil said.FFA Co-advisor Ronda Murphy spoke toward the end of the banquet, calling current and past members to join her behind the podium.“First I want to thank everyone for coming tonight. Christine MacNeil is truly one of the best. You couldn’t ask for a more honest, trusting, encouraging human being. I don’t think the words ‘I can’t’ or ‘it cannot be done’ exist in her vocabulary,” Murphy said.The co-advisor thanked MacNeil and the audience gave her a standing ovation.MacNeil spoke next.“Is this a great group of kids or what?” she asked.“I would like to thank all of you for being here, for supporting the agricultural education program, the FFA organization, myself, and for supporting these FFA members with all that you do,” she said. “I truly love working with all of you, the students most of all, and I will miss you, every single one of you.“This is a tremendous community with a great support for agriculture and I hope to remain in a position of support for the students, the community, and the district’s administration,” she added, herself a resident of Pine Plains.MacNeil recalled the popular quote, “the only thing that is constant is change.”The advisor said she agreed with the quote, and stated that her role now “is to influence you to make this change as successful as possible.”MacNeil spoke about the connection between influence and leadership, challenging the community to make a positive change through both. “We all need to be involved in leading this change to a successful place, and I know that these student-leaders can do that. So the story that I leave for you is one of a chapter that has been challenged by change, but is also one of success. One where over the last 12 years I have influenced you to be the best leaders that you can be; one where you can gracefully and powerfully lead this transition into a new and even more successful future,” she said.The chapter’s newly installed officers — different from those who opened the meeting — adjourned the event.