Infinite Potential

What an amazing week!


Thirteen members from the Doniphan West FFA Chapter ventured from Highland, Kansas to Indianapolis, Indiana last week for the 83rd National FFA Convention. Although this is only my second year teaching this was my eighth National Convention and I can say with 100% of my heart that this was one of the most exciting conventions I have been to. If you read the last two blog posts you would know that D-West had two national proficiency finalists in Brennan Davis and Kayla Schmitz, and that Brennan was named the winner in Agricultural Mechanics Design and Fabrication.


Winning a proficiency award at any level - local to national- is a BIG DEAL. To be named a national finalist is an honor that only 188 FFA members across the nation get to experience each year. 188 out of 523,309 members, or 0.035925%. And of those 188 finalists, there are only 47 that are named winners.



If you see Brennan or Kayla be sure to congratulate them. They both did awesome representing Doniphan West and Kansas at National Convention.


Here's a quick run-down of D-West's time at National Convention


Wednesday -

• Left D-West @ 4:00 a.m.


• Saw Lady Antebellum!

Thursday -

• Opening Session- National Officer Reflections, Challenge from Dr. Larry D. Case (The Coolest Owl EVER); Josh Shipp-Motivational Speaker


• Career Show- Completed intense and super-fun Scavenger Hunt


• Proficiency Luncheon for Mr. Schmitz, Miss T, Kayla and Brennan


• Comedy Sportz - seriously funny

Friday -

• Career Show, finished super-fun Scavenger Hunt


• Student Workshops (1. X Files - The Case of Social Change, 2. Gut Check Time)


• 6th Session - Watched Kayla, Brennan, Mr. Schmitz and Miss T on the Big Screen!


• Brennan TV and Radio interviews


• Intense Lazer Tag and Arcading


• And a goat

Check out the pictures below to see what our members were up to!

-Miss Thompson

Congratulations to Brennan Davis, the 2010 National Agricultural Mechanics Design and Fabrication Proficiency Award WINNER! In this picture Brennan is doing an interview regarding his experience of winning this prestigious award. Check back for more pictures and information.

Tune into RFD-TV at 2:00 pm CST to watch Doniphan West's own National Proficiency finalists Brennan Davis and Kayla Schmitz in the Sixth Session of the 83rd National FFA Convention. This session will unveil the results from their proficiency interviews that took place yesterday. Wish them luck!

The Doniphan West FFA members have been making their rounds in Indianapolis at the 83rd National FFA Convention. Check out a few of the photos taken by Tyler Diveley and Nick Johnson at the Career Show.

Fruit and Meat and Cookie Dough! Oh My!

The Doniphan West FFA Fruit, Meat and Cookie Dough Sales have started. If you are interested in placing an order please send an email to dwestffa@gmail.com.

Click on "Comments" for this post to view the prices.

On the Walnut Plantation

Mr. Schmitz took his Nursery/Landscape class, along with Miss Thompson's Plant and Soil Science class to Bill Foster's Walnut Plantation on Wednesday, Oct. 13. The classes learned about the process of planting and maintaining Black Walnut trees. The Black Walnut trees grown on this plantation are from Purdue University and are genetically superior trees. The trees are being grown for veneer lumber and also for the walnuts. Mr. Foster discussed how important site selection is for growing Black Walnuts. The land must be well-drained to avoid flooding and the trees need to be shielded from strong winds as much as possible.

Pruning the trees in the winter and spring is very important when growing black walnuts because it will eliminate knots in the wood and help the trees grow straight, making them a high-class veneer lumber.

In the picture, Mr. Foster is telling the class about the protecting the trees when they are young. This protective cover will help steer away deer that want rub their antlers. He talked about the importance of keeping the trees safe in the winter by using a thick layer of mulch around the tree and cutting a hole in the cover to create an air flow.

DWest FFA is now mobile! We will send updates throughout our trip to National Convention, so check back soon!

Washington Leadership Conference

Washington Leadership Conference (WLC) is one of the most amazing trips an FFA member could possibly take. KaCee Thompson, Valerie Neibling, and myself along with members from all acossed the United States had the chance to take our leaderhip skills to a whole new level this summer. We got to ride the metro which by my definition is: a super fast train taking you through the streets of D.C. I got the chance to make up the metro dance with a group of friends.
This trip consisted of us staying with 3 other girls we didn't know, being split into a small group of 29 or so, this was your community group, and then into a small travel group of 3. My travel group however became a group of 7.
We also had a night of addressing the needs and our community groups, mine the Lincoln Logs led by Kirby O' Donoghue. This night our groups break down the barriers of being strangers and let in the problems we face to help address the needs we all face, in turn becoming closer. This night also includes writing a letter to yourself to make sure you are following through with a living to serve plan that you create to make the world a better place starting with you, and your needs. We also get gold keys that symbolize a purpose and your potential to do something.
The point of the conference is to develop a purpose that will help serve others and become better people. This is what makes authentic leaders. I have made lifetime memories: Fifth floor will never be forgotten, floor surfing, crazy hair night, just random fun times furthering my leadership skills. This isn't all of WLC I wouldn't be able to desribe it for you because each experience differs from mine.

COMMUNITY BLOOD DRIVE

We want to save lives and we need your blood to do it!

Community Blood Drive
Doniphan West High School
Tuesday, October 26, 2010

1:30 p.m. - 6:00 p.m.

D-West hosts district Fall CDE Day

The Doniphan West FFA hosted the Northeast District FFA Fall CDE Day on Oct. 6. The events were held at the Highland Community College Wellness Center and the Highland Community Building. Every Doniphan West FFA member had a chance to participate in an event or help host one. The events that were held that day were Dairy Cattle Evaluation, Nursery/Landscape and Entomology. Miss Thompson coordinated the Dairy Cattle Evaluation contest while Mr. Schmitz was in charge of Nursery/Landscape. Rossville hosted entomology.

The Dairy Cattle Evaluation CDE had 211 participants from 15 schools, with 33 FFA members from Doniphan West participating. The Nursery/Landscape CDE had 79 competitors from seven schools. There were 19 Doniphan West FFA members in this area.

The Dairy Cattle Evaluation CDE includes judging six classes of dairy cows and heifers. Participants must try to correctly place each class of four based on the characteristics of each animal. After these six classes, judgers then present two sets of oral reasons over two classes.

In the Nursery/Landscape CDE, competitors identify an array of plants and tools. They must identify diseases, take a written test and complete a landscape practicum.

Entomology is the study of insects. In this area students will identify insects common to Kansas and take a written test.

D-West Results
Dairy: A-Team - Aisha Diveley, 9th place
N/L: A-Team - Keaton Blevins, 1st; Katherine Rush, 2nd; Ashley Courtin 3rd; Taryn Gibson, 4th; Rachel Keller, 5th; Valerie Neibling, 6th; Nick Johnson, 9th; Lacie Diveley, 10th.
B-Team - Laura Rush, 1st; Rachel Rush, 2nd; Maggie Johnson, 3rd; Michelle Johnson, 4th; Dylan Wood, 6th; Tyler Diveley, 7th; Jessica Pickman, 8th; Kassiday Blevins, 9th;

FFA Officers Present Colors for Veteran's Assembly and Auschwitz Survivor

Three Doniphan West FFA officers had the privilege to present the flags and lead an audience in the Pledge of Allegiance at the local Veteran's Assembly on Oct. 4 at Doniphan West High School. On any other day, this routine, an important part of American traditions, would have seemed normal and perhaps forgotten, but this surely stay with these officers for quite some time.

This Veteran's Assembly, which recognized area military veterans, was keynoted by Benny Hochman, a Poland native who survived the Auschwitz concentration camp during World War II. Hochman told the audience about his life before the Nazi's invaded his hometown in Poland. He conveyed horrific and vivid stories about fighting for his life while he was a prisoner at the concentration camps. He moved the audience to tears with the memory of losing his brother and watching countless other prisoners lose their lives. Hochman spoke with sincere gratitude toward the local Veteran's that were present when he recounted the day the United States military rescued him.