A few of Tri-Valley’s FFA members.
Story and photos by Ted Waddell
GRAHAMSVILLE – The theme of FFA Week 2010 (February 20-27) is “Lead Out Loud”, and members of the national organization, founded in 1928, realize that success in life is not attained by sitting quietly in the background.
In order to reach their personal goals and rise above the rest of the herd, they have to step up and be counted as leaders in school, their community and eventually the world at large.
Meet the Tri-Valley Central School FFA
Tri-Valley’s FFA Chapter was founded in 1951, with Richard Strangeway serving as the first advisor.
Tara Berescik, Tri-Valley FFA Chapter co-advisor.
For the last decade, agricultural teacher Tara “Ms B.’” Berescik has been the chapter’s advisor, and two years ago was joined by Robert Hayes as an Ag instructor and co-advisor to the award winning local FFA chapter.
“The greatest thing about FFA is that you can start in 6th grade and continue for four years after you graduate [high school] on a state or a national level,” said Ms. B.
In 2008 Berescik was honored by the National Association of Agricultural Educators (NAAE) as a Region 6 Ag Teacher of the Year, and in the 2009-2010 school year was selected as the region’s Outstanding Teacher of the Year (out of 18 state regional winners), thus becoming one of only six such teachers recognized at that level for the current school year.
In November, Berescik got a free trip to the annual NAAE conference in Nashville, Tennessee, where she and the others top award winners were told they would be getting the free use of a Toyota Tundra pickup for two years, compliments of Toyota Motor Corporation, a major FFA sponsor.
Robert Hayes, FFA co-advisor out in the greenhouse.
“It’s exciting because I drive a 1994 Honda Accord and I can definitely use a new vehicle, because the window gets stuck in the down position, and it’s very cold right now,” said Berescik.
Seventeen-year old Krista Devore, is a senior and president of Tri-Valley’s Senior FFA Chapter, and has been a member since she joined in 7th grade.
“My friend Laurie Elberth really influence me, she got me in the hallway and brought me down to the Ag room,” recalled Devore.
At the time, she was interested in becoming a vet, but has since switched career paths to studying psychology.
Michelle McNutt, a 17-year old 12th grader, serves as 1st Vice President.
“I’ve gotten a lot of experience with FFA , and through it decided I want to be a florist,” she said, noting that in the local FFA she has served previously in the roles of parliamentarian and sub-district officer.
This year’s 2nd Vice President is 16-year sophomore Liz Bracken, who joined in 7th grade. In Tri-Valley’s junior chapter, she was secretary and later co-president, and in 2008-09 served as senior chapter secretary.
“I’m running for district president this year, so we’ll see how that turns out,” said Bracken.
Asked what she’s gotten out of FAA, Bracken replied, “A lot of fun meeting new people and going to a lot of awesome places.”
FFA members take recycling seriously, as Nat Tompkins is pictured inside a vintage RCA TV.
Last year members of Tri-Valley’s FFA traveled to New Zealand and Australia.
“My favorite part was getting to hold a baby dingo at an Australian zoo, and we got to interact with some koalas,” said Bracken.
Hannah Lindquist is a 16-year old junior, and is this year’s treasurer.
As an 8th grader, she said, she wasn’t having a lot of fun in a few other clubs at school, so she joined FFA.
“I was looking for something more and all my friends were in FFA. They were having a lot of exciting activities, and I wanted to be part of that…I have gotten really good leadership skills, I can talk in front of people, and I am good with teamwork and cooperation.”
“FFA has really helped me in public speaking, and through FFA I became the Sullivan County Dairy Princess,” added Lindquist.
Sixteen-year old 10th grader Ethan Terwilliger is one of the senior chapter’s four reporters, who said of his FFA experience since joining in 8th grade, “I hope to own my own farm one day.
Emily Devore, a 16-year junior is also a reporter.
“I’ve developed better leadership skills,” she said. “When I started in seventh grade I was this quiet shy kid who really didn’t talk much…FFA helped me get out of my shell and learn more about the world we live in.”
Dan Short, Brenden Sanok and Christina Neist with floral arrangements created by Alana Levan, Khristian Newkirk and Sarah Coney.
Another reporter is 16-year old 11th grader Caroline Bertholf.
“FFA is a great experience for leadership, business, public speaking and communication with my peers,” she said.
In addition to serving as co-secretary of the senior chapter, Christina Neist is president of the student council.
“They are very similar,” she said of the two high school organization. “All our student council officers and advisors are in FFA.”
Last year Neist was part of an 85-some show choir (as one of three participants from NYS) that performed before more than 50,000 folks at the National FFA Convention.
“It was a really cool experience,” she said.
About the FFA
The Future Farmers of America was founded in 1928 to bring together students, teachers and agribusiness to solidify support for agricultural education. Thirty-three young farm boys met in Kansas City’s Baltimore Hotel to chart a course for the future.
In 1950, the U.S. Congress granted FFA a federal charter (Title 36 USC), making it an integral, intra-curricular part of public agricultural instruction under the National Vocational Education Acts (NCEA).
The name of the organization was changed in 1988 to the National FFA Organization to reflect the expanding career field of Eg Education, thus transforming the popular public perceptions that FFA was only about “weeds, seeds and feeds” or “plows and cows.”
Next year, FFA students will start raising tilapia in one of the greenhouses.
As FFA gears up to celebrate National FFA Week, it has come a long way since 33 farm boys gathered in a hotel in Kansas City, Missouri in the heart of America’s farm belt: at the end of the 2007-2008 school year, the national organization boasted 506,199 FFA members, aged 12-21, in 7,429 chapters in all 50 states, Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands, marking a 31-year membership high.
Since 1944, the National FFA Foundation has raised more than $187 million for the National FFA Organization; since 2008, more than 2,500 sponsors provided over $14.5 million for FFA and Ag programs; and each year, the national organization awards approximately $2 million in scholarships, benefitting over 1,600 students.
The largest national event is the National FFA Convention, which last year had an attendance of 53,473.
During it’s 82-years of existence, millions of agriculture students have donned the distinctive National Blue and Corn Gold corduroy jacket, which was originally created by Dr. Gus Linter to be worn by the Fredericktown Band of the Fredericktown FFA Chapter.
The FFA strives to make a positive difference in the lives of students by developing their potential for “premier leadership, personal growth and career success” through Ag ed, as members work to live up to the National FFA Organization motto “Learning to Do; Doing to Learn; Earning to Live; Living to Serve”.
FFA operates on local, state and national levels, and students belong to chapters organized at the local school level, with agricultural teachers serving as chapter advisors.
The youth organization was originally created to serve high school students, but the FFA has recently expanded its role to include middle schools where membership may begin as early as age 12.
In addition, collegiate chapters exist as well.
A long list of notables have proudly worn the blue and jacket: President Jimmy Carter, Jim Davis (creator of the Garfield comic strip), NASCAR driver Sterling Martin, football and baseball star Bo Jackson, Mark Tauscher of the NFL, Brad Mester of the NFL, and from the entertainment industry a long list including Matthew Fox, Don Henley, Lyle Lovett, Willie Nelson, Taylor Swift, Toby Keith, and Steve Doocy.
FFA accomplishes its national mission by promoting agricultural education: as it strives to “develop competent and assertive agricultural leadership; increase the awareness of the global and technological importance of agriculture and its contribution to our well-being; strengthen the confidence of agricultural students in themselves and their work; promote the intelligent choice and establishment of an agricultural career; encourage achievement in supervised agricultural experience programs; encourage wise management of economic, environmental and human resources of the community; develop interpersonal skills in teamwork, communications, human relations and social interaction; build character and promotes citizenship, volunteerism and patriotism; promote cooperation and cooperative attitudes among all people; promote health lifestyles; [and] encourage excellence in scholarship.”
The FFA creed was written by Erwin Milton “E.M.” Tiffany of Wisconsin and adopted at the 3rd national convention (revised at the 38th and 63rd conventions), and is recited by new members:
“I believe in the future of agriculture; with a faith born not of words but of deeds – achievements won by the present and past generations of agriculturists; in the promise of better days through better ways, even as the better things we now enjoy have come to us from the struggles of former years.
I believe that to live and work on a good farm or to be engaged in other agricultural pursuits is pleasant as well as challenging; for I know the joys and discomforts of agricultural life and hold an inborn fondness for those associations which, even in hours of discouragement I cannot deny.
I believe in leadership from ourselves and respect from others. I believe in my own ability to work efficiently and think clearly with such knowledge and skill as I can secure and in the ability of progressive agriculturists to serve our own and the public interest in producing and marketing the product of our toil.
I believe in less dependence on begging and more power in bargaining; in the life abundant and enough honest wealth to help make it so-for others as well as myself; in less need for charity and more of it when needed; in being happy myself and playing square with those whose happiness depends upon me.
I believe that American agriculture can and will hold true to the best traditions of our national life and that I can exert an influence in my home and community which will stand sold for my part in that inspiring task.”
To view more photos or to purchase prints from FFA “Leads Out Loud” visit the Chronicle on Zenfolio.
To view a full listing of Tri-Valleys FFA membership and a listing of this year’s upcoming events visit FFA “Leads Out Loud” Membership/Events in our School Pages section under the heading Academically Speaking.
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The Catskill Chronicle 
FFA “Leads Out Loud”
February 12, 2010 by The Catskill Chronicle
A few of Tri-Valley’s FFA members.
Story and photos by Ted Waddell
GRAHAMSVILLE – The theme of FFA Week 2010 (February 20-27) is “Lead Out Loud”, and members of the national organization, founded in 1928, realize that success in life is not attained by sitting quietly in the background.
In order to reach their personal goals and rise above the rest of the herd, they have to step up and be counted as leaders in school, their community and eventually the world at large.
Meet the Tri-Valley Central School FFA
Tri-Valley’s FFA Chapter was founded in 1951, with Richard Strangeway serving as the first advisor.
Tara Berescik, Tri-Valley FFA Chapter co-advisor.
For the last decade, agricultural teacher Tara “Ms B.’” Berescik has been the chapter’s advisor, and two years ago was joined by Robert Hayes as an Ag instructor and co-advisor to the award winning local FFA chapter.
“The greatest thing about FFA is that you can start in 6th grade and continue for four years after you graduate [high school] on a state or a national level,” said Ms. B.
In 2008 Berescik was honored by the National Association of Agricultural Educators (NAAE) as a Region 6 Ag Teacher of the Year, and in the 2009-2010 school year was selected as the region’s Outstanding Teacher of the Year (out of 18 state regional winners), thus becoming one of only six such teachers recognized at that level for the current school year.
In November, Berescik got a free trip to the annual NAAE conference in Nashville, Tennessee, where she and the others top award winners were told they would be getting the free use of a Toyota Tundra pickup for two years, compliments of Toyota Motor Corporation, a major FFA sponsor.
Robert Hayes, FFA co-advisor out in the greenhouse.
“It’s exciting because I drive a 1994 Honda Accord and I can definitely use a new vehicle, because the window gets stuck in the down position, and it’s very cold right now,” said Berescik.
Seventeen-year old Krista Devore, is a senior and president of Tri-Valley’s Senior FFA Chapter, and has been a member since she joined in 7th grade.
“My friend Laurie Elberth really influence me, she got me in the hallway and brought me down to the Ag room,” recalled Devore.
At the time, she was interested in becoming a vet, but has since switched career paths to studying psychology.
Michelle McNutt, a 17-year old 12th grader, serves as 1st Vice President.
“I’ve gotten a lot of experience with FFA , and through it decided I want to be a florist,” she said, noting that in the local FFA she has served previously in the roles of parliamentarian and sub-district officer.
This year’s 2nd Vice President is 16-year sophomore Liz Bracken, who joined in 7th grade. In Tri-Valley’s junior chapter, she was secretary and later co-president, and in 2008-09 served as senior chapter secretary.
“I’m running for district president this year, so we’ll see how that turns out,” said Bracken.
Asked what she’s gotten out of FAA, Bracken replied, “A lot of fun meeting new people and going to a lot of awesome places.”
FFA members take recycling seriously, as Nat Tompkins is pictured inside a vintage RCA TV.
Last year members of Tri-Valley’s FFA traveled to New Zealand and Australia.
“My favorite part was getting to hold a baby dingo at an Australian zoo, and we got to interact with some koalas,” said Bracken.
Hannah Lindquist is a 16-year old junior, and is this year’s treasurer.
As an 8th grader, she said, she wasn’t having a lot of fun in a few other clubs at school, so she joined FFA.
“I was looking for something more and all my friends were in FFA. They were having a lot of exciting activities, and I wanted to be part of that…I have gotten really good leadership skills, I can talk in front of people, and I am good with teamwork and cooperation.”
“FFA has really helped me in public speaking, and through FFA I became the Sullivan County Dairy Princess,” added Lindquist.
Sixteen-year old 10th grader Ethan Terwilliger is one of the senior chapter’s four reporters, who said of his FFA experience since joining in 8th grade, “I hope to own my own farm one day.
Emily Devore, a 16-year junior is also a reporter.
“I’ve developed better leadership skills,” she said. “When I started in seventh grade I was this quiet shy kid who really didn’t talk much…FFA helped me get out of my shell and learn more about the world we live in.”
Dan Short, Brenden Sanok and Christina Neist with floral arrangements created by Alana Levan, Khristian Newkirk and Sarah Coney.
Another reporter is 16-year old 11th grader Caroline Bertholf.
“FFA is a great experience for leadership, business, public speaking and communication with my peers,” she said.
In addition to serving as co-secretary of the senior chapter, Christina Neist is president of the student council.
“They are very similar,” she said of the two high school organization. “All our student council officers and advisors are in FFA.”
Last year Neist was part of an 85-some show choir (as one of three participants from NYS) that performed before more than 50,000 folks at the National FFA Convention.
“It was a really cool experience,” she said.
About the FFA
The Future Farmers of America was founded in 1928 to bring together students, teachers and agribusiness to solidify support for agricultural education. Thirty-three young farm boys met in Kansas City’s Baltimore Hotel to chart a course for the future.
In 1950, the U.S. Congress granted FFA a federal charter (Title 36 USC), making it an integral, intra-curricular part of public agricultural instruction under the National Vocational Education Acts (NCEA).
The name of the organization was changed in 1988 to the National FFA Organization to reflect the expanding career field of Eg Education, thus transforming the popular public perceptions that FFA was only about “weeds, seeds and feeds” or “plows and cows.”
Next year, FFA students will start raising tilapia in one of the greenhouses.
As FFA gears up to celebrate National FFA Week, it has come a long way since 33 farm boys gathered in a hotel in Kansas City, Missouri in the heart of America’s farm belt: at the end of the 2007-2008 school year, the national organization boasted 506,199 FFA members, aged 12-21, in 7,429 chapters in all 50 states, Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands, marking a 31-year membership high.
Since 1944, the National FFA Foundation has raised more than $187 million for the National FFA Organization; since 2008, more than 2,500 sponsors provided over $14.5 million for FFA and Ag programs; and each year, the national organization awards approximately $2 million in scholarships, benefitting over 1,600 students.
The largest national event is the National FFA Convention, which last year had an attendance of 53,473.
During it’s 82-years of existence, millions of agriculture students have donned the distinctive National Blue and Corn Gold corduroy jacket, which was originally created by Dr. Gus Linter to be worn by the Fredericktown Band of the Fredericktown FFA Chapter.
The FFA strives to make a positive difference in the lives of students by developing their potential for “premier leadership, personal growth and career success” through Ag ed, as members work to live up to the National FFA Organization motto “Learning to Do; Doing to Learn; Earning to Live; Living to Serve”.
FFA operates on local, state and national levels, and students belong to chapters organized at the local school level, with agricultural teachers serving as chapter advisors.
The youth organization was originally created to serve high school students, but the FFA has recently expanded its role to include middle schools where membership may begin as early as age 12.
In addition, collegiate chapters exist as well.
A long list of notables have proudly worn the blue and jacket: President Jimmy Carter, Jim Davis (creator of the Garfield comic strip), NASCAR driver Sterling Martin, football and baseball star Bo Jackson, Mark Tauscher of the NFL, Brad Mester of the NFL, and from the entertainment industry a long list including Matthew Fox, Don Henley, Lyle Lovett, Willie Nelson, Taylor Swift, Toby Keith, and Steve Doocy.
FFA accomplishes its national mission by promoting agricultural education: as it strives to “develop competent and assertive agricultural leadership; increase the awareness of the global and technological importance of agriculture and its contribution to our well-being; strengthen the confidence of agricultural students in themselves and their work; promote the intelligent choice and establishment of an agricultural career; encourage achievement in supervised agricultural experience programs; encourage wise management of economic, environmental and human resources of the community; develop interpersonal skills in teamwork, communications, human relations and social interaction; build character and promotes citizenship, volunteerism and patriotism; promote cooperation and cooperative attitudes among all people; promote health lifestyles; [and] encourage excellence in scholarship.”
The FFA creed was written by Erwin Milton “E.M.” Tiffany of Wisconsin and adopted at the 3rd national convention (revised at the 38th and 63rd conventions), and is recited by new members:
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