Awards presented at FFA Banquet
By CHERI JAY-WIENECKE Special Correspondent Photos by Cheri Jay-Wienecke

Lometa ag teacher and FFA adviser Brad Barnett presents the Star Chapter Farmer Award to Josh Logsdon.

A banner year culminated in the annual Lometa FFA Banquet May 22 as community members joined FFA'ers in celebrating the organization that had brought them a year of numerous accomplishments.

Leading the banquet were Lometa FFA officers Kylie Bradley, president; Cassidy Wienecke, vice president; Jessica Brooks, secretary; Josh Logsdon, treasurer; Brandon Young and Hannah Purser, sentinels; Josepha Romero, student adviser; Skyler Sims, historian; and Christina Whisenhunt, parliamentarian.

At the helm of the event was Lometa ag science instructor and FFA adviser Brad Barnett.

Although new to Lometa, Barnett is not new to the program. The veteran ag teacher has implemented a number of teaching tools, sparking renewed interest in FFA and what it offers its members.

"When I came here I wanted to teach my students how to want something and then teach them how to achieve it," said Barnett.

Evidence of his success was seen in the multitude of banners on display during the evening.

Brad Barnett, Lometa ag teacher, made the presentation of Star Greenhand Awards to Kylie Bradley, right, and Cassidy Wienecke.

A high point of the evening's activities was presenting the FFA's top awards.

Named 2008 Honorary Chapter Member was Tommy Maddox, a Lometa resident and president of the school board.

Receiving Greenhand Awards were freshmen Kylie Bradley and Cassidy Wienecke; and sophomore Josh Logsdon was named Star Chapter Farmer. Logsdon is the incoming San Saba District sentinel.

Receiving the DeKalb Award was senior T.J. Rolan.

Buckle sponsors include Oliver Ranch, Ecology Revolution, Lastly Tire and Lube, Ben Leggett, Wagon Wheel Ranch, Sheppard and Sheppard, Lometa Trading Post, Jim Hoffpauir Inc., Gibson Brothers Feeds, Outback Catering, Lometa Hardware, Miller's Service Co., Texas Best Panels, Hamrick's Auto, Storm's Drive-In, Badger Car Wash, Kempner Equipment, Areawide Locksmith, Myrick Taxidermy and Sign Designs of Texas.

Community Service Awards went to Bradley Cole, D'Artagnan Logsdon, Dylan Johns, Eric Nichols, Esmeralda Castillo, Gunner Bradley, Jessica Moore, Jo Al Barnes, John Brooks, John Towerton, Jorge Vasquez, Jose Hernandez, Kyle Waling, Justus Alaniz, Kamara Sanders, Lisa Howell, Shane Stone, Trisha Williams and Ty Pauly.

FFA officers for 2008-09 include, from left, Christina Whisenhunt, parliamentarian; Skyler Sims, historian; Josepha Romero, student adviser; Brandon Young, sentinel; Josh Logsdon, treasurer; Jessica Brooks, secretary; Cassidy Wienecke, vice president; Kylie Bradley, president; and Hannah Purser, reporter.

Discovery Degrees were presented to Adriana Hernandez, Allen Belyeu, Chris Scarborough, Cody Montgomery, Darian Maldonado, Esmeralda Jaso, Hector Costillo, Jared Purser, Jesus Salazar, Jordan Gilbert, Junior Torres, Justin Aldy, Kolby Hessbrook, Noe Salinas, Monica Bridges, Noalle Skipper, Nichole D'Spain, Samantha Phillips, Skyla Thompson, Steven Goskie, Taylor Mitchell, Tony Garcia and Whitney Lamb.

Proficiency Awards went to Cheyenne Burr and Josepha Romera, agricultural communications; Ethan Saunders, beef production; Hannah Purser, emerging technology; Brandon Lilly, food service and vegetable production; and Mac Pauly, forage production.

DeKalb Award winner T.J. Rolan receives congratulations from Lometa ag science teacher Brad Barnett.

Also, Marcella Garcia and Josepha Romero, landscacpe management; Cheyenne Burr, poultry production; Christina Whisenhunt and Monica Bridges, small animal production and care; John Brooks, swine production; and Colby Stewart, ag mechanics repair and design.

Eighth-grade Greenhand Degrees were earned by Mac Pauly, Ethan Saunders, Brandon Lilly, Stephanie Pacheco, Deidra Hernandez, Sasha Sosa and Shawn Gardner.

Ninth-grade Greenhand Degrees went to Colt Maldonado, Alexis Ivey, Mary Alice Rangel, Marcella Garcia, Josepha Romero, Cheyenne Burrs, Martin Jaso-Perez, Cassidy Wienecke, Dalton Parsons, James Reyna, Hannah Purser, Kylie Bradley, Mandy Rubio and Skyler Rolan.

Tenth-grade Greenhand Degrees were given to Christina Whisenhunt, Jessica Brooks, Josh Logsdon, Skyler Sims and Sonia Sims.

Tommy Maddox was named Honorary FFA Chapter member at the recent banquet and awards ceremony.

Chapter Farmer Degrees were presented to Josh Logdson and Skyler Sims.

Results for the 2007-08 FFA Contest follow.

Greenhand Chapter Conducting: third in district with Kylie Bradley, Cassidy Wienecke, Josepha Romera, Colt Maldonado, Marcella Garcia, Mary Alice Rangel and Hannah Purser.

Greenhand FFA Skills: first in district and 11th in area with Lucas Kemp, Dalton Parsons, James Reyna, Sam Holley and Colt Maldonado.

Ag Issues Forum: first in district and 11th in area with Josh Logsdon, James Logsdon, Jessica Brooks and alternates Skyler Sims and Sonia Sims.

Public Relations: third in district with Cheyenne Burr, Amanda Rubio and Alexis Ivey.

FFA Radio: fourth in district with Skyler Sims, Cheyenne Burr, Alexis Ivey, Tommy Felan and Brandon Young.

Job Interview: fourth in district, Taylor Bradley.

Junior Creed Speaking: first in district and seventh in state, Cassidy Wienecke.

Senior Creed Speaking: fourth in district, Jessica Brooks.

Senior Skills: third in district, Christina Whisenhunt, Colt D'Spain and Jasmin Vandergriff.

Soil and Water Stewardship: first in district and first in area, Kylie Bradley.

Entomology: Colt Maldonado, James Reyna, Cheyenne Burr, Martin Jaso and alternate Marcella Garcia.

Junior Prepared Speaking: second in district and eighth in area, Josepha Romero.

Senior Prepared Speaking: third in district, Josh Logsdon.

Extemporaneous Speaking: second in district and third in area, Cassidy Wienecke.

Ag Communications: first in district, sixth in area and 19th in state, Kyle Bradley, Cassidy Wienecke, Josepha Romero, Josh Logsdon and Hannah Purser.

Floriculture: second in district and seventh in area, Esmeralda Jaso, Adriana Hernandez, Whitney Lamb, Amanda Rubio, Christina Whisenhunt and Marcella Garcia.

Horse Judging: Monica Bridges, Cody Montgomery, Jesus Salazar, Kelby Hawkins and Taylor Mitchell.

Dairy Foods: Brandon Lilly, Dakota Hand and Mary Alice Rangel.

Lampasas Youth Fair: T.J. Rolan, Mac Pauly, Johnny Aldrich, Michael Hood and Colby Stewart.

San Antonio Livestock Show and Rodeo Public Speaking Contest: Kylie Bradley, Cassidy Wienecke and Jessica Brooks.