By Roger McKinney
rmckinney@joplinglobe.com
RIVERTON, Kan. — The Riverton High School FFA for the second consecutive year has been ranked as the top FFA chapter in Kansas.
The National FFA Organization also has ranked the Riverton chapter as a three-star chapter for the third consecutive year, signifying that it is among the top 10 percent of chapters in the nation.
Jacob Larison, the Riverton FFA adviser and agriculture instructor, said that since 2002, the chapter has ranked as a three-star chapter for four years and as a two-star chapter, the second-highest ranking, for four years.
“We’re pretty happy,” Larison said. He said the only chapter achievement higher than being named a three-star chapter is to be among the FFA’s highest models of innovation, reserved for the top 10 chapters in the nation.
A few students are eligible for national honors and will travel to Indianapolis, Ind., for the national convention Oct. 21-24.
James Hutto was named a national star finalist in agribusiness, and Mycah McColm was named a star finalist in agriculture placement. Each received a $2,000 cash prize and will be interviewed in Indianapolis for the opportunity to become the national star, which comes with an additional $2,000 prize. They are the first ever from Riverton to have received the finalist award.
Ben Hutto and Tison Culley were named national proficiency finalists in diversified crop production and placement, and grain production and placement, respectively. Each will receive $500 and a plaque, and will be interviewed for the top award, which comes with an additional $500.
Tiffany Hutto and Kyle Essley will receive the American FFA Degree at the national convention.
Student Nathan Spriggs received the 2009 Dekalb agricultural accomplishment award.
Senior William Woolston, 17, the chapter vice president, said parliamentary procedure has helped him to be more confident when speaking in public with people.
“I felt like it made me a better leader,” Woolston said.
He said hearing state officers speak at the state convention caused him to realize what a good organization the FFA is.
Participating in agribusiness with the FFA has caused him to look toward a business career, but not necessarily a business related to agriculture, he said.
Junior Erin Pearson, 16, is the chapter’s secretary. She said the FFA activities in which she participates are nursery and landscaping, floriculture, speech, agribusiness, and agriculture communications.
Pearson said she has enjoyed working with plants since she was 7, and she thinks they will always be part of her life.
She also is a freelance writer for Farm Talk newspaper.
“I enjoy presenting ideas,” Pearson said.
She said she plans for a career in geology. “That is my passion,” she said. “I absolutely love geology.”
Larison said the activities that earned the chapter its honors included clearing wheat fields in Quapaw and Picher in Oklahoma of tornado debris to prepare them for harvest. Chapter members also worked with elementary schoolchildren to grow plants in the school’s greenhouse that they later took home with them.
Larison said the FFA no longer specifically prepares students to go into farming, but it prepares them for life.
“Through whatever we do, it gives everybody a chance to find a specific niche,” Larison said. “We help them to become knowledgeable consumers and knowledgeable voters.”
Legislative learning
Riverton High School chapter members traveled to Topeka during the legislative session, and met with state Sen. Dwayne Umbarger, R-Thayer; state Rep. Doug Gatewood, D-Columbus; and other state officials.
