By: Vivienne Myers, Paulding FFA Reporter

On Saturday, March 21st  the Paulding FFA Chapter hosted Arlington FFA for a mini ag basketball tournament.  

Ag ball is for all FFA students that do not normally play basketball with a new rule this year being we could have 1 basketball player on the court if wanted. Paulding has participated in ag basketball for the last several years. Our chapter loves to participate and have fun. It also allows members to mingle with other chapters in the nearby area. Paulding FFA Ag ball team was victorious, winning against Arlington in two out of three games. 

The team was made up of Colten Hunt, Jackson Griffith, Grady Arend, Jose Gonzale, Juice Pessefall, Ridge Hunt, Magdiel Lopez, and Wes Grindstaff with Coaches Gannon Parrett and Zach Barton. Some game highlights included Grady Arend hitting 6 three-point shots. Ridge Hunt and Wes Grindstaff were the best dressed basketball players. We had 2 seniors who have played throughout their high school career which were Colten Hunt and Jackson Griffith.  

The Paulding FFA team received a plaque to commemorate the 2026 tournament. Everyone had a lot of fun playing basketball along with the students who were there cheering on our team.  We are looking forward to next year’s tournament and are thankful that Arlington was able to attend this year, it was a blast to watch.  

February 23rd-27th, the Paulding FFA Chapter celebrated National FFA Week by having many events throughout the district. During this week, every day was a dress-up day for the elementary, middle, and high school. 

When students entered the building on Monday there was an FFA emblem scavenger hunt in all the buildings and once a student found an emblem they turned it in for a candy prize! It was so fun to see the students in all grades finding hidden emblems all week. 

Monday was sleepy farmer day, where students got to wear their pajamas with boots. The FFA officers also made a quiz to educate the entire high school about agriculture in Paulding County. The students took the quiz and once they got 100% they were given a cookie donated by Ag Credit. 

On Tuesday, we had Show Day, where students wore fair show clothing like boots and nice flannels. The Paulding FFA also held their 3rd annual Farmer Appreciation breakfast to give back to the community and all the farmers for all of their support. 

On Wednesday, the dress-up day was Redneck Day. 

Thursday was FFA shirt day where the chapter hosted our annual staff appreciation lunch. 

Friday’s dress-up day was patriotic cowboys day. The Paulding FFA hosted its annual Country Olympics with the entire high school in attendance. The students competed in a wide variety of games and competitions with their teams. These games consisted of balloon stomp, pie eating contest, tug of war, seed spitting, cattle roping, musical chairs, a sack race, a wheelbarrow race, and a milking contest. Blayne Pease and Blake Rhonehouse were the cornhole champions for 2026 and claimed their prize of $100 cash at the end of the games. 

The students had an enjoyable day at the Country Olympics and are very excited for next year. We want to give a big thanks to everyone for their support and dedication to the Paulding FFA Chapter! 

By: Asia Brubaker

On Saturday, the 21st, the Fairview FFA Chapter held its annual Pancake Breakfast and Silent Auction. The event brought together community members, families, and supporters for a morning of great food, all while supporting our local chapter.

As a chapter, we would like to give a huge thank-you to the many local businesses and community members who donated items for the silent auction or gave their time to help make the event a success. Your continued support means so much to our chapter and directly impacts the opportunities available to our members.

Because of the generosity of our community, this year’s Pancake Breakfast and Silent Auction was another success. We are incredibly grateful for the support and look forward to representing Fairview as 11 of our members receive their State FFA Degrees this spring. 

By: Vivi Myers, Paulding FFA Reporter 

At the end of January, the Paulding FFA secretary, treasurer, and reporter’s books were evaluated and graded. 

The chapter received  a GOLD rating on all three record books. The chapter is so proud of Myrriah Manz, Mariah Klopfenstein, and Vivi Myers for all of their hard work in earning a triple crown for their chapter. 

For the secretary book, Myrriah Manz had to collect all of the meeting minutes and agendas from the year. She also had to write programs for the activities, keep attendance records, and collect correspondence from this school year.

For the treasurer book, Mariah Klopfenstein had to take month-by-month reports and balance the account based on what came in, and what is left in the account. She had to figure out each student’s financial records and kept records of the receipts and disbursements. Mariah also had to keep reports of the beginning and ending balance for each meeting. 

For the reporter’s book, Vivi Myers had to write and then collect newspaper articles and pictures throughout the year to use in the scrapbook. She had to put captions under all the pictures she used and make sure that every page was decorated nicely. 

These officers did an amazing job and our chapter is very proud of all of the hard work that they put into their books. They will each get to walk across the stage at the Ohio FFA State Convention in May for their Gold Ratings.

AgCredit, one of northern Ohio’s largest lenders for farmers, rural homeowners and agribusiness, recently announced that it is awarding $135,900 in Mission Fund grants to 14 community organizations in support of their efforts to improve the quality of life in communities primarily within the cooperative’s 18-county service territory. 

Paulding FFA is one of this year’s recipients of the grant, receiving $12,600.00. These funds will be used to make repairs to the FFA’s commercial-grade greenhouse. The greenhouse was constructed in 2007 and is operated and maintained by Paulding Exempted Village Schools and the Ag Education students. It offers students valuable, hands-on experience in managing and operating a commercial greenhouse. 

“We’re proud to be able to invest in the local community for projects like this, where students are learning and understanding the positive impact of agriculture in their communities”, said Matt Adams, AgCredit Lending Manager. 

Now in its eighth year, the Mission Fund supports AgCredit’s commitment to investing in the future of agriculture and positively impacting the quality of life in rural Ohio. Recipients were selected based on their proposals to meet criteria in one or more of four key areas: Education, environment, technology and quality of rural life. 

Following are all of AgCredit’s 2025 Mission Fund grant recipients:

• Bellevue Fire Department, Huron County, $10,000

• Central Lorain County Joint Ambulance District, Lorain County, $10,000

• Fort Jennings Volunteer Fire Department, Putnam County, $8,000

• Lucas County Ag Society, Lucas County, $15,000

• Ottawa Volunteer Fire Department, Putnam County, $2,026.76

• Paulding FFA, Paulding County, $12,600

• Payne Fire Association, Paulding County, $7,500

• Pemberville Freedom Fire Department, Wood County, $5,000

• Portage Fire District Firefighters Association, Ottawa County, $6,000

• Putnam County Rabbit Poultry Committee, Putnam County, $14,850

• Van Wert County Ag Society, Van Wert County, $15,000

• Vermillion FFA, Erie County, $7,500

• Western Reserve Ag Ed Department, Huron County, $7,500

• Wyandot County Ag Society, Wyandot County, $15,000

Organizations may apply for Mission Fund grants of up to $15,000 per year. The 2026 application process will begin in March, and funds will be distributed by Dec. 31. For more information about the lending cooperative or the Mission Fund, visit AgCredit.net.

By: Paulding FFA Reporter, Vivienne Myers

This past Tuesday, August 26th, the Paulding FFA Chapter held its first meeting of the 2025-2026 school year. This kickoff meeting included first-year FFA members as well as returning members and their parents to give them an introduction to the Paulding FFA Chapter. At this meeting, there were over 150 members and parents in attendance along with many FFA Alumni members. Dinner was provided by the FFA Alumni with   classic sausage sandwiches as well as chocolate chip cookies and lemonade. The meeting was arranged into three stations for the members. The stations consisted of officers explaining different CDE’s with hands-on activities, icebreakers so members could get to know each other, and fun games like volleyball and spikeball for members to get to know each other and the office team. While new members were going through these stations with the officers, their parents were with the FFA advisors receiving a walkthrough of the chapter’s expectations, opportunities, and events.This meeting provided an excellent opportunity for parents and students to better know this year’s officers, advisors, and the chapter. The Paulding FFA is excited for a new school year full of new memories and experiences!

The 48th Annual Maumee Valley Antique Steam and Gas Engine Show will be held August 14 – 17, 2025 at Jefferson Township Park, 1720 S. Webster Road, New Haven, IN at the corner of Webster and Dawkins Roads. It’s a fun show for the whole family. The daily admission charge of $5.00 a day or $10.00 for all four days includes entertainment and parking. Children 12 and under are free. Memberships are available at the office. Golf carts are permitted with proof of insurance for $10.00. Over-sized vehicles are $30.00. 

The show opens at 9:00 a.m. and closes at dusk. We are featuring B. F. Avery, Minneapolis-Moline tractors, Moline Universal tractors, Gas Engines and Garden tractors. Other makes of tractors are also welcome. Classic cars and trucks are invited to a cruise-in from 9:00 a.m. to dusk Friday and Saturday and until 3:00 p.m. on Sunday. All exhibitors are free but must register at the office to receive a button and plaque. 

See the 125 HP, 15-ton Buckeye Oil Engine that came from the elevator in Grabill, IN, one of two in existence, and a stationary Chuse steam engine in operation. Visit the trading post (contact: 260-337-5136), flea market and camping (contact: 260-341-4805), a quilt show (contact: 260-580-5285) and blacksmith shop. Plowing, sawing lumber and threshing wheat with tractors and steam engines will be demonstrated. Children will enjoy a sand box, train rides and tractor driving lessons. On Saturday, there is face painting, a Kiddie Tractor Pull at 2:00 p.m., an Exotic Animal Show at 3:00 p.m. and a Magic Show at 4:00 p.m. Parades will be at 4:00 p.m. on Friday and 5:00 p.m. on Saturday. 

A show favorite, steamed sweet corn, will be sold Friday, Saturday and Sunday until sold out. Fish and Chicken dinners will be served Friday and Chicken dinners on Saturday. Other food vendors and ice cream are available. 

Dekalb County Horsemen will give free hayrides on Friday and Saturday with horses and mules. Tractor pulls will be held Friday at 5:00 pm and on Saturday beginning at 9:00 a.m. all day until dark. Friday evening entertainment will be country music at 7:30 p.m. and on Saturday, AppleJack Kloggers will perform at 11:00 a.m. and 1:00 p.m. and a square dance begins at 6:00 p.m. A spark show (steam engine fireworks) will be after the entertainment at dusk. Sunday admission is a free will donation at the gate. On Sunday, a church service will be held at 9:00 a.m. and a new event, a Garden Tractor Pull, will be at 11:00 a.m. 

More information is on the web site at maumeevalley.org. or call President, Tony Herman (260-414-9489).

The Paulding County History Museum, located across from the fairgrounds on Fairground Drive in Paulding, will hold an antique farm machinery show on Saturday, August 2 from 10:00 a.m. until 7:00 p.m. The show replaces the museum’s annual chicken barbecue.

“When we started planning our fundraisers for the year, we weren’t sure we’d be able to get enough chicken for the barbecue because of the bird flu epidemic,” said Guy Dasher, chairman of the farm equipment show committee. “And then when Angie Pollock resigned as chairman of the barbecue committee, we decided this would be a good time to add something different to our line-up of fundraisers for the year. We’ll have many interesting pieces of farm machinery and antique tractors on display, games for the kids and adults, and some great food from the Fat Pig. We’re hoping for a good turnout and great weather that day.”

The Antique Farm Machinery Show will feature tractors, hit-and-miss engines, harvesters and other farm equipment from an era gone by. Weather permitting, tractor games will include an obstacle course at noon with multiple rounds of fun and the Chain Game at 5:30 p.m. In this event, a long chain is attached to the back of each tractor. The driver then pulls forward until the end of the chain is inside a circle drawn on the ground. He then backs up and pulls forward several times until the entire chain in inside the circle. It’s challenging for the driver and exciting for the spectators to watch!

Events in the Kid Zone, which will run from 10:00 a.m. until 3:00 p.m., include a pedal tractor obstacle course and a pedal tractor teeter-totter. The Junior Fair Board will sponsor a kids’ tractor pull. Weigh-in for the pull starts at 12:30 with the pull to follow.

“Crossing Jordan” a gospel music group, will perform at 5:00 p.m. Visitors are encouraged to bring lawn chairs and enjoy the music. 

Lunch will be served in the dining room of the museum from 11:00 am. – 1:00 p.m. and dinner from 4:00-6:00 p.m. Pulled pork sandwiches from Fat Pig Catering will be served, as well as loaded baked potatoes, mac and cheese, Cole slaw and desserts. Canned soft drinks are included with the meals, which are freewill donation. 

For more information on the antique farm machinery show, contact the museum on Tuesdays from 10:00 a.m. until 4:00 p.m. or call Guy Dasher at 419-796-7269.

By: Staci Miller, Ag Education Instructor/FFA Advisor

On June 12th, the Paulding FFA hosted the 3rd Annual Animal and Me program at the Paulding County Fair with 19 participants this year. This program has been  happening at County Fairs all across Ohio, from metro areas like Warren County to rural counties like our own Paulding County. 

The program links individuals with developmental disabilities with FFA members to learn about animals. This program provides the individuals with an  opportunity to experience showing an animal project and practice their public speaking and communication skills. The Paulding FFA was so excited to help sponsor and run the program again at the Paulding Fair. 

The FFA members served as mentors to the participants as they showed their livestock at the fair. The members helped their buddies show rabbits, goats and feeder calves during the show. The Paulding FFA along with the Paulding FFA Alumni partnered with the Paulding County Board of Developmental Disabilities to put on this show. 

Each member and participant received a t-shirt they wore during the show. At the conclusion of the show each participant received a trophy and the winner of each class received a large rosette.  

The Paulding FFA is so excited to grow this program in the future and is already starting to plan for the 2025 show. 

The Paulding FFA wants to thank everyone who participated, attended the show, it was a wonderful day for all who were involved!  A special thanks to the Paulding FFA Alumni and  Paulding FFA Alumni  who provided awards and t-shirts to the participants and Howell’s Doodles for sponsoring a sausage sandwich to each participant.  

By: Vivienne Myers, Paulding FFA Reporter

This year’s Paulding County Fair was held from June 7th to June 14th and our members were more than happy to be active participants. The Paulding FFA Chapter always looks forward to our county fair. On Monday, several members participated in the annual Jr. Fair King and Queen contest. Brooklyn Schlatter was declared Fair Queen. First runner-up for Fair Queen was Jalyn Klopfenstein. Johnathan Lipps was named first runner-up Fair King and Matthew Bail second runner-up Fair King. 

Every Paulding FFA member had at least one project at the fair this year. This year there were over 50 animal projects and many won awards. The Grand Champions from Paulding FFA were: Kadence Thomas for Market Lamb, Owen Workman for Roaster Rabbits, Avery Cooper for Breeding Sheep, and Mackenzie Leatherman for Dairy/Beef Steer. The Reserve Champions for their respective categories were Kadence Thomas with Market Sheep, Scott Elder for Breeding Rabbits, Delaney Johanns-Beef Steer, and Mackenzie Leatherman with her Dairy/Beef Steer. 

There were over one-hundred still projects made by our members this year that included wooden shelves, an FFA flag, wooden steps, and metal boot scrapers. Best metal working project went to Jarrett Griffith, Best SAE poster went to Brooklyn Schlatter, and Best miscellaneous FFA project went to Johnathan Lipps.

Our members also received a large variety of other awards. Brooklyn Schlatter was awarded the Lonnie Miller Memorial Award for dedication to the Jr. Fair program. This award is a scholarship used to honor the memory of Lonnie Miller for his work ethic and determination to make the Paulding County Fair a better place for all youth. Jalyn Klopfenstein received the Nathan Plummer Award, which is a memorial award given to a Jr. Fair exhibitor who demonstrates the hard work similar to those of Nathan Plumber.  We had several members win their classes and showmanship with Brooke Kilgore, Delaney Johanns, Kadence Thomas competing in the showman of showmen contest. Brooke Kilgore was the 2025 Showman of Showman. Delaney Johanns was awarded the High Points Belt Buckle for pleasure with her horse project. 

Our members were also busy all week working in the Paulding FFA Alumni Sausage Stand, serving on the Jr. Fairboard and helping to run the 3rd Annual Animal and Me livestock show. The fair came to an end with the livestock sale on Saturday where several members sold their animals. 

The Paulding FFA had a very successful year at the Paulding County Fair, the chapter is excited for next year! Paulding FFA would like to thank everyone for their support of our members at the livestock sale and throughout the year.