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 "We started out the summer working on Agriscience Fair Projects,"
said adviser Ralph Allen. "Lizzie Ford, Skye Kretzinger, Jessica
Maxheimer, Hannah Freer and Morgan Kinnard all participated. Skye
and Jessica qualified for nationals and have completed the
application for the next step. They will hear in the fall if they
are chosen to compete in Louisville at the National FFA Convention."
The Agriscience Fair was part of the State FFA Convention held in
June in Springfield at the Prairie Capital Convention Center that
also gave members Elizabeth Allen, Hannah Reidle, Whitney Nichols
and Brandon Hickey the opportunity to pick up their State FFA
Degrees, according to Allen.
Zach Fanning, whose sister Elizabeth is the Hartsburg-Emden FFA
adviser, was also recognized as an American FFA Degree recipient.
Also at the state convention cousins Lukas Aylesworth and Kamryn
Aylesworth served as voting delegates while Kamryn's younger
brother, Dixon Aylesworth and Hunter Sherman represented Mount
Pulaski in the State FFA Band.
In addition, Emily Maus attended the state convention.
Mr. Allen noted that members Ashlyn Hickey, Lane Davis, Aaron
Durchholz, Elizabeth Allen, Kamryn Aylesworth and Lukas Aylesworth
also attended the Section 14 FFA Fair in Petersburg and participated
by showing animals and/or crops.
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Keeping ever so busy, Kamryn Aylesworth recently received a
scholarship from the National FFA Organization and she was chosen to
attend the Washington Leadership Conference in Washington, D.C. in
July. According to Mr. Allen, the senior-to-be at Mount Pulaski High
School was chosen based on her involvement in FFA and he also
credited the outstanding alumni that supports these students. "Our
chapter is eligible for that scholarship because we have an active
FFA Alumni Chapter," said Mr. Allen.
Aylesworth herself was especially grateful to MPHS Alum Patti Davis,
who works in the State FFA Office, and who let her know about the
scholarship opportunity. "I was one of about 50 FFA members in the
state to receive the scholarship that covered the conference fee,"
she said. "Our local FFA chapter's alumni association covered the
rest, which paid for my transportation. It was an amazing
experience."
Aylesworth admits that she "enjoys everything about FFA" and that
"Mr. Allen motivates me to want to always give 100 percent."
Aylesworth added, "Being able to learn about different livestock has
given me more confidence to enter the Master Showman contest with
our county 4-H."
The horse and dog lover also mentions parents, Randy and Kelly
Ayleswoth, who have always offered their support. "My parents have
bent over backwards to make sure I can devote so much time to what I
love to do. I wanted to be in FFA since probably 6th grade, watching
my cousins Dustin and Chase Aylesworth enjoy it so much." Those
older cousins have since graduated from the U of I and landed jobs
in agriculture.
Meanwhile Lukas Aylesworth, younger cousin to Kamryn and brother to
Dustin and Chase, is enjoying his summer on the farm with his pigs
and he called the state convention "a great experience." He credits
Mr. Allen with teaching him about the feeding of his treasured swine
this past year in school. "This year, in particular, we learned a
lot about feeding and the protein levels and the fiber levels and
certain types of feed, which I believe that has helped me with my
pigs. It's helped me to understand what the types of feed that we
are feeding them does to certain parts of their bodies," said
Aylesworth, who also serves as the Mount Pulaski FFA Chapter
treasurer.
Lukas also cited how learning to judge livestock his freshman year
has helped him pick out his animals and enabled him to see what can
be done to improve the animals. Aylesworth, who will be showing his
pigs at the Logan County Fair this week, lists family as a big
influence in his love for FFA and the fair as well. "My Uncle Randy
(Awe) and my cousins Cole and Jessica, they have always been really
big role models for me. They've always shown pigs for as long as I
can remember and I always wanted to be just like them.
Lukas also mentioned his parents as being great support and his
younger brother, Clay, is a big help with the pigs as well. "I'm
just blessed with a good family," said the smiling brother, who is
the third son of Rick and Debby Aylesworth. Mom Debby also happens
to the leader of the Topper 4-H Club.
It's a family affair come Logan County Fair time when the Aylesworth
family takes the camper and spends the week at the fair. "Always a
good time. It's a blast," said Lukas of the camping experience at
the fairgrounds.
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 The sixteen-year-old even has a favorite memory from the fair
that, of course, involves pigs. "I think they still do this, but
there was a class where you "weighed-out" if your pigs weighed too
much to show in, so they showed in a class called the Super Heavy. I
always liked that. I have no idea why. I guess 'cause they're just
the biggest. But I remember one year before I was old enough to show
in the 4-H show I showed in that class and I won it. I was just
tickled."
Another Mount Pulaski FFA member who has tons of experience and many
fond memories of the Logan County Fair is Ashlyn Hickey. It's safe
to say that Hickey, who is a veteran of cattle shows at only
sixteen-years old, has been around agriculture her entire life. She
has spent the summer competing in cattle shows, continuing her
record books, washing the cows every morning and walking with them
every evening.
Hickey credits Mr. Allen with teaching her hard work and always
to do her best. "He has us go out of our comfort zone to do
challenging events, to find out that we liked it and it rewarded us
to see how well we did. Mr. Allen, as well as my dad, has taught me
how to evaluate livestock and be able to point out the advantages
and disadvantages of the cattle, as we all know they are not going
to be perfect. He has showed me that you have to keep your head held
high through the wins and the losses and to keep trying no matter
what happens." Hickey continued, "I have realized that it is not all
about winning, but it is about learning and having a good time and
loving what you do. FFA is a huge learning experience in my life."
Like the Aylesworth family, Hickey is also blessed with a large
family that supports her and has played a huge part in her success.
"My dad (Charlie Hickey) used to show when he was a kid. My brother
and sister (Brandon and Allison) have been there for me to look up
to and teach me how to wash, blow dry, feed, set the cow up the
right way and to never just do it to get it over with." Even grandma
and grandpa (Hickey) are often close by. "I always look in the
stands and I always see my grandma and grandpa with a smile on their
face and telling me good luck and good job," she said of the couple
who've dedicated their lives to family and farming.
Hickey notes that mom Stacy "is always there taking pictures of me
so I don't forget the memories." Memories of the Logan County Fair
that include the chicken, goat and pig scrambles. "I caught the $5
rooster, got a goat that I had for many years, and was the first one
to catch a pig, and of course I wouldn't trade those experiences for
anything.
My family has been showing at the fair for many years, and then it
was my turn and I was stoked. I showed my goat from the scramble
there, my guilts and now my heifers. I have been successful
throughout my showing years.
The Logan County Fair is a very fun fair to sit in the barns with
your friends, ride on the rides, walk around for great food, tractor
pulls, concerts and staying overnight. But you better be ready to
start early in the morning and work," Hickey summed up perfectly.
Last but not least, the president of the Mount Pulaski FFA Chapter,
Lizzie Ford, agrees that FFA has been a huge part of her life these
last few years. "I took my first agriculture class ever my freshman
year of high school and never imagined I'd become as involved as I
have with such a great organization. I've been able to be a part of
so many different experiences that the FFA has to offer. Many people
think FFA is just crops and animals, but it is so much more than
that, and there really is something for everyone to get involved in
with FFA. I've been able to speak in front of many different groups
of people through projects I've been a part of, and that's something
I've found I love to do."
Ford's love of speaking helped to win her the 2015 title of Logan
County Fair Queen on Tuesday evening. This is just another example
of how FFA influences the lives young people and with the support of
family proves that anything is possible.
[Teena Lowery]
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