FFA members honored at banquet

FALLS VILLAGE —The 71st annual Housatonic Valley FFA Parent and Member Banquet held at Housatonic Valley Regional High School on Nov. 20 celebrated the accomplishments of the Housatonic Valley FFA Chapter over the past year. It included a catered dinner and an awards ceremony, both of which were conducted by the students, alumni and advisors.  

The banquet began with the traditional FFA opening ceremony, which included the introduction of this year’s officers. Degrees were given to students and represented a member’s rank in the organization, with Greenhand being the first-level degree and Chapter being the highest.

Reports on activities of the past year (including the Washington Leadership Conference, the Envirothon and the FFA National Convention) were given by those who attended.  

Special citations were presented to members of the community who provided extraordinary service to the Housatonic Valley FFA.

Honorary members were named, and proficiency awards were given to students who excelled in their extracurricular agricultural activities.

The night concluded with the offer of a potted plant to each family in attendance.

Ryan Long is the reporter for the Housatonic Valley FFA at Housatonic Valley Regional High School.

Proficiency Award Winners

Agricultural Education Entrepreneurship: Arielle Betti

Agricultural Mechanics Repair and Maintenance Placement: Austin Jacquier

Agricultural Processing Entrepreneurship: Brandon Flint

Agricultural Services Entrepreneurship: Josh Allyn

Beef Production Entrepreneurship: Laine Jurgilwicz

Dairy Production Entrepreneurship: Dylan Thorpe

Diversified Agricultural Production Placement: Justin Prause

Diversified Livestock Production Entrepreneurship: Arielle Betti

Emerging Agricultural Technology Placement: Dalton Jacquier

Equine Science Entrepreneurship: Sabrina Sebben

Equine Science Placement:  Shelby Roger

Floriculture Entrepreneurship: Nicole Zidack

Home/Community Development Entrepreneurship: Leo Gustafson

Landscape Management Placement: Ryan Long

Outdoor Recreation Placement: Cooper Brown

Poultry Production Entrepreneurship: Rachel Freund

Sheep Production Entrepreneurship: Rochelle Dellea

Prepared Public Speaking:  Rachel Freund

Extemporaneous Public Speaking: Ryan Long  

Spirit Award: Lauren Kosciusko

Star Greenhand: Dalton Jacquier

Chapter Star Farmer: Arielle Betti

Chapter Star in Agricultural Placement: Austin Jacquier

Chapter Star in Agriscience: Ryan Long

Honorary Members: Bonnie Moody and Molly Worden

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