Jayme Pennell a true FFA success story
Having graduated from West Holmes High School only two years ago, highly acclaimed FFA member Jayme Pennell has parlayed many of the characteristics promoted by FFA into a new life as an auctioneer and entrepreneur.
Oftentimes the public sees, experiences and reads about the efforts of local FFA chapter members in the high schools.
The local chapters have a rich history of achieving big things, whether that is doing well in state competitions, selling fruit as a fundraiser or developing young adults’ ability to improve their speaking and leadership skills.
But so often once those young people move along and graduate from high school, the community loses track of their lives, kind of an out of sight, out of mind thing.
As a West Holmes High School FFA chapter member who graduated in 2021, Jayme Pennell was perhaps one of the most highly decorated chapter members to roll through adviser Jamie Chenevey’s program.
But what happens after all of the accolades are a thing of the past and one no longer dons the deep-blue jacket with yellow scrawling on it?
Pennell has proven all of those hardworking attributes taught in FFA can benefit students greatly, and his quick rise to success into the world of entrepreneurship exemplifies one of the many success stories that come out of the local FFA programs.
After graduation from WHHS and having worked for Loudonville Equity while in school, Pennell attended Ohio State University Ag School, where he said he had his sights set on becoming an ag teacher.
He said he never felt comfortable doing that and turned his attention to the auction world. Pennell said he had been working part-time for several local auctioneers as a bid taker, including Dave Acker and Nick DeFelice.
“I owe those guys and others a huge debt for their willingness to teach me the ropes and encouraging me to go for it,” Pennell said. “They really took me under their wings and helped me a lot.”
They encouraged him to take a step into the unknown and begin his own company, which he did.
He dove in headfirst with plenty of ambition, and his first official auction will take place at Harvest Ridge near Millersburg on Dec. 16 starting at 9 a.m. in the expo building.
“I wanted to create a big auction before the end of the year and reached out to a number of contacts I had and created a consignment auction with a ton of consignors and more than 1,000 lots,” Pennell said.
The auction will include tools, antiques, household items, Christmas consignments and a host of high-end items.
He said the auction will open at 8 a.m. and people can view the items beforehand, as well as enjoy the concessions stand.
Pennell attended auctioneer school in Des Moines, Iowa, earning his auctioneer’s license.
Pennell Auction Service is based out of Nashville, and he officially began the company this past August.
“The auction industry is big around here, and I know it will be a slow growth, but I respect that and want to put in the time necessary to do this the right way,” Pennell said. “I’m willing to do the work.”
He also has created Sidetrack Hunting Apparel, an online outdoor gear line that Pennell said focuses on the pure meaning of hunting. He started the apparel business this past spring, and it too has blossomed quickly.
“I’m all online with the apparel,” Pennell said.
He said in creating the company, he built it around the mantra “When ethics become tactics.” Pennell grew up hunting, and his dad taught him the way to hunt was to hunt for meat and not the commercial side.
“I’m not a fan of the commercial side of hunting,” Pennell said. “I wanted to bring the hunting industry back to having good ethics and have meat as the main goal.”
Rather than selling camouflage gear, Sidetrack focuses on inspirational and motivational sweatshirts, T-shirts, and other apparel and gear that are military green style.
Each item has Christian-based slogans that promote the pure purpose for hunting.
“I’ve tried to link hunting and faith together,” Pennell said.
His apparel continues to sell well in Ohio, Pennsylvania and West Virginia.
While he is working on creating a website, Pennell said his presence thus far has been social media driven on Facebook and YouTube.
The success has been inspiring to Pennell, and he said being a member of an FFA group that is very driven to build character and leadership was instrumental in shaping his work ethic.
“FFA was one of the leading reasons I wanted to work for the general public,” Pennell said. “I love this community and knew I wanted to come back here. It’s a great community, and it gives people opportunities to take a leap of faith. I think FFA set me up for that before I ever even thought about this type of endeavor.”
He said his FFA experience provided him with more confidence, and Chenevey pushed him to want to pursue success and to work hard to do so.
“If I had never entered her class, I don’t know where I’d be right now, but she helped set me up for success,” Pennell said. “I have to give credit where credit is due, and there were a lot of people in the community who helped encourage and guide me.”
Pennell’s story is not unique to the success of the hardworking members of the local FFA. His story serves as an inspiration to the many young people who are driven to pour themselves into a trade and work toward their goals.