Sugar Valley Rural Charter School celebrates FFA accomplishments with awards, banquet
By Christopher Miller
LOGANTON, PA – Sugar Valley Rural Charter School celebrated their 13th Annual Future Farmers of America (FFA) banquet on the evening of Tuesday, April 19.
The evening began in typical FFA meeting fashion with the exception of there being some 200 guests in attendance. The banquet started with a roll call and welcoming of guests in attendance; parents and guardians, teachers, administration, mentors, and invited guests of honor.
“We will miss SVRCS FFA President Blaine Walizer next year,” Kennedy said. “We have a very dedicated group of students here, and advisors with them who help throughout the entire calendar year.”
After comments were made by school administrator Mrs. Tracie Kennedy, an invocation was led by SVRCS FFA Chaplain Thayne Jeffries.
Those in attendance feasted on a wonderful meal of pulled pork, macaroni and cheese, vegetables, corn casserole and desserts prepared and provided by the SVRCS Food Service Department/Phoenix Café.
The entire evening was a wonderful celebration of these students and their accomplishments during the past year. This was especially evident by the centerpieces on the tables which graphically represented each event that they were a part of.
Information was given to the crowd of onlookers on the importance of being vigilant of the dreaded Spotted Lanternfly whose presence has not been seen in these parts in recent years. The destructive damage of these insects and what can be done to stop them was outlined, including completing visual inspections of vehicles traveling in and out of quarantine zones, making soil injections for affected trees and plants, and physically exterminating each and every Lanternfly that can be found.
The Keynote Speaker was Pennsylvania State FFA Secretary Miss Nina Coolidge of Wellsboro.
“I am one of 13,000 Pennsylvania FFA members living in a small town and small life has taught me two things: everyone knows everyone, and the whole town supports local high school football on a Friday night.” Nina, who played football at Wellsboro High School, spoke of her time playing the sport and how she wanted to quit playing but she persevered and was the very best player that she could be. “It was an opportunity to be a positive light in someone else’s life,” she said. “Embrace the challenges that lie ahead.”
Mr. Stefon Fitzpatrick, Executive Director of PA Commission for Agriculture Education Excellence, was the guest speaker whom President Blaine Walizer spent months speaking with in order to coordinate a visit at the banquet.
“I joined my high school FFA when I was in 7th grade in 2000,” he said. “At that time, the only reason why I wanted to join was because of all the field trips the FFA kids were always going on during the school day.” Fitzpatrick, who has worked in many capacities within the agriculture industry, was a first generation Agriculture Major in his family.
“In 8th grade I received my prized corduroy jacket and then later on became the first Black Chapter President of my high school FFA Chapter,” he said. Forestry is what stole this man’s heart, at first. “You cannot wake up each and every day without interacting with agriculture; from your clothes, to your cereal, to your shoes – there are pieces of agriculture in everything you interact with.”
Stefon went on to Tuskegee University in Alabama on a full-ride working towards a degree in Forestry and Plant Science. “I fought forest fires out west working for the government,” Stefon said. He later went on to Delaware State University, Wilmington University, and University of Maryland Eastern Shore where he is currently a 3rd year Doctoral Student.
“With my work, I have met the Secretary of Education and Secretary of Agriculture for almost every state in the country,” he said. “If it wasn’t for FFA in my life, my life would look totally different…so remember your prized corduroy jackets – on the front it says who you are, but on the back it says where you’re coming from…nowhere else on the jacket does it say what you will become, or what you will do.”
He was attending his first banquet since 2006.
President Blaine Walizer then went on to make a Special Presentation with PA State Representative Stephanie Borowicz to recognize chapter advisors during the banquet.
“I had been thinking since January how to recognize the advisors and one other special person, so I asked for help from our State Representative Stephanie Borowicz in making this happen,” Blaine said.
Advisors Mr. Chuck Bechdel, Mr. Robbie Weaver, Mrs. Kim Bohartz, and Mrs. Jamie Fox, and School Administrator Tracie Kennedy received Citations from the State House of Representatives thanking them for their key roles in what they do everyday for these students. “It is an honor to be here and to see these students…kids are the future,” Borowicz said. “Blaine followed me around the Capital for a day learning about state government and meeting officials earlier this year.”
A Prestigious Donor Award, a new award being showcased this year, was presented to Kyle and Seth Shady. Awards and Degree Pins were presented to FFA members thanking them and honoring their accomplishments made throughout the past year.
Outgoing President Blaine Walizer had the following remarks to say to those in attendance:
“I want to say thank you to the Advisors, and as my year of Chapter President comes to an end, I could not have done this job without the help and assistance of my VP Lillian Conoway…we learned the true value of agriculture, and it is much more than farms and cows, it is leadership, and action, and dedication – everything that is in it is there to help create self-growth.”
“Thank you to the teachers for the ability to show off our skills, for the memories, laughs, and frustrations we all shared, and the constructive criticism to do better and be better…you are far beyond being just another teacher, advisor, or mentor,” said Blaine. “We cannot persevere on our own, so (FFA members) find your support system and walk through life with others; you will reap the rewards of the work we do, so keep working hard.”
“This is a beginning, not a farewell,” Blaine remarked.
Officers for the 2022-2023 year are as follows:
President: Isaiah Conoway
Vice President: Kyle Stahl
Treasurer: Jordan Litz
Secretary: Emma Downing
Chaplain: Thayne Jeffries
Parliamentarian: Olivia Clester
Reporter: Coehen Homan
Sentinel: Wyatt Conoway
Historian: Madisyn Garcia
