West Holmes FFA finishes a busy year
On May 26 fifteen members of the West Holmes FFA chapter participated in the Nashville Memorial Day Parade.
The West Holmes High School FFA chapter put on the finishing touches of what was another banner year of activity and success.
On May 26 fifteen members of the West Holmes FFA chapter participated in the Nashville Memorial Day Parade. Attendants were Jenna Zimmerly, Emma McDonnell, Madison Ringwalt, Courtney Crider, Shane Lorentz, Sophia Stitzlein, Natty Lint, Makenzie Mast, Wyatt Troyer, Reece Anderson, Grady Hawkins, Blake Patterson, Colby Long, Jordan Long and Jarrett Schafer. Seniors Jenna Sheldon and Quentin Vehrs also participated, representing the Holmes County Fair as king and queen.
Members rode on a hay wagon and threw out candy as Derek Miller drove through town. Thanks to Paint Valley Farms for providing the wagon and to Sweet Breeze Farms for providing the straw for the parade.
On May 20 members of the West Holmes FFA Chapter participated in an Adopt a Highway cleanup before our May meeting. Members walked the sides of the road picking up trash. The portion of the road adopted by the chapter is state Route 39, one mile on each side of the high school.
Our chapter does this as a way to give back to our community and to improve the environment around us. Participants were Wyatt Troyer, Emma Eberhard, Mia Spencer, Andi Schuch, Gabby Yates, Ellectra Beachy, Madison Ringwalt, Jackson Baker, Claire Drzazga, Zander Croskey, Cassidy Holasek, Emma McDonnell, Natty Lint, Andrew Weaver and Makenzie Mast.
On May 20 the West Holmes FFA Chapter conducted the last meeting of the year. At the meeting that evening, members had the option of arriving early to play card games and giant Jenga. The meeting was called to order by President Madison Ringwalt. Opening ceremonies took place. Opening ceremonies describe what each office is intended to do or represent.
The new officer team shared with the chapter the treasurer’s account, the secretary’s minutes and the articles the reporter had sent out. We broke into committees to discuss various items such as end-of-year planning, home visits, the summer schedule and the Memorial Day Parade float.
As main motions we discussed approving the summer schedule, creating a fair booth and paying for supplies, holding our annual hog roast, participating in Kids Day at the fair, holding an officer retreat, paying for the ice cream we had at the banquet, participating in the Memorial Day Parade, assisting Historic Downtown Millersburg with Thunder over Holmes County on June 29 from noon to 6 p.m., and holding our annual banquet next year on May 9, 2026.
At the end of the meeting, Secretary Mia Spencer handed out Member of the Month Certificates to Jack Jewell and Rowan Holasek for their contributions to our chapter. We also handed out certificates to our retiring officers — Jenna Sheldon, Garrett Fowler, Andi Schuch, Alex Pringle, Gabby Yates, Logan Van Dalen and Blake Patterson — for their countless hours of service to our FFA chapter. Afterward, the seniors gave their final words of wisdom to the younger members, and we adjourned the meeting.