Thank you and Merry Christmas!

Thank you to all who purchased fruit, meat or cookie dough to help our chapter raise funds this year. We hope that the products help add a little Christmas cheer to you and your families.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

-Doniphan West FFA Chapter

Winter CDE Day Results

The Winter CDE Day, which included Poultry, Public Speaking and Ag Mechanics, at Marysville High School on Dec. 14, gave some Doniphan West FFA members a chance to shine.

In Prepared Public Speaking, Aisha Diveley placed first in the Sophomore division with her speech about Free Range Chickens. Prepared speeches must be related to agriculture or FFA and be memorized. Sophomore speeches are required to be 3-5 minutes in length.

Samantha Albers qualified for state competition in Creed Speaking. Samantha placed 2nd overall with her presentation of the FFA Creed. She will represent Doniphan West and the Northeast District at State Convention in Manhattan in June. Luke Rush also represented Doniphan West very well by placing 6th.

In the Extra Freshmen division, Allen Dorrell placed 9th in his room with his speech about breaking show cattle.

Meanwhile in the Ag Mechanics CDE, Keaton Blevins placed 6th in A-Team and Derek Gibson placed 9th in B-Team.

Tanner Veach placed 9th in Poultry.

The Christmas Bureau

Students from Miss Thompson's Ag Mechanics class, along with Mr. Schmitz, helped the Christmas Bureau at the Troy Armory organize Christmas gifts to those in need. These students arranged toys and gifts that had been donated and placed them in boxes for families. The work these students put in will surely create a better Christmas for several families in Doniphan County.

In the Holiday Spirit

Members from the Doniphan West FFA Chapter have braved the cold the last few days to help get Highland ready for the holidays. Students are setting the mood for the upcoming Christmas season by decorating the trees of Degginger Park with prelit metal snowflakes. At the request of the community, FFA members also collected greenery from cedar trees to place in pots and flower beds around town. Coupled with artificial poinsettias, the greenery from these evergreens helps add a nice festive look to town.

Barnwarming

Doniphan West FFA hosted its annual Barnwarming on November 16. Barnwarming is a time for our chapter to host community members for a night of fun, fellowship and fundraising. The evening began with Opening Cermemonies by our FFA officers and a potluck dinner. The festivities then moved out to the ag shop for the introduction of the Beau and Sweetheart candidates, Beau and Sweetheart chores and the Work Auction. Prior to Barnwarming, FFA members chose one boy and one girl from each grade to be the Beau and Sweetheart candidates. The candidates were Freshmen - Samantha Albers and Luke Rush, Sophomores - Maggie Johnson and Jordan Sellers, Juniors - Rachel Rush and Aaron Halling, and Seniors - Mackenzie Cunningham and Nick Johnson. These candidates arrived early to Barnwarming to participate in an interview and take an FFA test. To round off the judging process, these candidates had to complete a variety of chores in front of the Barnwarming audience. When the chores were completed, the judges determined the winners. The winners, which were announced at the end of the Work Auction, were seniors Mackenzie Cunningham and Nick Johnson. The Work Auction began at the conclusion of the chores. The chapter auctioned off 63 FFA members. The minimum bid for each member was $30. Each member will be required to work eight hours for the buyer. The funds raised from the Work Auction will go towards FFA activities.

Thanks to all who came and supported our chapter and congratulations to Nick and Mackenzie, the 2010 Barnwarming Beau and Sweetheart!

Leadership School

On Wednesday, November 10, Doniphan West FFA chapter leaders, along with Greenhand members, attend the Northeast District Leadership School in Holton.

There are two main segments of Leadership School thatmembers may participate in - Rituals and Parliamentary Procedure.

FFA Rituals include the opening and closing ceremonies conducted by chapter officers at meetings, banquets and other official FFA activities. The six traditional chapter officers and all Greenhand FFA members recite these rituals. Members that participate in the Rituals also take an FFA information test. Each member also has a chance to win Master Ritual in his/her part.

Parliamentary Procedure tests a team's ability to effectively run a meeting. Each chapter may have one senior team and Greenhand teams. Each team has a chairperson and five members of the assembly. Senior "Parlaw" members also take a test for this part of the competition.

At the end of the day, scores from Rituals, FFA Information Test and Parliamentary Procedureare added up to determine the rank of the chapters.

Results

Overall Team Rank - 4th
Senior FFA Information:

1st - Mackenzie Cunningham

8th - Aisha Diveley

Senior Rituals Team:

5th - Doniphan West

Senior Parlaw Test:

7th- Josh Van Laar

Senior Parliamentary Procedure Team:

5th - Doniphan West

Greenhand A Division

Overall Team Rank - 4th

Greenhand A FFA Information Test:
4nd - Luke Rush

5th - Jessica Neibling

Greenhand A FFA Rituals Team:

5th - Doniphan West

Greenhand A Parliamentary Procedure Team:

5th - Doniphan West

Greenhand B Division

Overall Team Rank - 2nd
Greenhand B FFA Information Test:
3rd - Ian Bollinger
6th - Madison Smith

Greenhand B Rituals Team:
4th - Doniphan West

Greenhand B Parliamentary Procedure Team:
5th - Doniphan West

Greenhand C Rituals Team:

8th - Doniphan West

Greenhand B/C Master Ritual:
Secretary - Katie Smith

Treasurer - Liz Courtin
Reporter - Jessica Wood

I vant your blood!

The Doniphan West FFA Chapter partnered up with the Community Blood Drive from Kansas City on October 26 to have one of our two annual blood drives.

Our chapter achieved its goal to increase the total number of donors and units with 46 donors. Pryor to the blood drive our members used a calling list to have community members schedule an appointment to donate. Members also placed flyers around the school, on cars and at the college to recruit donors. At the blood drive, FFA members provided donors with sweets after they donated.

Several FFA members and high school students that were 16 years of age or older also helped the community by donating.

The pictures to the right show FFA members Valerie Neibling and Mackenzie Cunningham donating blood.