News

Warsaw High School's Donald Bumphrey shares success of agriculture program

By Donald Bumphrey/Warsaw High School

Published: Friday, September 5, 2008 1:56 PM CDT

On June 30, 2008, I completed my 28th year as the agriculture instructor at Warsaw High School and my 30th year of teaching. How is that possible? Where did all those years go? The years go by fast.

I am very pleased with the overall agriculture program at Warsaw High School. It continues to be one of the strongest and most successful programs in the state of Illinois.

The purpose of this report is two-fold. First, to update you on the success of the program and then to make recommendations on how to improve the program in the future.

The numbers of students in the agriculture program this past year were great. The eight block system continues to be an important reason for continued good numbers in all vocational programs at Warsaw. I had six Hamilton students take at least one agriculture class this past year.

I want to thank the administration for continuing to allow me to teach B.S.A.A. Plant Science and B.S.A.A. Animal Science classes this last year for science credit. I have become a “highly qualified” teacher as per the No Child Left Behind guidelines so I can continue to offer these two classes for science credit.

As in the past, all students enrolled in an agriculture class are required to have at least one supervised agriculture experience program (SAEP) and be members of the FFA. I continue to feel that SAEP's and FFA membership is important. The two work hand-in-hand to prepare students for future careers and recognizes student achievement through the FFA program.

The facilities and equipment available to students at Warsaw continues to be very good. We have up-to-date equipment and excellent shop facilities.

The shop was recently painted and a major rewiring project was within the last three years. The three-year-old greenhouse is up and running.

The Warsaw agriculture program continues to rent 16 acres of farmland. Finally, we have an active FFA alumni chapter, excellent classroom facilities and the latest computer technology.

I would like to thank the Warsaw FFA Alumni chapter for their continued support of the program. They are a big help and at least one of the reasons for the continued success of the agriculture/FFA program.

The Warsaw FFA Alumni chapter was chartered 23 years ago. Joe Zumwalt is the current FFA alumni president.

I hope you enjoy reading about the Warsaw High School agriculture program. I am looking forward to this year and hopefully continued success at Warsaw. Thank you for your continued support of the Warsaw High School Agriculture and FFA program.

The following is a summary of FFA CDE's and activities:

Section XI fall trap shooting CDE, fourth place team.

WIU greenhand conference, 10 students.

Reporter's workshop, one member - Dylan Schrader.

Section XI forestry CDE, sixth place team.

Section XI land use CDE, second place team.

Section XI agronomy CDE, sixth place team.

State crop judging CDE, blue ribbon team.

State sporting clay CDE, third and fourth place teams in Illinois.

Section XI dairy products, seventh place team.

Section XI ag sales CDE, seventh place team.

Section XI meats CDE, sixth place team.

Section XI creed speaking CDE, fifth place individual - Greg Hoener.

State FFA degree interviews, two state degrees - Michael Hoener and John Roskamp.

Section XI livestock judging CDE, fifth place team.

Section XI farm business management CDE, first place team - five top 10 individuals.

Section XI poultry CDE, sixth place team.

Section XI ag mechanics CDE, second place team.

Section XI FFA banquet and officer elections, three members attended.

Washington Leadership Conference scholarship, John Roskamp.

Illinois FFA Camp scholarship, Kailyn Handyside.

Section XI 3D bow shoot, second place team.

State FFA Convention 2007 at Springfield, Ill., took 14 FFA members.

National FFA Convention 2007 in Indianapolis, Ind., took 16 members.

Had four FFA members show their SAE projects at the 2007 Vo Ag Fair.

The chapter had two Section XI and one District III proficiency award winners this year. Section winners were: Michael Hoener, Forest Management and John Roskamp, Ag Electrification (Section and District winner).