|
 Ralph Allen, who heads up the Agriculture Department at Mount
Pulaski High School, and who is the sponsor of the local FFA
chapter, was very proud of his students and offered this about the
girls’ project, “Their project was looking at different cover crops
and their ability to stop and prevent soil erosion. They set up an
experiment with two different grass seeds that were set up in a flat
and rained on it with simulated rainfall. Then they caught and
measured the amount of soil that eroded and compared it." He noted
how the girls did the experiment in the shop room at the high school
using soil that was actually collected from the field behind
Riedle's house. Allen went on to say, "We tried to set it up like a
field situation without having a field."
After many hours spent doing calculations, the two completed their
project and were able to compete at both the state and national
level.
In fact, this was the second year in a row that both Riedle and
McCarty competed at the national level with a project. Riedle noted,
"In 2013 we conducted an experiment testing the abilities of rye and
alfalfa, a grass and legume respectively, in the prevention of soil
erosion. We found that the rye did a better job at preventing soil
erosion. We place second at the state level and thirteenth at the
national level."
 In 2014 the two continued their experiment together. According to
Riedle, "In 2014 we conducted an experiment as a continuation of our
project. In this experiment, we tested rye and fescue, both grasses,
in their ability to prevent soil erosion. Again, we found that rye
did a better job in preventing soil erosion." This time the two
earned first place at the state level and eleventh at the national
level.
Riedle continued to elaborate, "Both Sam and I had been struggling
to find something to keep a record book over, before beginning this
project. Audrey Maske and Rachel Allen had competed with an agri-science
project, and the idea of working as a team and conducting an
experiment was very appealing to myself as well as Sam." She
credited Mr. Allen for helping with the project and noted that many
hours were spent after school, including a few late nights in the Ag
room, to complete this project.
Calling the experience at nationals "humbling," Riedle also offered
this, "It was an amazing opportunity to be able to represent our
school and our state at the national level." McCarty agreed. "It was
a lot of fun. It was a really great experience. We got to be around
the national officers and we got to listen to some really cool
keynote speakers. We were also recognized at a luncheon we went to
and we sat there with people from all the other states. We actually
got to sit at a table with some people from Texas, so that was
pretty fun."
In addition to the FFA activities, the two also managed to squeeze
in some sight-seeing around Louisville. McCarty enjoyed those
experiences as well. "One of the cool things we got to do was, we
went to the Louisville Slugger Museum while we were down there. Mr.
Allen took us there, and he took us to the Kentucky Derby, Churchill
Downs, and that was a blast and a half."
McCarty, one of the most outgoing and friendliest young women you
will ever meet, is currently the secretary of the Mount Pulaski FFA
chapter. Even though she has been a four-year member of FFA
throughout high school, she says she does not plan to pursue a
career in agriculture. Instead she is taking a different path.
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However, McCarty credits FFA for that influence in her career
choice. "I am actually going into advertising and communication
and I probably would not have chosen that if I had not been in
FFA. So it kind of coincides," she says, flashing a smile.
About her Ag partner, Hannah Riedle, McCarty offered this, "She
is going into crop science at the U of I, hopefully, and they told
her that they would help her continue the project. They are really
interested in what we did and they want her to further it on a
bigger field."
Quite impressive, and getting back to Riedle, who is indeed an
intelligent young woman; she credited the project for helping her to
choose her career path. "This project has helped me in choosing what
I want to major in, as well as minor in. This being crops sciences
and communications, respectively. I want to attend the University of
Illinois, but I won't find out if I'm accepted until February 13th."
Riedle, also a four-year member of FFA, appreciates the
importance of Ralph Allen to the Mount Pulaski High School FFA
chapter and its students and is very grateful for his guidance. "I
want to thank Mr. Allen for seeing the potential in all of his
students. He leads with a motivational and positive attitude, and
that is something I strive to do. Mr. Allen has pushed me to always
do my best in everything that I do, and I am very thankful for
that."
Ralph Allen, a 1986 graduate of Delavan High School and a standout
wrestler back in the day, has been a teacher for 24 years and he has
spent all but three of those years in Mount Pulaski. Mount Pulaski
High School is indeed very fortunate to have such a dedicated
agricultural leader who is such a positive role model to all.
Congratulations to Hannah, Samantha and Mr. Allen for this national
recognition.
[Teena Lowery]
And the rest
of the story…
Of interesting note:
When Ralph mentioned his wrestling
days at Delavan High School, he noted that his older brothers were
rivals on the mat with a bunch from Mount Pulaski, namely the Maske
boys. Interestingly, Ralph's brother, Earl, went on to wrestle and
room with Steve Maske at college. The two were also in the same
fraternity and they would become good friends.
Steve even stood up in Earl's wedding. Here we are years later and
Ralph is teaching at the same school as Mr. Robert Maske, the father
of all those wrestlers. Incidentally, six of Ralph's years at Mount
Pulaski included time spent teaching Industrial Arts classes in the
same infamous shop room as the elder Maske himself. These days the
Maske's have a granddaughter, Alison, who is the History Teacher and
Musical Director at Delavan High School. This could go on and
on...I'll just end it by saying what you're probably thinking...it's
a small world. |
