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




Justine and Victor Valla in their studio with a painting of Victor’s,”Jonah and the Whale.” Robin Roraback 


A ceramic vase by Kathleen Heidemann.Provided
Joy Brown’s delightful ceramic sculptures.Provided 





