By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 5 May 2013 at 12:00 am
Couple presented with honorary Empire Degree during state convention in Albion
Photo by Tom Rivers – LaVerne and Beatrice Eick, front center, are surrounded by family members who either attained Empire Degrees or who are working towards attaining the highest honor for students at the state level. In back, from left: Abigail Maines, Alexis Maines, and Empire degree winners Todd, Bill, Ken and Adam Eick.
ALBION – While they were running a dairy farm in Shelby, LaVerne and Beatrice Eick also insisted their children be involved in the Medina FFA chapter, and push themselves to excel in the program.
Their sons, Bill and Ken, both earned Empire degrees, the highest honor an FFA student can attain in the state. Three of Ken’s children – Adam, Karen and Andy – went on to earn Empire Degrees while Bill’s son Todd also attained the honor.
Todd is now advisor of the Medina FFA, which will host the state convention next year. His daughters Abigail and Alexa Maines are active members of the Albion FFA.
“It’s in our roots,” said Adam Eick, a senior at Medina and the most recent family member to earn the degree. “We had it instilled in us with grandma and grandpa and it trickled down to their children and grandchildren.”
FFA today recognized LaVerne and Beatrice for fostering a commitment and love for FFA among their family members. The couple was awarded an honorary Empire Degree in front of more than 1,000 people in the middle school auditorium.
FFA gives honorary degrees to parents or grandparents with at least three children or grandchildren who earned Empires.
Adam said his grandparents have also shown a love for family, agriculture and community.
“I couldn’t have asked for better grandparents,” he said.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 5 May 2013 at 12:00 am
Photos by Tom Rivers – Amanda Rhodes, the state FFA president, is cheered by the state line officers after delivering a speech Saturday about the need for grace and forgiveness.
ALBION – Grace, forgiveness, living with purpose. I would expect to hear that at church, not from teen-age girls who lead the state FFA.
The three-day state FFA convention in Albion wasn’t just a big “rah-rah” fest, although there was plenty of celebration, with more than 160 students earning Empire Degrees, the highest honor an FFA student attain in New York. Many other students excelled in 26 different competitions in public speaking and technical skills.
State officers in sessions spread over three days took turns addressing more than 1,000 students in the middle school auditorium. The FFA students were impressive in their poise and purpose.
The FFA state officers avoided sugary sound bites about daring to dream, working hard and being a leader. The theme for the 88th annual convention – “It’s all heart from here” – shifted the focus away from trophies, ribbons and rank.
I attended the opening session on Thursday night and the concluding program on Saturday afternoon. The state president, Amanda Rhodes, delivered a moving speech Saturday about the need for forgiveness and grace. Rhodes told the high-achieving students to not forget we are all humans who need to give and receive compassion.
Rhodes spoke of losing her best friend about a year ago in a tragic death. She shared of her own embarrassment and shame when a former boyfriend shared private pictures of her.
“Letting a mistake take hold of you can destroy you,” said Rhodes from the Belleville-Henderson FFA.
She needed to forgive herself, and accept grace from her teachers and family. After her speech, the other state officers ran onto the stage and hugged Rhodes, who wiped away tears.
Lindsey Anderson, vice president of the FFA National Western Region, address 1,100 FFA students Saturday in Albion.
Paige Levandowski of Albion served as vice president of the 4,000-member state FFA this year. She addressed the convention during the opening session on Thursday and told more than 1,000 people to not let distractions get in the way of being fully present in their lives.
Levandowski talked about Nick Kovaleski, a 15-year-old from Albion who died from leukemia two years ago. Nick was a star athlete, an altar server and a loving friend. Many community members continue to wear “Live with Purpose” T-shirts and bracelets in Nick’s honor. A “Live with Purpose” scholarship has been established in Nick’s honor.
“Nick had an ability to motivate others to use their gifts and ‘Live with Purpose,’” Levandowski told the FFA students across the state. “Be like Nick. Live lives with purpose.”
Other speakers talked about overcoming adversity. Lyndsey Anderson, the vice president of National FFA in the Western Region, lives in the central valley in California. She led workshops for students during the convention and delivered a keynote speech Saturday.
“Make your obstacles small and your opportunities big,” she told the group.
The FFA students did most of the talking during the convention, but a professional motivational speaker kicked off the convention’s opening session. Ben Glenn, a motivation speaker and chalk artist from Indianapolis, shared about moving past the “uglies,” the unexpected hardships in life.
Glenn created a beautiful landscape drawing for the crowd, and then drew dark lines across it, marring the painting. Some of the students gasped and yelled at Glenn for ruining the artwork.
He then made the dark lines blend into the picture, making it look even better than before.
“When bad things happen, we have to keep moving forward,” Glenn said.
Some of the state officers for FFA are silhouettes while watching a fireworks show at the Albion varsity football field tonight as part of the kickoff celebration for the 88th annual convention.
Jack Hill of Medina tries on a new FFA jacket tonight during opening ceremonies for the state FFA convention in Albion. Ashley Willits, the District 6 president, handed Jack his FFA coat. The state officers awarded 15 jackets to new members who have exhibited outstanding leadership. “With this jacket comes great responsibility to carry on the traditions of this organization,” FFA members were told. In the past 80 years, 6 million FFA members have worn the blue corduroy jackets.
After a two-hour kick-off ceremony inside the middle school auditorium in Albion, 1,100 FFA students filled the bleachers at the varsity football field to watch fireworks. The convention continues until Saturday.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 3 May 2013 at 12:00 am
Photos by Tom Rivers – Mitchell Ling, a sixth grade junior FFA member from Pioneer, sits atop a 3020 John Deere form the mid-1960s. The Western New York 2-Cylinder Club brought nine John Deere tractors to the state convention.
FFA members are taking turns at a booth promoting agricultural education. The booth is among many displays promoting careers in agriculture in the middle school gym. This group of students is from the Cazenovia FFA. They include, from left: Easton Young, Paige Horan and Tim Hunt.
ALBION – It’s not all work and no play for the 1,100 FFA students in Albion for the state convention.
With temperatures near 80 degrees on a glorious sunny day, many of the students took to the outdoors to lounge on the grass, play on a swing set, and climb old tractors this afternoon.
It’s been a busy first two days of the convention with students competing in 26 events, picking new officers, and attending numerous leadership seminars and career fairs.
Students are looking forward to a concert in the high school gym tonight by country music singer JJ Lawhorn.
The convention wraps up tomorrow.
Kelsey Delles, left, and Brittany Allen – both members of the Indian River FFA near Watertown – relax on the high school front lawn this afternoon. The two competed in a foods competition, making frozen raspberry yogurt. They were waiting for the results from the competition. Twelve students from Indian River are attending the state FFA convention in Albion.
A.J. Fletcher, a ninth-grader from the Cobleskill FFA, swings on the middle school playground this afternoon. There are 19 Cobleskill students in Albion for the state FFA convention.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 1 May 2013 at 12:00 am
Paige Levandowski is VP, and Adam Eick is district president
Photo by Tom Rivers – Paige Levandowski of Albion is vice president of the New York FFA, an organization with 4,000 members. Adam Eick of Medina is president of a district that includes six FFA chapters in Western New York. They are pictured earlier today at Albion Middle School, where they are helping to plan the state convention that runs from Thursday to Saturday.
ALBION – Paige Levandowski was in seventh grade the last time Albion hosted the state FFA convention. She remembers the excitement from about 1,100 students from FFA chapters around the state in 2007.
“Everyone came flooding in and I could see what a big organization it is,” Levandowski, 19, said earlier today.
She has ascended the top ranks of FFA leadership, serving as vice president of the state FFA this past year, when she was a freshman at Morrisville State College. She also competed at the National FFA Convention in Indianapolis, and earned a silver medal in the job interview competition.
She is back home this week, helping to plan and run the three-day state convention, when 1,100 students from 71 chapters will be in town for competitions, workshops and inspiration.
“It’s nice to be back,” she said. “I’m hoping to see a fire lit in the local chapter and the FFA students.”
She sends a message that students don’t have to grow up on a farm to be involved in FFA or to pursue a career in agriculture.
“If you eat and wear clothes, you are involved in agriculture,” she said.
The industry offers many job opportunities off the farm, including careers in marketing, transportation, food processing, environmental regulations and many other jobs.
Levandowski has a few days left as vice president of the state FFA, an organization with 4,000 members in about 80 chapters. After the convention she will return to Morrisville for finals. She is majoring in agriculture business.
She has crisscrossed the state this year, visiting FFA chapters, especially those in northern New York.
She isn’t the only local FFA member on the state leadership team. Adam Eick, 18, is a senior at Medina and president of a district that includes six FFA chapters in Western New York.
He has visited those schools this year, spending a day leading leadership workshops. Eick also meets with the 13-member state officers team. He is more convinced after this year that FFA can develop leaders.
“FFA gives kids an opportunity to step outside the box and do things they never thought they’d do, and they do it,” he said.
He has made friends from throughout the state, and learned to value their opinions.
“Before I tended to want it to be my way,” Eick said. “Now I weigh all the sides and you make the best decision.”
Eick also plans to attend Morrisville this fall to major in ag business. He will join the collegiate FFA at Morrisville.
“I’ve evolved more professionally in the FFA, by talking to the public and with adults,” he said. “With the FFA you learn to deal with different types of people.”
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 30 April 2013 at 12:00 am
State Convention runs from Thursday through Saturday
Photo by Tom Rivers – Officers for the Albion FFA pose by a sign in front of the high school. The group includes, from left: Logan London, Mariah Pepe, Elizabeth Bentley, Riley Kelly, Alison O’Hearn (vice president), Jenny McKenna (president), Abigail Maines, Sara Millspaugh and Kellie O’Hearn.
ALBION – About a year ago Allison O’Hearn was on the phone with eight different hotels in Batavia, checking their availability for 1,100 students and their chaperones for this May 2-4.
It was the first of many phone calls and letters for the vice president of the Albion FFA. O’Hearn and Jenny McKenna, the FFA president, have been lining up judges, sponsors, entertainment and volunteers for the FFA state convention this Thursday through Saturday.
The Albion FFA students will be working on the convention right up until students arrive from throughout the state on Thursday afternoon. Today, the Albion students were filling goodie bags with coupons to local businesses, pens and pamphlets about Albion.
O’Hearn also just finalized plans to have modern farm machinery displayed with some antique tractors.
“We’re going right down to the last minute to make this the best state convention and one that they’ll remember,” O’Hearn said at school today.
FFA advisor Adam Krenning also has been a key leader is assembling more than 150 judges from the community for 26 different competitions ranging from speaking to technical and leadership skills. He has led three orientations for the judges.
Krenning also negotiated with managers for the entertainers, including country music singer JJ Lawhorn who will perform in an outdoor tent behind the school, and Ben Glenn, a chalk artist who was featured when the state convention was in Albion in 2007.
The 1,100 FFA students are coming from 71 different chapters, including students from New York City, the North Country, Hudson Valley, Southern Tier and other parts of the state.
McKenna said she is looking forward to a ceremony on Friday night when first-year FFA students will be presented their blue corduroy jackets. That ceremony will shift to the varsity football field, where fireworks will follow.
McKenna also wanted to show off the Albion community and local agriculture. Students can choose to attend tours of the Neal family dairy farm in Albion, Lamb Farms in Oakfield, Western New York Energy’s ethanol plant in Medina, Intergrow in Gaines, Oxbo in Byron, Post Farms in Elba and the Milton CAT plant in Batavia. Students can also look over the Albion FFA chapter’s new 5-acre “land lab” that was established about a year ago.
Students, when they have some down time from competitions and other events, will be urged to discover the historical assets in Albion as well as the businesses.
“This is one of our focuses to say this is our community and this is what we’re proud of,” McKenna said.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 30 April 2013 at 12:00 am
Photos by Tom Rivers
Bradley Martin and a team of six draft horses harrow a field on Knowlesville Road this afternoon. Martin works for a Mennonite-owned dairy farm, part of a growing cluster for Amish- and Mennonite-owned businesses in the Ridgeway and Yates communities. Martin also walked the field, removing big rocks by hand.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 30 April 2013 at 12:00 am
Fruit orchards start spring bloom in Orleans
Photos by Tom Rivers
Ken Nice, co-owner of Nice Farms in Knowlesville, walks through a fruit orchard this afternoon along Knowlesville Road. He is checking how the bees are pollinating the fruit crop. The pink blossoms will bear white nectarines while the white blossoms will be plums. Nice expects a much better year after a freeze in April 2012 wiped out a lot of the local fruit crop last year. Nice said the blossoming trees are a visual and olfactory feast. “It’s like a perfume factory,” he said.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 12 April 2013 at 12:00 am
Company will add 25,200-square-foot CA storage
GAINES – A fruit-packing company owned by local farmers is planning a $3 million expansion with a new controlled-atmosphere storage building.
Lake Ridge Fruit could break ground on the 25,200-square-foot building next week, said John Russell, general manager and partner for the company at 14234 Ridge Rd. The addition will boost Lake Ridge’s storage capacity by 200,000 bushels a year.
“This is driven by the need to stay ahead of the curve and be at the leading edge of the industry,” Russell said today.
Many of Lake Ridge’s member growers have recently planted more acres of popular apple varieties, such as Honeycrisp and SweeTango. The new CA storage will help keep those apples fresh after harvest. Russell also said Lake Ridge has been renting some storage from other companies and won’t need to do that after the expansion.
The addition is expected to be ready for this fall’s apple harvest. Lake Ridge will add one position as part of the project. The addition will retain 60 other full-time positions.
“It’s an employment keeper,” Russell said about the addition. “It will allow us to keep jobs.”
Lake Ridge did a $3 million project in 2010 that added storage space and a new packing line. Russell said the company, which formed in 1982, is determined to stay at the forefront of the industry.
The Orleans Economic Development Agency today approved a tax incentive plan that will save the company $202,406 over 10 years. Lake Ridge will receive a 50 percent property tax abatement on the new addition for the first year, and then will pay 5 percent more until the building is at full taxable value. That will save the company $83,164 in property taxes in the next decade.
Lake Ridge is agreeing to pay $196,570 in “payment in lieu of taxes” for the new building over the next 10 years to the town, county and Albion Central School.
The company also has been approved for a sales tax exemption on $1,207,010 in equipment costs, which will save Lake Ridge $96,561. The company also was approved for a $22,681 “Buy Orleans” incentive.
As part of the PILOT and tax incentive deal, Lake Ridge also agreed to pay the EDA $56,380 for administration services or 2 percent of the overall costs.
“This is another great agricultural project for our county,” Jim Whipple, Orleans EDA chief executive officer, told the EDA board of directors.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 10 April 2013 at 12:00 am
District has 63 acres open for lease
ALBION – The school district sees 63 prime agricultural acres next to the school campus as more than an opportunity to grow food.
The district wants a local farm to lease the land, and work with students in the FFA on choosing what to grow. Students can also work with the farm in determining the costs for growing, harvesting and marketing what will likely be a grain crop.
One other thing: the farmer needs to donate the net proceeds to the FFA or towards a scholarship for a student pursuing a career in agriculture.
“We have a very generous ag community,” said Shawn Liddle, the district’s assistant superintendent for business. “I think we’ll definitely have some takers on this.”
The district purchased 68 acres from Peter Dragan, a local corn and soybean farmer, about a decade ago but allowed him to lease the land. That agreement would end after Mr. Dragan’s death.
Dragan died last Aug. 7 at age 96. The farm has completed the last cycle of a Dragan crop.
That has prompted school officials to consider other possibilities for the land. The Board of Education on Monday decided to seek proposals from the farming community to work the land while including FFA students. A farm would need to pay a $70 per-acre lease or $4,410 annually for 63 acres.
The district has set aside five other of Dragan’s former acres as an FFA “land lab.”
The district is looking for a farm with more than experience in agriculture. The school wants a farm that has a history of working with students and in education.
Two board members, Kevin Doherty and Brenda McQuillan, expressed concern that the district will have to be subjective in picking a farm if more than one want the opportunity.
The district originally pursued the land, seeing it as an asset if the campus would ever expand southward.
Doherty suggested the district may consider putting the Dragan land up for sale. However, he agreed with other board members that the proposal to connect with a local farm would be a benefit to FFA students. He just worries it will be difficult to justify picking one farm over another.
The district will first seek proposals from farmers to see if any farm wants the opportunity.
While a farm wouldn’t reap profits from the crop, a farm could use the project as a tax write-off, and could factor in equipment use as in expense in working the land. District Superintendent Michael Bonnewell also said a farm may get a better bulk deal for fertilizer and seed for its entire operation when the 63 school acres are included.
Board President Margy Brown said she is eager to hear from the farming community about the initiative.
“It provides a unique opportunity for this district that is strong in agriculture,” Brown said. “It’s an unbelievable opportunity for our ag students.”
