by CrownRandall | Mar 2, 2025 | Agriculture
VERSAILLES – The Versailles FFA announced their second nine weeks point winners at the February FFA Meeting on February 20th.
To earn points, members participate in different activities through the chapter, such as Career Development Events and community service activities.
The point system is divided into a high school division, an 8th-grade division, and a capstone division. The winners in the high school division include: 1st place: Brooklyn Livingston, 2nd place: Monica Evers and 3rd place: Ruth Smith. The winners of the 8th grade division include: 1st place: Isabel Grisez, 2nd place: Frankie Broerman and 3rd place: Elizabeth Grieshop. The winners of the capstone division are as follows: 1st place: Josie Pothast, 2nd place: Jocelyn Mumaw, and 3rd place: Zac Bartram. The class period that had the highest average of points per person was Mrs. Wuebker’s 4th period class.
Congratulations to all the point winners and keep up the great work!
by CrownRandall | Mar 1, 2025 | Agriculture
VERSAILLES – At the February 20th Versailles FFA Meeting and officer elections, three seniors were named Versailles FFA members of the month, and they include Zander Keller, Lincoln Winner and Allee Grimme.
Zander Keller is a senior and a 5-year member. He has participated in monthly meetings, trash pickup, fall harvest sale, farm day, national convention, fruit sales, omelet breakfast, soup and sandwich social, ag is cool tent, PALS, shop and crop, and more. He has earned his state degree, competed and found success in state wildlife and was on the first ag mechanical engineering team. Zander is the son of Josh and Diane Keller. Zander received a t-shirt and a certificate. Congratulations to our first member of the month, Zander Keller.
Lincoln Winner is a senior and 5-year member. He has participated in the monthly meetings, canned food and toy drives, fruit sales, leadership night, exhibits at the fair, shop and crop, farm day, state convention, eagles breakfast, CDE luncheon, and more. He has earned his state degree and has found success at county fairs, invitational, and state general livestock shows. Lincoln is the son of Brian and Lisa Winner. Lincoln received a t-shirt and a certificate. Congratulations Lincoln!
Allee Grimme is our third member and final member of the month for February is a senior and 5-year member. She has participated in monthly meetings, leadership night, college career fair, national convention, buyer appreciation breakfast, trash pick up, omelet breakfast, eagles breakfast, soup and sandwich social, canned food drive, fruit sales and fruit load out, feed the farmer, ag is cool tent, farm day, and more. She will earn her state degree at the state convention in May, and she has found success in invitation and state general livestock. Allee is the daughter of Heidi Grimme. Allee received a t-shirt and a certificate. Congratulations to our final member of the month Allee!
by CrownRandall | Mar 1, 2025 | Agriculture
I hope this Newsletter finds you well. While we haven’t reached spring, you can tell it is approaching due to the more comfortable temperatures and precipitation (https://droughtmonitor.unl.edu/CurrentMap/StateDroughtMonitor.aspx?fips_39037). Weather will again be a big topic in this week’s Newsletter, with subjects including caring for livestock at this time of year and how the winter months can impact plants in your landscape.
HPAI in Darke County and the surrounding region continues to be an important topic. The number of cases has continued to grow since late last year when the first outbreak was confirmed. Nearby counties, particularly Mercer, but now including Van Wert and Auglaize, have confirmed cases as well. Proper biosecurity measures are essential. Avoiding unnecessary contact with poultry, using footbaths and disposable boots, and proper sanitation of people and equipment are important practices. Other biosecurity measures, as well as the latest numbers of Bird Flu, can be tracked at the ODA website: https://agri.ohio.gov/divisions/animal-health/hpai/01-poultry.
I will be at Greenville Public Library on March 6th at 11:00 a.m. to discuss Seed Starting as part of their seed swap program. Here, we will the practice of starting your own seeds for your garden, best practices and equipment, transplanting, and more. I hope to see you there!
The next Darke County Ag Breakfast will be March 21st at 7:30 a.m. at Jack’s Cabin in Greenville.
This week’s Newsletter topics include:
Caring for Livestock in Late Winter and Early Spring
Cattle Market Update
Estate Taxes on the Farm
Foot and Mouth Disease in Cattle
Keeping Cattle Fit
Winter’s Impact on Plants
I hope you enjoy this week’s Newsletter, and as always, never hesitate to reach out to me and let me know how I can best serve you and all of Darke County.
by Caden Buschur, Darke County Extension Educator
by CrownRandall | Feb 23, 2025 | Agriculture
VERSAILLES – On Thursday, Feb 20th the Versailles FFA placed 1st out of 17 teams in the District 5 FFA Ag Sales Contest at Covington High School. The Versailles FFA Ag Sales team consisted of Colin Batten, Jayna Luthman, Rhylan Broerman, and Paige Gehret. Individually Colin Batten placed 1st overall, Jayna Luthman placed 2nd overall and Paige Gehret placed 4th overall in the contest out of 67 individuals.
The District 5 Ag Sales contest consists of an online test, an individual sales presentation and a team-oriented sales presentation.
Versailles FFA members sold commercial John Deere lawn mowers as part of their presentation which is the district and state topic of the year. Versailles FFA will advance to the state contest.
The Versailles FFA would like to thank Ryan Langenkamp of Farm Credit-Versailles for helping coach the team and Koenig Equipment consisting of Levi Stump, Dave Oakley and Brittany Walford for helping the team learn about the commercial John Deere lawn mowers and practicing sales with them.
Congratulations and good luck at state!
by CrownRandall | Feb 23, 2025 | Agriculture
VERSAILLES – On Thursday, February 20th, the Versailles FFA enjoyed a breakfast as part of National FFA Week at Eagles. The breakfast was generously sponsored by Bruns Animal Clinic and Versailles FFA Alumni.
A special thank you to the Eagles Lady Auxiliary for cooking an outstanding breakfast. Eagles members with cooking the delicious breakfast included: Jeanette Marshall, Rose Schalter, Kara Didier and Theresa Barga with cooking the delicious breakfast.
The members enjoyed breakfast and had a great time celebrating National FFA week, and the chapter greatly values the support from the community and local businesses and a special thanks to Brun Animal Clinic, Versailles FFA Alumni and Eagles!
by CrownRandall | Feb 21, 2025 | Agriculture
I hope this Newsletter finds you well. The cold temperatures, as well as snow and some ice, have been common throughout the week (https://droughtmonitor.unl.edu/CurrentMap/StateDroughtMonitor.aspx?fips_39037). The weather will be referred to several times throughout the Newsletter; specifically the positive and negative impacts of frost. The freezing and thawing cycle of winter can be beneficial, in the case of frost seeding, or negative, in the case of heaving. The roads can be slick, so be sure to stay safe while traveling.
HPAI in Darke County and the surrounding region continues to be an important topic. The number of cases has continued to grow since late last year when the first outbreak was confirmed. Nearby counties, particularly Mercer, but now including Van Wert and Auglaize, have confirmed cases as well. Proper biosecurity measures are essential. Avoiding unnecessary contact with poultry, using footbaths and disposable boots, and proper sanitation of people and equipment are important practices. Other biosecurity measures, as well as the latest numbers of Bird Flu, can be tracked at the ODA website: https://agri.ohio.gov/divisions/animal-health/hpai/01-poultry
The next Darke County Garden Roundtable will be rescheduled to a future date in the near future.
I will be at Greenville Public Library on March 6th at 11:00 a.m. to discuss Seed Starting as part of their seed swap program. Here, we will the practice of starting your own seeds for your garden, best practices and equipment, transplanting, and more. I hope to see you there!
This week’s Newsletter topics include:
Considerations for Soybean Trait Programs
Corn Vomitoxin Resistance Screening Program
Frost Seeding Forages
Hobby Maple Syrup Production
Managing Frost Heave in Alfalfa
Teff Grass for Forage Production
I hope you enjoy this week’s Newsletter, and as always, never hesitate to reach out to me and let me know how I can best serve you and all of Darke County.
by Caden Buschur, Darke County Extension Educator
