Inside this issue:

Rally & UGA

continued 2

Floral Design Clinic 3

Remind 101 4

Officer Message 4

Swine Show 5

Recap of August 5

September Meeting 6

BASIC Training 6

FFA Day at the Fair 7

Krispy Kreme Fundraiser

8

Livestock Judging 8

BASIC Permission 9

September 2015 Volume 4, Issue 3

Newsletter Thirty-three members of the East Jackson Middle and West Jackson Middle FFA Chapters visited The University of Georgia and attended the FFA Area II Rally on September 10th and 11th, 2015. The UGA visit was facilitated by Dr. Frank Flan-ders of the Department of Agricul-tural Leadership, Education, and Communications (ALEC).

The UGA visit began with a meet and greet with Dr. Kay Kelsey, De-partment Head of ALEC, Drs. Frank Flanders, Abigail Borron, Eric Ru-benstein, and Milton Newberry, professors at UGA, and a host of UGA Agricultural Education stu-dents. After meeting with these individuals and learning about ag-riculture-related college and ca-reer opportunities, the FFA mem-bers walked to the Ramsey Stu-dent Center for Physical Activities for a tour of their facilities. Later, the FFA members boarded a UGA bus to Tate Student Center. The FFA members were divided into groups with their chaperones to tour the area around Tate includ-ing Sanford Stadium and the UGA Bookstore.

East Jackson Middle FFA member, Rylee Morgan, said, “I’m definitely coming back next time and looking forward to many FFA trips to come!” The University of Georgia

East Jackson Middle and West Jackson Middle FFA Chapters Visit UGA and Attend Region Rally

visit has been a special feature of the FFA Rally trip for the past two years, and it is sure to be a part of it for years to come!

After the UGA tour, EJMS and WJMS FFA members loaded up to head to the Georgia FFA Camp in Covington, GA for the FFA Area II Rally. To kick-off the rally, teams from East Jackson and West Jack-son competed in the mud obstacle course using teamwork to get all team members over the mud wall, the slides, across the cat walk and through the tunnel. After dinner, stu-dents attended a leader-ship session led by Area II officers and learned about leadership and working with a group.

Continued on page 2

West Jackson Middle FFA

Page 2 Newsletter

West Jackson Middle FFA Member, Savannah Page, said, “My favorite part of the Area 2 Rally was getting to play volleyball, because I got to play with all of my friends and even though we didn’t do well, we still had fun!” The next morn-ing, each team began prepping for the “Amazing Race” challenge! Teams had to work together to race to locations around the camp on the scav-enger-hunt. Each station had a leadership activi-ty or questions about agricultural mechanics, animal science, horticulture, and agricultural education the teams had to answer before mov-ing on. Overall, East and West FFA members had fun getting to know each other, learning about leadership, and working together!

East Jackson Middle FFA members who attended Area II Rally were Sabrina Livingston, Nathan Pagsisihan, Nate McKinney, Sara Saliba, Natalie Gunnells, Maggie Logan, Annalise Dominski, Rylee Morgan, Madisyn Neese, Meghan Cheatham, Janiya Drinnon, Diamond Goodrich, Rashanti Burnett, and Candice Jessimy.

West Jackson Middle FFA members who attend-ed Area II Rally were Bailey Hamm, Alyssa Brad-ley, Garrett Bryson, Gage Kremer, Savannah Page, Trevor Slaick, Noel Plunkett, Kyler Smith, Ashlyn Tomlin, Logan Cantrell, Gates Burke, Aa-ron Brown, Meghan Harris, Charlie Brooksher, Madyson McDaniel, Kaitlyn Vick, Hannah White, and Savannah Van Buren.

Area Rally & UGA Visit continued

Page 3 Volume 4, Issue 3

COVINGTON, GA – West Jackson Middle FFA mem-bers Savannah Van Buren and Cassie Jones recently attended the statewide FFA Floral Design Career Development Event training held at the GA FFA/ FCCLA Center. This two day training was developed specifically for FFA members and FFA Advisors to strengthen their floral de-sign skills as well as build confidence in their own creative ability. The training was led and spon-sored by members of the Georgia State Florist As-sociation along with generous donations from many floral companies from across the nation. The partnership between the middle and high school agriculture programs and the Georgia State Florist Association plays a fundamental role in pre-paring students through hands on experiences for future ca-reers in the floral industry. FFA Advisor and Agriculture Teach-er, April Davis was also in at-tendance.

The Floral Design Career Development Event, which will be held in September, allows students to showcase their tal-ents in a competitive environ-ment by utilizing the principles and elements of de-sign. Students use the principles of balance, proportion, scale, focal point, emphasis, rhythm, harmony, unity, and the tech-nique of flower placement to create their designs.

Each student must also identify twenty-five flowers, plants or equip-ment from a list of seventy-five as well as take a test over the floral industry, safety and the proper techniques of floral design. The students make up to two floral arrange-ments during the area events in the time permit-ted. The top two students from each of the six area events will move on to compete on the state level

West Jackson Middle FFA members Attend State-wide Floral Design Training

in December at Abraham Baldwin Agricultural Col-lege.

FFA is a national organization of over 610,000 members preparing for leadership and careers in the science, business and technology of agriculture. FFA is an integral part of the agricul-tural education program in public schools. The FFA mission is to make a positive difference in the lives of students by developing their potential for premier leadership, personal growth and career success through agricultural education.

Page 4 Newsletter

Hi! I’m Savannah Van Buren, and I’m your 2015-2016 West Jackson Middle FFA President. I’m an eighth grader at WJMS, and I’m very excited to be serving on the FFA Officer team again this year!

Career Development Events, or CDEs, are one of my favorite parts of FFA. I personally compete in Floral De-sign which consists of making floral arrangements to be judged by a panel

September Officer’s Message: Savannah Van Buren

of local florists. The Floral Design CDE is coming up on October 1st, and I am really looking forward to it!

CDEs are a great way to get involved, and there are many to choose from. Stop by the Ag room to speak with Mrs. Davis about CDE opportunities and to sign up for some-thing that interests you!

Page 5 Volume 4, Issue 3

The Labor Day Trojan Throwdown Swine Show was held at the Georgia National Fairgrounds in Perry, Geor-gia on Sunday, September 6th, 2015. The Trojan Throwdown was put on by the Fullington Academy FFA Chapter and was sponsored by State Bank, Frank Morgan, Walmart, Moody Fami-ly, Godfrey’s Feed, Sunglo, Big Indian Feed, and Smyth Family.

While at the show, sixth grade West Jackson Middle FFA member Savan-nah Page did a great job representing Jackson County! Savannah competed against other 6th graders from across the state and won her class of show-manship. In the market gilt show, Sa-vannah won their classes. Savannah’s gilt went on to be chosen as the 3rd Overall Market Gilt for the show. In the market barrow show, Savannah placed first in her class. Addition-ally, Savannah’s barrow went on to be chosen as Grand Champion of the Market Barrow show.

WJMS FFA member Excels at Swine Show

Savannah Page is the daughter of Phil and Christy Page. Savannah is pictured with her Grand Champion Market Barrow, judge John Paul Martin, her broth-

er Carson, and her father, Phil.

Thank you to everyone who came out to the August FFA Meeting—Back to School Bash! With more than 50 students in attendance, we think a good time was had by all! We hope you enjoyed the in-flatable slip and slide, water games, and pie-ing an officer!

Don’t forget that from this point forward, you MUST be a paid FFA member to attend events! :)

Recap: August FFA Meeting

Page 6 Newsletter

When: Tuesday, September 22nd

Time: After school until 5:00PM

Where: Meet in the Ag Room

Theme: Field Day! Be prepared for field day games and excitement!

Who: Must be a paid FFA member to attend

The September FFA Meeting theme is Field Day! We will have a variety of field day games and activities for FFA members to compete in! You should definitely mark your calendars for this one!

September FFA Meeting: Field Day!!

BASIC is a field trip program designed for student organizations. The programs are designed to teach team skills to students in an exciting and hands-on environment.

During the BASIC Training trip, students will go through a high ropes course, team building initia-tives, and a mud course.

Note: If you know that you are unwilling to try the high ropes or mud course, please don’t sign up for this trip. :)

What: BASIC Training Leadership Trip

When: Wednesday, September 23rd * Only the first 20 FFA members will be allowed to attend * Must turn in permission form by Monday, September 21st

Time: Leave WJMS at 7:00AM and return to JCCHS around 6:00PM

Where: Georgia FFA Camp in Covington

Who: WJMS & EJMS FFA members

Cost: $40 which includes mud course, high ropes course, lunch, & transportation

BASIC Training Field Trip—September 23rd

Page 7 Newsletter

FFA Day at the Georgia National Fair—October 13th

WHEN: Tuesday, Oct 13th ***BUT you must have your permission form turned in and a project registered by September 21st.

WHERE: Georgia National Fair in Perry, GA

HOW: Only students with projects registered at the Georgia National Fair can attend

COST: $25

Minibooths (informational booths about plants, forestry, natural re-sources, or wildlife; can be individual or with a partner)

***We are limited to 10 minibooths, so let Mrs. Davis know ASAP if you are interested!

Ag Mechanics Projects (could include metal projects, woodworking, or PVC and MUST include a project plan and materials list)

Floriculture Contest (practice after school with Mrs. Davis and the floricul-

ture team to learn to identify common plants)

Want to earn an invitation to FFA Day at the Georgia National Fair in Perry, GA??

GET INVOLVED!

If you would like to attend the FFA Day at the Fair trip, you must be in-volved in one of the contests that go on there.

The FFA Day at the Fair trip includes a leadership rally and a day of rides at one of the largest fairs in the south-east!

All events for the Georgia National Fair MUST be registered online (by Mrs. Davis) by September 21st, and if you are interested in competing mini-booths and ag mechanics projects MUST be completed by October 1st so that they can be delivered before the fair starts).

West Jackson Middle FFA

West Jackson Middle School 400 Gum Springs Church Rd

Jefferson, GA 30549

Phone: 706-654-2775

Extension: 503

E-mail: adavis@jackson.k12.ga.us

Website: wjmsffa.wix.com/wjmsffa

Page 8 Newsletter

The West Jackson Middle FFA is selling Krispy Kreme doughnuts for its fall fundraiser!

FFA members are selling

Original Glazed for $6,

Chocolate Covered for $8, and

Kreme Filled for $8.

The doughnut sales will end and orders need to be returned to Mrs. Davis by

October 2nd.

Orders will be delivered to WJMS on Oc-tober 7th and can be picked up from 3:00PM to 5:00PM.

On the pick up date, (October 7th) FFA members will pick up the do-nuts that they have sold and deliv-er them to their buyers.

We can accept cash or checks made payable to WJMS.

Stop by the Ag Room to get your sale sheet! The FFA member who sells the most will get a prize!

WJMS FFA Sets Fundraiser

Four members of West Jackson Middle FFA have been working hard at practicing for the Livestock Judg-ing Career Development Event in December. Jackson County Young Farmer Teacher, Josh Whitworth, has worked to prepare livestock judging opportunities for these FFA members as well as other FFA members throughout Jackson County.

Students have worked to learn how to judge cattle, sheep, swine, and goats, and they have judged cattle, swine and goat classes throughout the county. After a day of judging, students meet again to work on their reasons—a 1 to 2 minute oral presentation of their rea-sonings behind their placings.

This group of students is dedicated to working hard to do well in the contest. Would you like to get involved in a CDE? See Mrs. Davis for possible op-tions!

The Livestock Judging Team will have their first practice contest on Mon-day, September 21st at the Gwinnett County Fair. Good luck!

WJMS FFA Members Training for Livestock Judging

Members of the Livestock Judging Team includes Savannah Page, Charlie Brooksher, Hannah White, and Madyson McDaniel.

BASIC Training Leadership Trip – September 23rd

Parental Consent Form Assumption of Risk / Informed Consent / Voluntary Release

B.A.S.I.C. Training “Building and Achieving Success in Chapters”

You will be taking part in a challenge course program that is physically and mentally challenging, but it is designed to be safe

and within the capability of anyone in reasonably good health. If you know of any physical limitations that will limit your abil-

ity to participate in the course, please let your facilitator know.

The Georgia FFA-FCCLA Center operates under a “Challenge by Choice” philosophy, which means that you have the option to

select your personal level of challenge in all activities. During the program, we will provide a challenging setting in which to

expand your limits, while supporting your personal boundaries. As with any physical activity, there is some risk of injury. To

minimize the potential for accidents, it is important to listen to the facilitators and follow their instructions. Please ask questions

if you do not understand directions.

“I fully understand that my participation in the challenge / ropes course activities facilitated by the Georgia FFA-FCCLA Center

and all of their employees and instructors could result in injury or death. I do voluntarily choose to participate in these activities.

Also, my participation requires that I am of good physical condition and I do hereby accept all responsibility for my own physi-

cal well-being, and I do not have any medical conditions that will prohibit me from safely participating or will put me at risk of

injury. Being fully aware of the degree of risk and injury to myself, I hereby release and hold harmless the Georgia FFA-FCCLA

Center and all of their employees and instructors from any claim, action, damage, liability, and expenses of any kind resulting

from accident or injury incurred while participating in these activities.”

Participant Name (print): _____________________________________________________________________________

Participant Signature: ____________________________________________________ Date: ______________________

Group Name: _________________________________________________ Date of Program: ______________________

Parent/Guardian Signature: _______________________________________________ Date: _______________________

Required Participant Information:

Date of Birth:_______________________________ Male / Female (circle one)

Home Address: _____________________________________________________________________________________

Parent/Guardian(s) Name: ____________________________________________________________________________

Home phone: ____________________________________Cell phone: __________________________________

In case you are not available in an emergency situation, please indicate an additional person to be notified:

Name:___________________________________________Relationship to student:________________________

Contact Information: __________________________________________________________________________

Is this student covered by medical insurance? Yes / No (circle one)

Plan Name:___________________________________ Group #: ______________________________________

Does the participant have any medical conditions (including recent surgery, pregnancy, healing fractures, back or neck injuries,

heart condition, etc.) that would limit participation in the program? Yes No

If yes, please explain: _________________________________________________________________________

List any current medications: __________________________________________________________________________

List any allergies: __________________________________________________________________