2016-2017 News Articles

Alcona FFA Chapter in the News - 2016-2017

*News articles are listed in order by the date they were published; with the most recent articles listed first. Click on an article to enlarge it.

Local Man Celebrates 25 Years Sharing Hands-on Agricultural Experience - May 10, 2017; The Alcona County Review

At times he tends chickens, other times he can be found taking care of sheep. He can also be found working on a tractor, tending the garden, making maple syrup or planing trees. These are not unusual tasks for a farmer, but for a quarter of a century, one born and raised Alcona citizen has performed these tasks not at a farm, but at school... Click on the news article to read the complete article, click the back button to return to the website.

Student of the Week - David Lindsay! - April 13, 2017; The Alpena News

Congratulations to senior FFA member, David Lindsay on being honored as Alcona Community Schools student of the week!

Letter to the Editor - April 5, 2017; The Alcona County Review

An Alcona County resident attended the Alcona FFA Chapter's Maple Syrup Celebration Day and shared her great experience in the Alcona County Review.

Agriscience Education Program Lights Flame of Passion, Improves Community - 'In The Field,' Vol 2, Spring 2017; Michigan State University College of Agriculture and Natural Resources

Connor Hubbard was 16 years old when he first took an elective environmental science class with Brian Matchett, then an Alcona Community School agriscience teacher. Matchett was working to develop an experiential place-based (PBE) program for his high school students. "It changed my life," said Hubbard, who received his bachelor's of science in Environmental Studies and agriculture education from MSU in 2015. "It was a driving factor for the direction where I headed. I didn't know what I wanted to do when I left high school but having the experience with Brian helped me find my way to MSU and agriscience education..." Click on the news article to read the complete article, click the back button to return to the website.

Alcona FFA Chapter Competes in State Leadership Contests - March 22, 2017; The Alcona County Review

Alcona FFA Students David Lindsay (front), middle row, from left) Brielle Keyser, Gerianna Herman, (back row) Nelson French, Advisor Connor Hubbard, Kameesha Fuqua, Maddie Whitten, Cody Leeseberg and Avory Lee attend the State FFA Convention in Lansing, Mich. recently and brought back several awards. Lindsay received his State FFA Degree, a Gold Academic Excellence Award and was nominated and elected to serve as the 2017-2018 Michigan FFA State Reporter. The Demonstration Team consisting of Lindsay, Fuqua and Whitten received a Fourth Place Gold Award for their demonstration on poultry processing... Click on the news article to read the complete article, click the back button to return to the website.

Alcona FFA to Showcase Sugar Shack During Maple Syrup Celebration Days - April 13, 2017; The Alpena News

LINCOLN — The Alcona chapter of FFA will be holding its ninth annual Maple Syrup Celebration Days Saturday at the group’s processing facility next to Alcona Elementary. Agriscience teacher Conner Hubbard, who is also the school’s FFA director, said the event will feature a free pancake breakfast served from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. featuring pancakes, sausage and maple syrup, as well as a tour of the group’s sugar shack. There is no cost for the event, he said. “We provide the breakfast for free, but donations are welcomed and graciously accepted because it does cost a lot of money to make breakfast for 500 people,” Hubbard said. New this year will be a small animal exhibit featuring goats, sheep and other animals. Hubbard said FFA got started with maple syrup production in 2007 with the guidance of teacher Brian Matchett. “He was the former agriscience and FFA adviser,” he said. “We got a lot of grants and community support in building the facility (under Matchett). I think the first year he thought it would be a great opportunity to open it up to the public and educate the community on maple syrup.” Hubbard said every agriscience student at Alcona works in the sugar shack during the year. “They get taught about maple syrup. They all get to tap the trees on the school property,” he said. “We all take a tour of the maple syrup production as well.” Students make a lot of syrup, according to Hubbard. He said in their highest yield the students made 230 gallons, which is sold in the high school. “I would say we usually, on average, make around 150 to 160 gallons a year,” he said. “The thing with maple syrup and most agricultural crops is you never know.” Hubbard said the public will have an opportunity to buy some of the school’s maple syrup at the event. He said the syrup is from this year’s harvest. “All the funding goes back to FFA,” Hubbard said. “Some of the proceeds go to help support buying maple syrup bottles and supporting the business itself.” A lot of the funds are used to send students to the state and national FFA conventions and meetings as well. “The overall goal is to invite people to come and see our sugar shack,” she said. Jason Ogden can be reached via email at jogden@thealpenanews.com or by phone at 358-5693. Follow Jason on Twitter @jo_alpenanews. Click here to read the complete article published by The Alpena News.

Maple Syrup Celebration is Homecoming to FFA Advisor - March 15, 2017; The Alcona County Review

Not many breakfast foods compare to the sweet taste of hot pancakes and sausage smothered with fresh maple syrup, but combining that taste with a community reunion of friends, takes the taste, and its sweet memory, to a new level. Once again Alcona High School FFA will be holding its annual maple syrup celebration on Saturday, March 18 from 9am to 2pm. A free/ goodwill donation breakfast will be served and tours will be offered by FFA students on maple syrup production. Maple syrup will be available for purchase. Connor Hubbard remembers Alcona High School FFA's first Maple Syrup Celebration day in 2009. Hubbard was a junior at the school then. He is now the agriscience teacher and FFA advisor for the school, a role he accepted this past summer... Click on the news article to read the complete article, click the back button to return to the website.

Alcona FFA Chapter Competes in Regional Leadership Contests - February 22, 2017; The Alcona County Review

Fourteen Alcona FFA members competed in Regional Leadership Contests on Tuesday, February 15 and several first place awards were earned. David Lindsay, Madelyne Whitten and Krysta Indish received first place in their demonstration contest and will be moving on to the state level competition. Nelson French received first place in the creed speaking competition. He will be competing at the state convention... Click on the news article to see a complete listing of the results.

Alcona FFA Chapter Competes in District Leadership Contests - February 8, 2017; The Alcona County Review

Eighteen Alcona FFA members competed against four schools in district leadership contests on Wednesday, January 18, 2017. The Alcona FFA members did very well with first place in demonstration going to Maddie Whitten, Krysta Indish and David Lindsay. Receiving fourth place in demonstration was Cody Leeseberg, Avory Lee and Jacob Robbins. First place in the creed speaking contest went to Nelson French and seventh place went to Zachary Dettmer. Gerianna Herman took first place in the prepared public speaking contest... Click on the news article to see a complete listing of the results, click the back button to return to the website.

Tailgate Party Adds to Homecoming Celebration - September 28, 2016; The Alcona County Review

High school football, homecoming and a tailgate party means fall has officially arrived. For years, Alcona High School has had two of those fall activities but it lacked the tailgate party - until this year... Click on the news article to read the complete article, click the back button to return to the website.

Former Student Comes Home to Teach Agri-Science - September 2, 2016; The Alcona County Review

It isn't every day when a student, who embraced agriculture science while growing up in rural northern Michigan, comes back home to teach that subject, but that's exactly what is happening at Alcona Community Schools... Click on the news article to read the complete article, click the back button to return to the website.