Michelle Ball will serve as the 2012-2013 Idaho State FFA Reporter

The Kuna FFA chapter had a great week during this year’s State Leadership Convention. This annual event brings FFA members from across the state together to participate in CDE’s, (Career Development Events) partake in workshops, and listen to great speakers. The Kuna chapter was able to fill up the bus, taking nearly 50 members down to Twin Falls to experience Idaho FFA at its best. These members excelled in many areas and represented Kuna well.

Kuna FFA had two state-winning teams who will be able to advance to Nationals in October of this year. The Horse Evaluation team consisted of Kinsie Ward, who was the 1^st high individual in the state, Heather Skovgard, Kevin Brown, and Chelsea Dye. The Farm Business Management team included members Amanda Reynolds, 1^st high individual, Max  Blitman, 2^nd high individual, Henry Wilson, 3^rd high individual, and Brett Blackstock, 4^th high individual.

The chapter also had members who did well as individuals. Kuna members won in four proficiency areas, an award that focuses on the student’s SAE project (Supervised Agricultural Experience). Members proclaimed as state winners who will be able to advance to nationals include Brett Berheim in Swine Entrepreneurship, Mark Nebeker in Diversified Agricultural Production, Maggie Reynolds in Beef Placement, and Jeni Hagler in Horse Production. Kuna also had eleven members receive their State Degree, which can be obtained after a certain amount of effort has gone into the member’s SAE project and their ag classes. Recipients from Kuna are: Autumn Ellis, Dylan Fadgen, Kendra Flavel, Mark Nebeker, Mackenzie Peace, Amanda Reynolds, Zachary Reynolds, Samantha Roberts, Dalaney Soto, Madeline Tolbert, and Kim Ware.

During the conference the next state officer team is chosen after candidates go through a three day interviewing process. Serving as the 2012-2013 State FFA Reporter is Kuna’s own Michelle Ball. Michelle has been very involved in the Kuna FFA chapter since her freshman year, serving as an officer for two years as Reporter and Vice President. She participated in many CDE’s and was able to go to Nationals on the Soils Evaluation team, the Farm Business Management team, and the Parliamentary Procedure team. Michelle also developed a strong SAE project, which included raising steers for fairs and developing a registered herd of Angus cattle. She graduated last year and is now attending the University of Idaho, pursuing a degree in Agricultural Education. Michelle’s duties as a State Officer will require her to inform the public about Idaho FFA, work with advisors to develop ag classroom material, plan and coordinate state functions, and meet and encourage FFA members across the state of Idaho. The Kuna FFA chapter congratulates Michelle on this great honor and encourages her to have fun experiencing agriculture across the state!

Samantha Roberts of the Kuna FFA Chapter will serve as the Boise Valley District’s Secretary for the 2012-2013 year. Samantha is a junior and has been very involved in the Kuna FFA chapter for the past three years. She is currently serving as the chapter’s Scrapbook Reporter. As a district officer she will have responsibilities including presenting awards at CDE’s (Career Development Events), designing and running leadership workshops for FFA members, organizing community service activities, and coordinating with other district officers across the state. Congratulations Sam!

During BVD districts, Kuna’s Parliamentary Procedure and Landscape Design teams also participated in CDE’s. The Parliamentary Procedure team placed 2^nd, and consisted of Max Blitman, Zack Reynolds, Brett Berheim, Amanda Reynolds, Qwyn Christenson, and Mark Nebeker.  The Freshman Parliamentary Procedure team included members Libby Reynolds, Macy Hagler, Geri Mills, Kylie Hill, Charlie Hukill, and Shannon Tully. Kuna’s Landscape Design team also received 2^nd place with members Jared Schwartz, Bob Humphrey, Dalaney Soto, and Camille Werner.

Kuna FFA members will have the chance to represent their chapter at the state level this week during the annual State Leadership Conference. Students will be participating in CDE’s, receiving recognition from the state for their involvement, applying for scholarships, and running for a state office. It should be a fun week!

• FFA State Leadership Conference in Twin Falls; April 11-14; student cost is $50 and should be paid before leaving on the trip; students also need to plan on bringing money for food; students should have already submitted their application and permission slip.
• Kuna FFA Chapter Alumni Scholarship is one of many scholarships posted on the chapter website http://kunaffa.org/scholarships/. Due date is April 18, 2012. Applicants must be available April 19 at 7:00 p.m. for interviews.
• Chapter Award and Officer Applications – students applying for chapter awards and offices can now access their applications at http://kunaffa.org/formsapplications/. Officer applications are due April 18, officer sifting will be held in the ag department the evening of April 19 at 5:00 p.m., and chapter award applications are due April 20.
• Chapter Banquet April 30, 2012 - FFA members and their families are invited to attend the annual Kuna FFA Chapter Banquet to celebrate our accomplishments over the past year.
• Fair Sign-ups – Students who plan to show animals at the Canyon County and Western Idaho fairs should check weigh-in dates and sign up on the chapter website http://kunaffa.org/fairs/.
• Nordstrom Scholarship for JUNIORS – juniors should apply this spring for the Nordstrom Scholarship Program. Nordstrom is giving away 80 $10,000 college scholarships in the fall. Application deadline is May 1. Visit http://shop.nordstrom.com/c/nordstrom-cares-scholarship or our chapter scholarship page.

During National FFA week, Feb 18-25^th, Kuna FFA members participated in their third PALS activity of the year. Partners in Active Learning Support is a program which allows FFA members to partner one-on-one with a 4^th grade students to raise an awareness about agriculture and develop friendships. During a visit to the high school, 4^th graders were able to participate in an agricultural trivia game as well as tour the Kuna FFA’s greenhouse. As a hands-on activity, students were then able to plant flower seeds which they will grow in their classroom and give to their mothers for Mothers’ Day. Through this activity, kids will be able to experience the process of seed germination and growth with their own plants. Kuna FFA members will complete a final activity with their PALS in the spring.  

• Milk Fundraiser – sign up in the ag department this week to distribute milk at the state basketball tournaments
• Washington Leadership Conference application due February 10
• National FFA Scholarship Application due February 15
• National FFA Week February 21-24
• Official Dress Day (wear your official dress to school) February 24
• PALS activity February 24
• State Proficiency Award applications due March 1
• State Officer Applications due March 1
• SENIORS – visit the chapter scholarship page for information about scholarship opportunities

      Boxes overflowing with food filled the Kuna Ag shop Friday, Dec 16^th, as the Kuna FFA chapter collected, sorted, and delivered food, books, and warm clothing to 71 families in the area. The overwhelming success of this annual event was due to the tremendous effort of the entire Kuna community.

      Each family received four to five boxes full of a variety of canned and boxed food, which included ten pound boxes of Bisquick and rice. Every family was also given a bag of potatoes, a bag of pinto beans, a ten pound turkey, scarves or hats, and books.

      Assistance from the community was vital to the success of the canned food drive. Through the donations of money and time from many, this event had more success than in years past. Many pick-up loads filled with thousands of canned food items were collected from all of the schools in the Kuna district, as well as the library. Many different prizes and awards were given out for different contests throughout the district, including Hubbard’s and Teed’s “Stuff the Bus” challenge, and pizza parties from the FFA chapter for classes who collected the most food.

      Using points donated by the community, turkeys were purchased from Paul’s Market and given to each family. Scarves were made and donated by the Kuna High School’s Green team, and stocking hats were knitted and donated by Kuna Middle School students. Age-appropriate books were collected for each child in each family and donated by Kuna school students, through the Operation Wish Book program. Over 900 books were given away. Through the Santa Project at Kuna High School, $920 was collected to be spent at Costco, purchasing staple food items such as Bisquick, rice, oatmeal, applesauce, and more for each family.

      Caring for 71 families is no small feat, and the Kuna FFA chapter would like to make sure the following people are recognized for their contributions: Kuna students who donated food and helped with Operation Wish Book, Paul’s Market and customers who donated points, the Green team for making scarves, Kuna Middle School students who knitted hats, Honor Society, CAST, FHLA, FCCLA, the library, the Kuna Food Bank, KEA for organizing Operation Wish Book, our delivery drivers, and everyone else who donated time, money, or resources. The community’s donations gave many a brighter holiday season and were appreciated by all.

 Things are starting to pick up for Kuna FFA. There’s been Creed Speaking, Greenhand and Chapter degrees, Regionals for Range, and coming up, we have Produce Sales and the annual Canned Food Drive.

On November 14^th, the Kuna FFA held its Chapter Creed and Degree night. Many Greenhand members took the opportunity to participate in their first Career Development Event (CDE). Participants were required to learn the FFA Creed and then recite it from memory. This was a great way for Greenhands to practice their public speaking skills. Each member is judged on their ability to remember the Creed word for word, as well as their ability to present it effectively. Receiving fourth place in this CDE was Macy Hagler, receiving third was Shannon Tully, receiving second was Tayler Beus, and receiving first with the opportunity to move on to the district level was Carli Ashley. Congratulations to all of the Creed speakers!

The Kuna chapter also presented Greenhand and Chapter degrees on this night. Forty-one first year members who have been enrolled in an agricultural class and have a Supervised Agricultural Experience (SAE) planned out received their Greenhand degree. These members included, Yomar Arnold, Carli Ashley, Boone Bartlome, Tiara Benson, Tayler Beus, Keenan Blanford, Dillon Edes, Alyssa Ford, Macy Hagler, Alexis Hengel, Kylie Hill, Charlie Hukill, Ciera Johnson, Mackenzie Johnson, Bailee Kipper, Drew Leavitt, Alica Martinez, Geri Mills, Savannah Nell, Abigail Peterson, Diana Pozos, Whitney Raver, Libby Reynolds, Andres Rodriguez, Kendra Sumerall, Jordan Teeter, Nathan Townley, Shannon Tully, Zack Velez, Hannah Waldal, Sean Wheaton, Christian Wilson, Haylie Wright, Tera York. Second year members who are enrolled in an agricultural class, have lead a discussion, and have invested $1000 in their SAE project received their Chapter degree. Kuna FFA gave out twenty-eight chapter degrees to Holly Barrus, Ben Christenson, Emily Curtis, Megan Danell, Chelsea Dye, Jaden Hayes, Nate Kessel, Zakary Moffat, Brogan Moore, Kylee Nell, Andreina Rodriguez, Caitlyn Shankel, Kayla Simper, Kameron Wartman, Dustin Zabel.

In the beginning of November, Kuna FFA sent its Range team to Western Regional’s in Utah, which included teams from Idaho, Montana, Nevada, Utah and Wyoming. Kuna FFA did very well, placing second overall. Mark Nebeker place third individually, and the rest of the team, Henry Wilson, Maggie Reynolds, and Chris Ball also did very well.

Kuna FFA is wrapping up the year with its annual produce sales and canned food drive. If you would like to purchase produce to support this fundraiser for the chapter contact a Kuna FFA member. We would also appreciate any donations to the canned food drive, which will help support Kuna families. Last year, we were able to provide over fifty families with food, a turkey, and Christmas presents for children. We are collecting food at all Kuna schools and will accept donations at the Ag shop at the high school. We are able to make this a success every year because of the community’s support.