News V-S FFA honors its 80th year, retiring advisor Mr. Fisher at annual banquet

Vinton-Shellsuburg FFA members heard from the national FFA President, passed out awards to their highest-achieving members, thanked their parents and supporters, and looked back on the previous year during their banquet on Saturday night.

But the main purpose of this year's event, for them, was to thank Mr. Duane Fisher, who is retiring after 37 years of leading the V-S FFA.

Several tributes to Mr. Fisher were part of the ceremony, including the presentation of a scrapbook to the advisor by the current officers. 

"All I can say is thank you," Fisher said after receiving a standing ovation at the conclusion of a slide show that featured highlights of a teaching career that began in Vinton in the fall of 1973. 

Supporters of the FFA program and Mr. Fisher turned out in unusually high numbers for his 37th and final banquet as advisor. More than 207 guests joined the 40 members, filling the lunchroom for the meal which was cooked by Merchant's Grilling and the VSHS cooks. 

One of the guests was Louise Fleming, the Jesup FFA advisor who will assume Fisher's position at V-S. 

The special invited guest was Levy Randolph of California, who is this year's National FFA President. Randolph told the audience to live a life of hunger and humility and laughter. 

The V-S FFA Chapter presented several awards to members for various achievements. 

Nathan Merchant was the Star Greenhand, the freshman honored for his success and hard work. Senior Jeremiah Janssen received the Chapter Star Farmer Award. 

Emily Olson, this year's President, received the DeKalb Senior Ag Award. Like her older siblings, Ben and Maria, Emily Olson served as president her senior year. Like them, also, she received the tractor that accompanies the Senior Ag Award. Emily Olson's parents, John and Ellen, have been FFA parents for the past 10 consecutive years as Ben, Maria and finally Emily participated in FFA each of their years in high school. 

Dozens of FFA members received Leadership-Merit Awards and S.A.E. Awards. 

The chapter presented trophies to the winners of its yield contests. Steve Johnson of S & J Farms won the soybean yield trophy. Brian Carlson won the high yield trophy for corn.

Scholarship winners included Emily Olson, who received the Farmers Bank Scholarship; and Maddie Walker, who received the AB Kirk Advisor's Scholarship, presented this year by Chuck and Marilyn Yedlik. The three seniors who received the $500 scholarship from the crop plot revenues were Chelsea Andorf, Emily Meyer and Jeremiah Janssen. Mr. Fisher reminded the audience that the crop plot scholarships were funded by John Anderson's gift of seven acres to the FFA. 

The chapter presented many certificates of appreciation to individuals and businesses who have supported it this year.

The 2009-2010 officer team received recognition for their efforts. They include: Emily Olson, President; Bronson Werning, Vice-President; Amy Andrews, Secretary; Mattie Walker, Reporter; David Kalina, Sentinel and Lexy Lundvall, Officer-At-Large.

The 2010-2011 officers were also introduced. Rylie Pflughaupt will be President. Amy Andrews will be Vice-President. Other new officers will include Lexy Lundvall, Brent Lange, Abbie Darland, Paula Kalina and Tim Houtchens.

The success of the V-S FFA Bowling Team was also honored during the banquet. The team, which includes Rylie Pflughaupt, Eric Hopkins, Aaron Burkey and Tim Houtchens, won first place and share a trophy. Pflughaupt also won the trophy for the high individual score. 

The ceremony included the traditional year in review slide show, and tributes to the parents of senior members.  

The evening ended with a  tribute to Mr. Fisher, which included several photos and other memorabilia from his career at VSHS, which began in the fall of 1973. More than 40 scrapbooks, from each of Fisher's years at V-S and even a few before his time, were on display in the lunch room, along with other FFA items from this year.