Middletown High School Students Attend National Future Farmers of America Convention

Some 13 students enrolled in the Vocational Agricultural Program at Middletown High School and four MHS program alumni attended the National Future Farmers of America Convention in Louisville, Ken., Oct. 29 through Nov. 2. 

The MHS group, which last year was named the No. 1 Vocational-Agricultural Program in Connecticut, won numerous awards at the convention, which was attended by 86,000 students from across the country. 

The winners were in four categories. In Forestry, the local program finished ninth in the nation, winning a National Gold Medal. Individuals in that competition were Stephanie Vopelak, a Gold Medalist winner tied for 10th place, Liam Mellaly, a Gold Medalist winner in 49th place, Kyle Amtmanis, a Gold Medalist winner in 55th place, and Maria Cherry, a Silver Medalist winner in 120th place. The local Poultry team finished with a Silver Medalist Award.

The individual students were Claire LaRoche (Gold), Jaimie Simmons (Silver), Bailey Basiel (Silver) and Ashley Best (Bronze). In Agri-science Fair, Kara Greatsinger finished 4th in her division, Kelsey DiMauro and Melissa Mau were 13th in their division and Sophia Donadio and Audra Smigel were 8th in their division. 

Morgan O'Sullivan was named as one of the top four in the United States for Agricultural Research Proficiency. Kacey Reinholtz, a 2012 MHS alumna, received the highest degree a student member of the FFA can earn, the American FFA Degree. She is a sophomore at Delaware Valley College in Pennsylvania. The other three alumni who attended the convention were Cherry, Laroche and Mellaly. 

"Every one of our students, whether they were competing, attending or receiving awards did a remarkable job making Middletown High School and the Mattabeset FFA chapter extremely proud," said MHS Agricultural Mechanics teacher Mike Kingsbury. "I have never felt more pride in being an MHS teacher than I did after attending the convention." 

In addition to Kingsbury, Stephanie Russell, a first year teacher in the program, and parents Bernadette Basiel and Colleen Greatsinger chaperoned the group. 

"This was the first National FFA convention I have ever had the opportunity to attend and I couldn't have chosen a superior, more mature and driven group of students. I am very proud of all our students for their accomplishments not only on the state but also at the national level."