A NEW SLATE OF OFFICERS took over the Fairfield FFA chapter at the annual awards banquet held last week. Pictured are: l-r, president Cory Black, vice president Elizabeth Cooper, secretary Chelsea Ferrell, treasurer Chelsea Lopez, reporter Matthew Peine, sentinel Madison Fuller, student advisor Clayton Stone, parliamentarian Maecy Mannen and historian Nathan Wood. Fairfield FFA members recognized accomplishments of the 2009-10 school year last week at the annual parent-member banquet.

The event, attended by 200 people, was held at the Fairfield high school cafeteria and featured a brisket meal prepared by the FFA.

Invocation was offered by senior student Morgan Fuller and opening ceremonies were conducted by outgoing officers, president Daniel Wood, first vice president Morgan Fuller, secretary Kayse Kirgan, treasurer Elizabeth Cooper, reporter Riley Jo Davidson, sentinel Cory Black, student advisor Chelsea Ferrell, historian Desiree Hodges and parliamentarian Matthew Peine.

THESE FAIRFIELD FFA members were presented Proficiency Awards at the chapter’s annual banquet last week. The FFA Creed was recited by Clayton Stone and presentation of Greenhand Degrees was made by Wood, Peine and Miss Kirgan. Greenhand Degrees are awarded to first year FFA students who have recited the creed from memory and fulfilled requirements of the FFA Constitution.

Receiving Greenhand Degrees were Hunter Alford, Dalton Barker, Ben Barlow, Cody Betser, Ryan Bond, Trey Brewer, Justin Campbell, Cooper Cole, Justin Cunningham, Will Doyle, Russell Forward, Madison Fuller, Brien Green, Austin Harris, Syndal Harris, Aaron Heers, Colton Henson, Hayden Hill;

Micah Hubbert, Jayley Huggins, Rheygen Kittrell, Amy Lansford, Melissa Lopez, Maecy Mannen, Kasey McQueen, Josh Munoz, Natalie Neill, Laney Newman, Nirmal Patel, Jillian Peterson, Zach Pratt, Jay Roberson, Zane Robinson, Cody Sell, Kristin Shaw, Sarah Sloat, Clayton Stone, Jessica Wallace, Coleman Walthall, Kelli Warren, Ross Warren, Nathan Wood and McKenna Woods.

PRESENTED HONORARY CHAPTER Farmer Degrees at the Fairfield FFA awards banquet were Fairfield Young Farmers vice president Charles Wood and Fairfield Independent School District superintendent Katie Ryan. Serving as Greenhand officers this year were: president Madison Fuller and vice presidents Clayton Stone, Natalie Neill, Maecy Mannen, Zane Robinson, Laney Newman, Nathan Wood and Rheygen Kittrell.

Spaced through the banquet were motivational speeches by graduating seniors, telling what FFA means to them. Making the speeches were Riley Jo Davidson, Kayse Kirgan, Morgan Fuller and Daniel Wood.

Three livestock show teams were recognized for their efforts during the year. Teams are:

—Junior beef cattle— Morgan Fuller, Jessica Gallegos, Brady James, Kayse Kirgan, Daniel Wood, Dustin Duncan, Chelsea Lopez, Collin Puckett and Nathan Wood.

—Junior market swine— Cory Black, Blake Davis, Justin Zwierzchowski, Chelsea Lopez and Melissa Lopez.

—Junior market goat— Kalyn Caffey, Laney Newman and Lyndsey

Awarded Chapter FFA Degrees, the highest degree given at the chapter level, were: Tyler Batey, Ernest Becks, Jeffrey Carter, Lucas Chavers, Hunter Curry, Blake Davis, Jared DeFrance, Chelsea Ferrell, Ryan Hall, Desiree Hodges, Brady Johnson, Kyrie Kline, Logan Measles, Ashlee McGowan, Bonn’r Peterson, Darius Roberts, Ashlee Sessum, Matthew Peine, Blake Walker and Matthew Wells.

Two adults were awarded Honorary Chapter FFA Degrees for the volunteer efforts during the year. Receiving those awards were Fairfield Independent School District superintendent Katie Ryan and Charles Wood, who serves as Fairfield Young Farmers vice president.

A total of 32 students represented the Fairfield FFA Chapter at the Sandyland District and Area VIII leadership contest, bringing home the district sweepstakes award for the 10th consecutive year, and the 16th time in 19 years.

District and area leadership contest results were:

—Radio broadcast—eighth in district—Sally Taylor, Kalyn Caffey and Robyn Peck.

—Greenhand FFA Quiz Team—seventh in district— Nathan Wood, Nirmal Patel, Clayton Stone and Zane Robinson.

—Greenhand Chapter Conducting—fifth in district— Laney Newman, Melissa Lopez, Maecy Mannen, Natalie Neill, Hunter Alford, Amy Lansford and Madison Fuller.

—Senior FFA Creed Speaking—third in district— Robyn Peck.

—Senior FFA Skills Demonstration—first in district and 10th in area—Brady Johnson, Justin Terry and Cooper Vandiver.

—Junior FFA Skills Demonstration—first in district and eighth in area—Jay Roberson, Cody Sell and Colton Henson.

—Greenhand Creed Speaking—first in district and third in area—Clayton Stone.

—Job Interview—second in district and third in area— Morgan Fuller.

—Senior FFA Quiz Team— first in district and third in area—Cory Black (first place individual), Elizabeth Cooper, Jaymi McLeod and Daniel Wood.

—Agricultural Issues Forum—first in district and fourth in area—Morgan Fuller, Haley Plemons, Riley Jo Davidson, Kory Jumper and Chelsea Lopez.

—Senior Chapter Conducting—first in district and third in area—Cory Black, Daniel Wood, Michael Mooneyham, Elizabeth Cooper, Kayse Kirgan, Daniel Barker, Brady James and Natalie Neill.

Judging teams combined to place second in the Sandyland District Sweepstates this spring. Teams and members are:

—Land judging—second in district, 10th in area—Colby Green, Jacob Cain, Josh Perry and Kory Jumper (second high individual in district and 13th in area).

—Farm business management— first in district and 10th in area—Elizabeth Cooper (second high individual in district), Michael Mooneyham (fourth high individual in district), Daniel Barker (first high individual in district and 17th in area), Brady Johnson and Jorge Espinoza.

—Livestock judging—first in district, seventh in area and 59th in state—Daniel Wood, Cory Black (first high individual in district and fourth in area), Chelsea Lopez (second high individual in district and 15th in area), Melissa Lopez, Brady Johnson, Nathan Wood, Cheyenne Newman, Will Doyle and Kayse Kirgan.

—FFA talent—Morgan Fuller, Madison Fuller and Matthew Peine.

—Floriculture—Chelsea Ferrell (first high individual in district and 15th in area), Morgan Fuller (second high individual in district), Ashlee McGowan (third high individual in district) and Ashley Sessum.

—Wildlife clinic—second in district—Elizabeth Cooper, Daniel Wood and Matthew Peine.

—Poultry judging—second in district and 20th in area— Riley Jo Davidson (first high individual in district), Amanda Missildine (third high individual in district), Matthew Peine (fifth high individual in district), Blake Walker, Bonn’r Peterson, Lucas Chavers, Ashlee Sessum, Cooper Cole and Cody Sell.

—Dairy products evaluation— second in district and 23rd in area—Sally Taylor, Garrett Henson, Matt Szymanski, Whitney Roberson and Jay Roberson.

—Dairy cattle evaluation— second in district and 23rd in area—Dustin Duncan (fifth high individual in district), Brady James, Kaycee Sessum and Nathan Wood.

—Horse judging—second in district, fifth in area and 15th in state—McKenzie Beddingfield (first high indi vidual in district and second in area), Robyn Peck, Robin Davis, Justin Terry, Cooper Vandiver, Jaymi McLeod, Laney Newman and McKenna Woods.

Proficiency awards were presented to students in areas where they have exhibited their greatest contribution to the Fairfield FFA Chapter. Winners of proficiency awards were:

—Agricultural communication— Sally Taylor.

—Agricultural education— Kayse Kirgan.

—Agricultural mechanics design and fabrication—Eli Pratt.

—Agricultural mechanics energy systems—Zach Henry.

—Agricultural repair and maintenance—Michael Mooneyham.

—Agricultural sales—Kory Jumper.

—Beef production—Daniel Wood.

—Dairy cattle—Dustin Duncan.

—Diversified agricultural production—Cory Black.

—Diversified horticulture— Ashlee McGowan.

—Diversified livestock production— Chelsea Lopez.

—Emerging agricultural technology—Kalyn Caffey.

—Environmental science— Robin Davis.

—Equine science— McKenzie Beddingfield.

—Floriculture—Chelsea Ferrell.

—Home and community development—Jeff Wood.

—Poultry production— Riley Jo Davidson.

—Sheep production— Matthew Peine.

—Specialty animal production— Elizabeth Cooper.

—Soil and water management— Jacob Cain and Haley Plemons.

—Swine production— Melissa Lopez.

—Extemporaneous public speaking—Morgan Fuller.

—Prepared public speaking— Daniel Wood.

—Junior prepared public speaking—Clayton Stone.

—Wildlife management— Elizabeth Cooper.

—Creed speaking—Clayton Stone and Robyn Peck.

—Chapter leadership— Morgan Fuller.

—Chapter scholarship— Daniel Wood.

—Citrus fruit, meat and cookie sale high individuals— 1, Kory Jumper; 2, Darius Roberts; and 3, Justin Terry.

—Star Greenhand— Melissa Lopez.

—Star Chapter Farmer— Brady Johnson.

The 2010-11 slate of chapter officers closed the meeting and they officially took over duties. New officers are president Cory Black, vice president Elizabeth Cooper, secretary Chelsea Ferrell, treasurer Chelsea Lopez, reporter Matthew Peine, sentinel Madison Fuller, student advisor Clayton Stone, parliamentarian Maecy Mannen and historian Nathan Wood.