Blue jackets took over Purdue University's campus for the 87th Indiana FFA State Convention. FFA members from around the state were awarded for their hard work in career development events, proficiencies and 409 members were awarded their Hoosier Degree.
Sarah Akey of the Central Noble FFA chapter represented Section 1 in the 2016 Section Stars in Agribusiness. Unfortunately, Akey was in Walt Disney World for a band trip and was unable to attend the session. However, through the use of technology, Akey was able to hear her name called as the 2016 State Star in Agribusiness.
Her supervised agricultural experience consists of three different elements, poultry production, vegetable production and agricultural processing. Her poultry production SAE includes raising chickens in order to sell eggs at her farmer's market. She also grows vegetables to sell and her agricultural processing includes making soap from goat's milk. With her soap business, Goat Girl Soaps, she is responsible for manufacturing and marketing the soap. All three of her SAEs have the same goal: producing a high quality and locally grown product.
Akey's advisor, Jamie Earnhart, couldn't be happier for Akey. According to Earnhart, she is the first State Star winner from Central Noble.
Tyler Meroney, also of Central Noble FFA, was the Section 1 Star Farmer. Meroney's SAE started in 2012 when he had three heifers. Since then, Meroney has developed his beef production herd to include 16 cows, 11 feedlot steers and heifers, four replacement heifers and two breeder bulls. In his time spent with his SAE, Tyler has been able to develop important decision-making skills. He has also been able to expand his program to include custom butchering with a growing customer base.
Other star winners include: Karson Harris of Sullivan FFA, agriscience; Jake Wicker of Tri-High FFA, agricultural placement; and Jacob Schwieterman of Jay County FFA, star farmer.
The session also included honoring the 2016 Honorary Hoosier Degree Recipients. This year there were four recipients, which included, former Lt. Gov. Sue Ellspermann, Delphi High School agriculture educator Doug Walker, technical coordinator Scott Wheeler, and Columbia City agriculture educator Sarah Furthmiller.
Furthmiller has been teaching at Columbia City High School since 2006. During her tenure at Columbia City, she has coached seven state winning entomology CDE teams, two state winning vet science CDE teams, six state qualifying parliamentary procedure CDE teams, including the 2009 state winning novice parliamentary procedure team.
In addition, she has been able to help produce state winners in essay, creed speaking, extemporaneous speaking, prepared public speaking and leadership ambassador. With community support, Furthmiller has been able to have livestock and horse judging teams receive numerous state and national titles.
Under Furthmiller's leadership, Columbia City has been considered a Gold Rated Chap-ter for the past 10 years. Alongside numerous awards, Furthmiller has been able to produce eight district officers, two district presidents, two section directors and one state officer. While Furthmiller stays busy with her FFA chapter, her and her husband, Matt, stay busy raising their two sets of twins, ages 5 and 7.
Earlier, during the third general session, Columbia City High School graduate and Northern Region vice president, Brett Roberts gave his retiring address. Roberts encouraged members to live in the moment and embody good. Roberts quoted his best friend, Gabby, saying, "The goal is not to look good, but to BE good."
Roberts ended his speech telling FFA members to truly embody the good they want to be and to share that good.