Versailles FFA conducts Veterans Dinner

Versailles FFA conducts Veterans Dinner

VERSAILLES – On Thursday, the Versailles FFA hosted a dinner at the school for Veterans in the surrounding area. The program honored active duty military as well as veterans who were in attendance as well as deceased.

To start off the night, those in attendance enjoyed a meal that consisted of BBQ pork and shredded chicken sandwiches, Amish noodles, chili soup, salad and various desserts. Also as part of the meal, the guests enjoyed hydroponics lettuce that was grown by the Greenhouse Management Classes, and cookies from the Versailles Family Consumer Sciences Classes. During the meal, everyone had the opportunity to look at a table set up for POW (Prisoners of War). This table was set for one and had many objects that represented the hardships and bitterness of being lost at war. After the meal, the veterans enjoyed listening to a poem recited by Rhyland Broerman and Eden Barga.

After the poem, the guests enjoyed entertainment from Tiger Tunes, Amplified, and a guest speaker, Representative Angie King, who is a part of the Ohio State House of Representatives.  A special thank you to Tiger Tunes and Erin Rismiller director of the Tiger Tunes and Amplified and Mason DeMange director of Amplified for sharing their time and talents with the Veterans.

Then both active military members and veterans were honored with a slideshow. Active military duty and all Veterans were also given patriotic horseshoe stars made by the Versailles Ad Ed Mechanical Principle classes, a single rose designed by the Greenhouse Management class, thank you notes from Versailles High School students and coloring pages from Versailles Elementary.

In conjunction with the Veterans Dinner, a patriotic art contest was held and thank you to Mrs. Ranly and Mrs. Sutter for helping oversee this project. The art projects were displayed at the dinner. The greenhouse management class also made red, white and blue flower arrangements that were given out as door prizes. A special thanks to Nature Reflections-Susan Ballinger for donating the containers that were used for the arrangements.

Active members include Army; Space Force; Haddi Treon represented by Dean and Margie Treon. Veterans of each branch and their spouses were also recognized.

The Army included: John Schmitmeyer, Ray Grisez, Dan Simon, Tim Wagner, Leroy Cordonnier, Thomas Hemmelgarn, Larry Roll, Jim Nerderman, Gary Poling, represented by Carolyn Poling, Virgil Frantz, Ted Schmitmeyer, Frank Gantt, Ron Hiestand, Wilber Petitjean, represented by Caroline Petitjean, Fred Bohman, represented by Marlene Bohman, Jim Pohlman, Larry Pleiman, Gary Davidson, Bernard Shappie, represented by Elsie Shappie, Josh Didier, Jim Bergman, Bob Grieshop, Roger Bey, Bill Marshal, Paul Huber, Dick Didier, Lewis Kremer, represented by Beth Simons, Dick Berger, John Berger, Mike McClurg, Richard Kiser, Gene Epperly, Jim Bergman, Dick Gigendet, Louie Keiser, represented by Doris Keiser, Francis Phlipot, Urban Gehret, represented by Irene Gehret, David Harris, Dan Hoening, Eugene Mescher, represented by Eileen Mescher, Nolan Mangen, Mark Kunk, Larry Wuebker, Richard Glick, John Kreig, represented by Phyllis Kreig, Edmund Schlater, represented by Velma Schlater, Roger Magoto, represented by Cheryl Magoto.

The Air Force included: Tim Huber, Dick Francis, Ray Boas, Jim York, Ed DeMange, Darryl Whalen, Levi Barga, Donna Grilliot, Marlin Falknor, Mike Brown, George Stuck, Dave Keihl, Hallie Mills, David Dean, Fred Dean, Dan Hoening.

Marines include: Dean Winner, Harold Apple represented by Carol Apple, Victor Niekamp, Represented by Bernie Niekamp, Gary Kunk.

National Guard includes: Duane Ward, Harold Rehmert represented by Janet Rehmert, Paul Meyer, Lanny Brenner, Bill Ahrens, Larry Hesson, Ron Mescher.

Navy includes: Dave Holfinger, Bob Magoteaux, John Shue, Ben Bernholt, Scott Riffell, Lester Kueterman, Dave Bey, Jim Lawrence, Nick Knapke, John Echeman, Thomas Parin, Larry Henderson, Larry Lavy, Dan Pond, Jerry Bey, Larry Laub.

Members who assisted in making this event possible include: Luke Kaiser, Colin Batten, Andrew Lyons, Greta Broeing, Rhylan Broeman, Ruthie Smith, Eden Barga, Monica Evers, Paige Gehret, Brooklyn Livingston, Maggie McGlinch, Lucy Schmitmeyer, Danica York, Frankie Broerman, Margret Schmimeyer, Gavin Hecht, Annlee Mertz, Kayle Petitjean, Madilyn Wagner, Simone Grieshop, Lauren Grogean, Keira Rahm, Gracie Henry, Paige Gehret, Cale DeMange, Grady Dirksen, Simon Broering, Zach Rahm, Emmit DeMange, Adam Rauh, Elias Moiser, Jayna Luthman, Aleta Longfellow, Monica Schmitmeyer, Hank Smith, Isabel Grisez, Owen DeMange, Sam Albers, Vera Schmitmeyer, and Cecilia Schmimeyer.

A special thank you to Jill Gehret, Darlene Lyons, Olivia Pohlman, Sharon McGlinch, Krista Harmen and Dylan Meyer for helping out with the Veterans Program.

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Weather, Forages and Carbon Sequestration

Weather, Forages and Carbon Sequestration

The impact of ruminant grazing on ecosystems is complex and fascinating. When managed properly, grazing can promote plant growth, enhance soil health, and contribute to increased carbon sequestration. Practices like rotational grazing help to maintain vegetation and soil quality, but improper management can lead to overgrazing, resulting in soil degradation, loss of vegetation, and reduced carbon storage.

In this article, Retired NRCS Agronomist and Grazing Specialist Victor Shelton discusses the connection between weather, forages, and carbon sequestration. Specific topics include normal weather compared to average weather, the health of the soil, and how different grazing practices can impact the amount of carbon sequestered. https://u.osu.edu/beef/2024/11/06/normal-vs-average-weather-and-the-impact-on-forages/

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Weather, Forages and Carbon Sequestration

Heifer Market Update

Is anyone keeping heifers? It’s a question I’ve been asked at every Cattlemen’s meeting I’ve been to this fall—and one I’ve been asking myself. The answer appears to be a definitive no from all the information I’ve gathered.

In this article, James Mitchell of the University of Arkansas discusses the current heifer market, and more specifically, whether most beef producers are keeping heifers at the moment. Mitchell shares several details and charts in this article to help explain the current market. https://u.osu.edu/beef/2024/11/13/is-anyone-keeping-heifers/

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Weather, Forages and Carbon Sequestration

Dead Vs. Dormant Grass

The most prevalent types of pasture plants that we use in Ohio are cool-season forages. It is normal for these cool-season forages to enter a dormancy period to survive through the warmest and driest part of summer to come out productive in the fall.

When the drought was at its worst, we could clearly see the negative impact it was having on grasses, weather in our lawns or our forage crops. As OSU Extension Educator Cristine Gelley discusses in this article, the commonly planted grasses in Ohio often go dormant during warm and dry times, but then are able to bounce back when moisture arrives. In this case, however, there is a higher likelihood that some of that grass has died completely due to the severity of the drought.

Read through this article to learn more about the reasons for grass death, and to help you make decisions on how to repair your forages. https://u.osu.edu/beef/2024/11/13/is-the-grass-dead-or-dormant/

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Joyful Jets 4-H Club holds November meeting

Joyful Jets 4-H Club holds November meeting

ARCANUM – On November 12, 2024 the Joyful Jets 4-H Club met at Trinity Methodist Church in Arcanum for a regularly scheduled 4-H meeting. Vice President, Brooklyn Miller, called the meeting to order and led the pledges and motto. Secretary, Cheyenne Swisher, did roll call and read minutes from the previous meeting. Recreations Leader, Hudson Wehrley led the club in a game. The Treasurers Report was given by Isaac Wiant and Garett Miller gave a Safety Report.

In Old Business, please write thank you notes for any trophies won at the fair.

In New Business, the election of the club’s 2025 officers and 2025 program committee sign-ups were postponed to the next meeting due to low member attendance. Project sign-up for the 2025 year is available now through April 1, 2025. Members, please let Susan know if you are interested in helping with any activities for the club Christmas party at the next meeting. Trash Bash forms for 2025 are now available online from the Darke County Solid Waste District. The amount paid has increased to $100 per section, participation forms are due March 7, 2025 and the Trash Bash t-shirt design contest entries are due January 31, 2025.

Lexi Myers did public speaking. November birthdays were recognized, James Enicks gave a devotion, and the meeting was adjourned. Members enjoyed refreshments provided by the Myers family. The next meeting will be December 10th at 6:00 pm at Trinity Methodist Church.

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Tractor Drive-In Day at Mississinawa Valley

Tractor Drive-In Day at Mississinawa Valley

The Mississinawa Valley-MVCTC FFA chapter hosted Tractor Drive-In Day on September 13. The farm equipment was parked in The Nest parking lot on State Route 47 so everyone who drove by would see them. This reminds everyone that harvest season is starting and they need to slow down and share the roads with farm equipment.

The members who participated were Shane Germann, Ethan Loy, Gretchen Rodeheffer, Ethan Grow, Kyle Wehrkamp, Leland Kauffman, Tristan Muhlenkamp, Tenlee Woodbury, Quentin Hanes, Daniel Hartzell, Ty Houser, Hunter Cox, McKinley Stachler, Colten Hiestand, and Jaxin Beanblosson.

This was a great way to remind everyone to stay safe on the roads this harvest season.

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