,AND FINALLY 16A May 27, 2010 The County Paper. Est. 1923 levyjournalonline.com The Levy County Journal FFA, from Page 1A back as they finished their storytelling about him, some teary eyed at the thought of losing Philpot. The male senior chapter officers shook Philpot's hand as they finished their turn at telling Philpot stories. "It has been a good year," Philpot said, taking the microphone. "I want you to know I appreciate you as much as you pretend to appreciate me." His comment brought another belly laugh from the crowd and the senior chapter officers standing behind him. "I think Williston FFA is in great shape," he added on a more serious note, exiting the auditorium stage a final time. State FFA Degrees Dola was among six seniors to earn State FFA Degrees for having exceptional SupervisedAgricultural Experience projects. Dola, who owns cattle and is professionally certified to perform artificial insemination in cattle, was selected from among the State FFA Degree winners for the Star Chapter Farmer Award. His project was beef production. The other winners were Chance Carswell in agriculture - placement forage, George Evans in turf grass, Ashton Bloom in swine production, Sarah Weeks in agriculture - placement and Arielle Shirley in equine/ swine production. Star Chapter Farmer Dola was the junior chapter president and senior chapter president during his four years at WHS. He was considered an outstanding leader in the chapter in addition to winning a State FFA Degree. Star Greenhand Award Bryce Merrill won the Star Greenhand Award as the most promising freshman FFA member. Honorary Chapter Farmers Honorary Chapter Degrees were presented to Sharon Sandlin, president of the Williston FFA Alumni and WHS Principal John Lott. Both donated considerable time to FFA. The Williston FFA Chapters wanted to recognize their contributions. State Champion Team The Williston High School FFA Senior Chapter nursery and landscape team was recognized for their state championship win. Members were Ashton Bloom, Chance Carswell, Kevin Smith and Sarah Weeks. The junior chapter team of Travis Bergdoll, Quincey Cason and Jace Colina was third in the state. State Ranked Teams The Senior Chapter Livestock Evaluation Team of Beecher Bullock, Chance Carswell, Pete Dola and Kevin Smith placed third at state. The Junior Chapter Farm Business Management team of Travis Bergdoll, Quincy Cason, Ty Cramer and Samantha Sandlin placed third at state. The Senior Chapter Farm Business Management team consisting of Beecher Bullock, Pete Dola, Bradley Johnson and Victoria Sandlin was fourth at state. The Junior Chapter Meats Evaluation team of Travis Bergdoll, Quincy Cason and Bryce Merriel was second at state. The Senior Chapter Meats Evaluation team of Miranda Fugate, Michael Holder, Stephanie King and Molly McCoy was fifth in the state. The Land Judging Team consisting of Kathryn Allen, Travis Bergdoll, Quincy Cason, Chance Carswell, Ryan Chancey, Ty Cramer, Pete Dola, Matt Fussel, Pablo Garcia, Kayla Hall, Calla Hicks and Stephanie King was sixth at state. The Senior Chapter Agriculture Mechanics team of Ryan Chancey, Conard Coovert, Michael Holder and Matt Suggs was eight at state. The Horse Judging team of Ashley Bowling, Kayla Hall, Brittney Updike and Shaina Propper were 12 at state. The Senior Chapter Parliamentary Procedure team consisting of Shelby Brooks, Miranda Fugate, LilyAnn Greenstein, Kaylee Hartman, Stephanie King and Paige Markham won district and will compete at the State FFA Convention in October. State Proficiency Winners Kaley Wilder and Michael Holder were announced as State Proficiency Winners. Wilder, an accomplished barrel and pole racer who owns horses, won with her equine project, while Holder won with his fiber and oil crop. Scholarships FFA Alumni Secretary Barbara King presented $500 alumni scholarships to Dola, Sara Weeks and Ashton Bloom. Nancy White Bennett, general manager of White Ford Company in Chiefland, presented a $1,000 Built Ford Tough Trucks/FFA Scholarship to Ashton Bloom, who has already been accepted to the University of Florida. White Ford Company and Ford Motor Company are giving away six scholarships in the tri-county area. Ford has supported the National FFA Foundation since the first F-Series truck was introduced in 1948 and has sponsored Built Ford Tough collegiate scholarships since 1997. Bennett noted that her father, the late Luther White, started his dealership in Williston in 1954 and later moved it to Chiefland. She said the company has always had a Williston connection and she was proud the company had its origins there. The Elliott Whitehurst Agricultural Scholarship for $1,500 was presented to Pete Dola, who also received the $1,000 Boyer Scholarship from Carol Boyer Knight. The Stephen Thomas Memorial Scholarship was presented by Ryan Thomas to Ashton Bloom and George Evans, Jr. Winning State FFA Degrees, from the left are Chance Carswell, Pete Dola, George Ev- ans, Ashton Bloom, Sarah Weeks and Arielle Shirley. senior rrM .,napter rresiaent rete uola re- ceives his Star Chapter Award. The Junior Chapter Meats Team placed sec- State Proficiency Champions Michael Hold- ond in the state. From the left, Bryce Mer- er and Kaley Wilder show off their plaques. reill, Quincy Cason and Travis Bergdoll. Nursing and Landscape Team members won first place at state. The state champion team from the left, Sarah Weeks, Chance Carswell, Kevin Smith and Ashton Bloom. Honorary Chapter Farmers Sharon Sandlin, FFA Alumni president, and Williston High School Principal John Lott receive their Honorary Chapter Degrees from Senior Chapter President Pete Dola. Williston FFA Alumni Sectary Barbara King presents Ashton Bloom accepts her $1,000 $500 scholarships to Pete Dola, Sarah Weeks and White Ford Company and Ford Ashton Bloom. Motor Company Built Ford Tough Trucks/FFA Scholarship from Nan- cy White Bennett. Headed for state competition is the district Receiving Chapter Degrees, from the left winning Williston Parliamentary Procedure are Stephanie King, Bradley Jones, Kaley Team. From the left are Shelby Brooks, Wilder, Michael Holder and Ashley Bowling. Stephanie King, Lilly Ann Greenstein and Miranda Fugate.