Cashmere FFA: great leaders make great program
By Steve Godfrey
May 22, 2012
The Cashmere FFA food science team took second in state. From the left, Advisor Rusty Finch, Lizzy Visser, Molly Kenoyer, Ashlyn Lewis, Kiera Burnett, Dani Morrison.
Natural Resources class at the Entiat national fish hatchery for the "Kids In The Creek" program. From the left: Apryl Johnson, Alaina Seat, and Heather Powell.
“It’s not programs - it’s people that make the difference,” said Glenn Johnson.
That’s one of the favorite sayings of the Cashmere schools superintendent. And he’s in a position to know.
When the school district hired Rusty Finch late last summer, his colleagues in Sumner were sad to see him go. It didn't take very long for us to figure out why.
Finch has teamed up with FFA advisor Jed Odenrider and in one short year the Cashmere program has made great strides.
“Cashmere has been a perennial contender in State Tractor Driving and Apple Judging, but had never been able to crack the upper echelon of teams in the Food Science, Meats Evaluation and Dairy Foods contests,” Odenrider said. “Mr. Finch's arrival started a positive transition that culminated with several top ten finishing state teams.”
The combination of Mr. Odenrider and Mr. Finch has enabled Cashmere to become one of the most well-rounded agriculture programs in the state of Washington.
The FFA is one of the only organizations where students must first win the state competition in order to compete on the national level.
Now the stage is set.
The Cashmere FFA students are poised to make a serious effort to earn a trip to the National FFA Convention in Indianapolis, Indiana, next year, Odenrider said.
Here’s how the students in the Cashmere FFA program did at state this year:
Fall Contests:
2nd - Tractor Driving: Gavin Burnett - 2nd , Clyde Sims - 6th, Rex Pittsinger -10th
6th - Apple Judging: Kiera Burnett, Reanna Avey, Lisa Cunning, Sarah Cunning, Taylor Bostwick
7th - Apple Judging: Dani Morrison, Tawnie Petterborg, Clyde Sims, Emma Hagan, Quinn Kenoyer
Spring Contests
2nd - Food Science: Kiera Burnett - 2nd, Dani Morrison, Lizzy Visser, Ashlyn Lewis, Molly Kenoyer
2nd - Meats Evaluation: Rylie Christensen - 8th, Sam Copeland - 9th, Bryan McNair, Adam Ream,
Dani Kenoyer, Tawnie Petterborg
4th - Creed Speaking: Dani Kenoyer
4th - Dairy Products Evaluation: Tarrah TeVelde, Cody Ream, Emma Hagan, Stephanie Preheim,
Heather Powell
9th - Ag Mechanics: Gavin Burnett - 8th, Clyde Sims, Kyle Osburn, Dani Morrison, Alex Chipman
10th - Livestock Evaluation: Cody Ream, Lisa Cunning, Reanna Avey, Adam Ream, Clyde Sims
The Cashmere FFA will honor its members and influential community supporters at their annual awards banquet at the high school cafeteria Thursday, May 31. A potluck dinner with the main course (pulled pork) supplied by the FFA chapter will begin at 6:30 p.m. with the awards ceremony to follow.
Come and help celebrate the success of the Cashmere FFA members.
And to learn more about the Cashmere FFA program, contact Mr. Odenrider or Mr. Finch at the high school.
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January 11, 2013 at 3:52 a.m. (Suggest removal)