Pictured (l-r): Arielle O’Connor, Isaac Webb and Michael Patnaude exhibit their love for FFA.

It has been a busy and successful year for members of the Globe High School FFA program who recently traveled to University of Arizona to participate in the annual State Leadership Conference. SLC is a valuable opportunity to meet other FFA members and participate with youth from around the state. SLC is also the annual State Awards ceremony and Globe members were well rewarded for their efforts.

Madeline Belling, Allicia Woodring, Isaac Webb, Riley Cline, Taylor Barnes, Connor Sawyer and Brandon Salcido all won State Proficiency Awards in their areas of participation. Riley won two Proficiency Awards and Maddie won three.

A State Proficiency Award recognizes a youth member who has developed specialized skills that they can apply toward their future careers. Members choose an area to participate in, performing

a supervised agricultural experience (SAE) and submit their records for evaluation and consideration for the Proficiency Awards.

Members awarded the FFA State Degree for the quality and personal investment in their FFA programs were Madeline Belling, Riley Cline, Connor Sawyer, Serina Guerrero, Allicia Woodring, Isaac Webb, Samantha Voelker, Brenden Voelker, Benjamin Thompson, Brandon Salcido, Arielle O’Connor, David Monsees, Cutter Burgett and Taylor Wilson.

Madeline and Riley were nominated for Star awards, meaning they placed in the top group, in their areas of experience, from among members throughout the state. Connor competed to the very top round for Prepared Public Speaking.

We are very excited to announce that Globe’s Poultry Judging Career Development Event (CDE) team recently won first place in the state. This is a significant accomplishment and team members Madeline Belling, who was 1st place individual, Allicia Woodring, Krislyn Alford, 3rd high individual, and Connor Sawyer will compete again at the FFA National Convention in October.

It has been a very successful year and we celebrated it with more than a thousand other FFA members in Tucson. SLC includes speakers, workshops, presentations and community service projects. It was a bittersweet event, as our advisor of six years, Lynn Woolever Telleen is going to be at San Manual High School next year, starting a brand new FFA program for them. She has given so much of her time and gifts to our community, bringing our small group into the center stage of the Arizona FFA program. We cannot say enough in thanks and appreciation for all she has shared with our youth and community. She will be missed, and we wish San Manual the very best for their new program.

And please help us welcome our new advisor, Justen Ollendick, from Gilbert, Arizona. His own successful FFA career includes serving as FFA State Officer. He also serves as a SAILA director and has a wealth of knowledge of plant and animal sciences to share with students in the program. He is already on the job, escorting members to Vet Camp last week and preparing the classrooms for fall. He brings a fresh perspective, personal drive and experiences which will serve the youth and program well in the future. He will make Globe his home.

In October, Globe FFA members will attend and compete at the 2018 FFA National Convention, in Indianapolis, Indiana. Globe FFA is on a roll.t