MdCV FFA ’23-’24 officers, from left, Haylea Bethell, Ella Reed, Akrya Traver, Kate Patterson, and Olivia Lacey, and not pictured, Taytum Gellhaus. Courtesy photo.

By Ella Reed
MdCV FFA Reporter 

On Friday, April 14, 2023, the Marais des Cygnes Valley FFA Chapter hosted its annual banquet at the Melvern Community Center. Chapter President Lindsey Johnson opened the banquet with the invocation, which was then followed by the potluck dinner. Lindsey spoke for the chapter in welcoming everyone to dinner and for a year full of fun activities. Lindsey then introduced some of the members to speak about their memories and moments this year.

Chapter advisor Danny Rice recognized the personal achievements of chapter members. Every year several scholarships are awarded to senior members. Lindsey Johnson and Alyssa McCurdy received the Marais des Cygnes Valley FFA scholarship. The Jill Casten Downing “Legacy of Leadership” scholarship was awarded to Kyla Vogler. Sophomore Montana McCurdy was awarded the Lehning Washington Leadership Conference Scholarship from Emily and Jeremy Lehning.

Discovery Degree recipients, from left, Chase Vogeler, Landon Traver, Dylan Saffle, Mady Rose, Braely McNally, Dalton Lingenfelter, Landon Reed, and not pictured,Trey Walker, Aubrey Vogeler. Courtesy photo.

Throughout the year students get a chance to earn points by participating in activities for the Sweepstakes Award. This year the top five winners were Jace Stucker, Eddie Mora, Kelsey Rice, Alyssa McCurdy, and Olivia Lacey with first. Greenhand winners were Ella Reed, Taytum Gellhaus, Akyra Traver, with first place going to Kate Patterson. Discovery Degree winners were Landon Reed, Mady Rose, Dylan Saffle, and Braelyn McNally with first.

This year’s eighth graders were allowed the opportunity to join FFA. Eighth grade students that met the qualifications were able to get their Discovery Degree. The students that met these qualifications were Dalton Lingenfelter, Braelyn McNally, Landon Reed, Mady Rose, Dylan Saffle, Landon Traver, Aubrey Vogeler, Chase Vogeler, and Trae Walker.

Greenhand Degree winners, from left, Akyra Traver, Ella Reed, Kate Patterson, Hunter Masenthin, and not pictured, Taytum Gellhaus, Ed Mora, and Gunnar Pendroy. Courtesy photo.

Freshmen that met the qualifications to earn their Greenhand Degree were Taytum Gellhaus, Hunter Masenthin, Kate Patterson, Ella Reed, and Akyra Traver. Each year the Chapter recognizes two Greenhands that excelled in the involvement in the chapter with the Star Greenhand Award – the two winners were Kate Patterson and Akyra Traver.

State Degree recipients, from left, Kyla Vogeler, Jace Stucker, Kyler Anschutz. Courtesy photo.

The Chapter Degree recipients for this year were Eddie Mora, Montana McCurdy, and Gunner Pendroy. The FFA recognizes three percent of its members for the State Degree, and this year three MdCV FFA members earned this achievement, Kyler Anschutz, Jace Stucker, and Kyla Vogler.

This year multiple students did SAEs, or Supervised Agricultural Experience programs. This year’s recipients were Jace Stucker with ag machinery maintenance, Kyler Anschutz with diversified agriculture placement, Olivia Lacey with veterinary science and small animal care, and Kyla Vogeler in ag service.

At the end of the night was the announcement of the 2023-2024 officer team. Each student had to go through the process of taking a test, completing an application, and having a personal growth interview by the senior officers and a guest interviewer. The former officers announced who would be replacing them for the next school year. The newly elected officers were Haylea Bethell, sentinel; Ella Reed, reporter; Taytum Gellhaus, treasurer; Akyra Traver, secretary; Kate Patterson, vice president; and the new Marais des Cygnes Valley FFA Chapter President Olivia Lacey. The new officer team closed the ceremony and are all very excited to begin planning for the next school year.

MdCV FFA past officers, from left, Lindsey Johnson, Olivia Lacey, Kyla Vogeler, Alyssa McCurdy, Kesley Rice. Courtesy photo.