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Published by www.EPlusPromotes.com www.TheCatoctinBanner.com The Catoctin Banner Newspaper December 2018 Page 29
Mother Seton School Student Has Catoctin FFA Members Attend

Gift Presented to Pope Francis National Convention

During Once-in-a-Lifetime Trip Savannah Stull, Catoctin FFA Chapter Reporter

Courtesy Photo The National FFA Courtesy photo
Convention is held every year
and attracts FFA members from
every state, including Alaska and
Hawaii. This year marked the
91 National FFA Convention,
st
held in Indianapolis, Indiana,
from October 24-27, 2018.
The Catoctin FFA Chapter had
twenty-four members attend,
with over 69,000 other FFA
members from across the nation.
During the week, members were
able to participate in sessions,
workshops, and a career expo.
Santiago Canadas-Fraga, a sixth-grade student at Mother Seton School, stands in St. Peter’s Square Before the members got to
before the start of a special audience with Pope Francis. Santi accompanied his father, a professor the convention, we made a few
at Mount St. Mary’s, to a conference in Rome.
stops along the way, visiting
For Santiago Canadas-Fraga, a trip with his father to Italy turned a dream the Columbus Zoo and the
into reality. The sixth-grade student at Mother Seton School accompanied his Airstream Factory in Ohio, as Catoctin FFA members attend National Convention in
father, Mount St. Mary’s University Professor Dr. Alejandro Canadas, to a well as the Case IH Factory Indiana in October 2018.
conference in Rome, organized by the Vatican Foundation Joseph Ratzinger Plant in Wisconsin, where we
and the University Francisco de Vitoria of Madrid, in September. But it took industry tours and learned more about these agricultural industries. We
certainly wasn’t all work and no play for Santiago, known as Santi to his also stopped at Harbour Park to see Lake Michigan. We stopped at the United
friends. He said the experience was exciting from the moment they landed in States Air Force Museum in Dayton, Ohio, on the way home.
Italy’s capital city. Eighteen members that attended the National FFA Convention had to
“My dad has been to Rome before,” Santi said. “He showed me around. compete in Career Development Events (CDE). In order to compete in a
We traveled by train, took the subway, and walked—a lot.” Santi said he was CDE, each team or individual contestant extensively learned their subject
amazed by the history of the city, and the ability to see the things he’s only and rehearsed their task in preparation for the State FFA Convention. Each
read about in his textbooks come to life. One of the best parts of the trip, he state gets to send one winning team per CDE to advance to nationals. Many
said, was visiting the Museo Leonardo da Vinci (The Da Vinci Museum) and CDE’s are offered each year, and the Catoctin FFA Chapter had the Agriculture
seeing da Vinci’s masterpieces in person. “I also loved the Roman Coliseum,” Communications team, Agriculture Marketing team, Agriculture issues, and
said Santi. He and his father took a four-hour tour that ended much too Environmental and Natural Resources team advance to nationals.
soon for the middle schooler. “Learning about the gladiators and seeing the The Agriculture Communications team worked to create a media plan
architecture was amazing! I could have stayed there all day.” that centers on advocating for a farmer and/or a rancher. In addition to the
But the highlight of Santiago’s trip was standing in St. Peter’s Square, plan, the team had to take a communication quiz editing quiz and practicums.
only yards away from Pope Francis during a special audience with the Holy Catoctin’s team placed silver at the National Convention. Individual placing
Father. “It was incredible to be so close to the Pope and to be surrounded by included: Ashley Lescalleet, Alexis Morgan, and Kiah Morgan, earning a silver
so many people from all over the world,” Santi said. “A few members from placing, and Konner Sowell, who earned a bronze placing. The team was
our conference were able to go up to the altar. One of them took the gift that coached by Kayla Brannen.
we brought from Mother Seton School and presented it to the Pope on our The Agriculture Marketing team chose a company and presented ways that
behalf.” The gift was a small box containing a Mother Seton Medallion and the company could improve the business. The chapter worked closely with
an accompanying note letting the Holy Father know the school was praying Brookfield Pumpkins. The team placed bronze at this years convention and
for him. consisted of Hannah Hartness, Tiffany Lenhart, and Sierra Weatherly. The
“After the event was over, Pope Francis gave us all a blessing and then team was coached by Cathy Little and Michael Poffenberger.
stayed to shake hands. It was so exciting,” Santi recalled. “I’m glad I was able The Agriculture issues team presented a fifteen-minute skit on the pros and
to go with my father. Being able to experience Italy and see the Pope in person cons of Chlorpyrifos. Chlorpyrifos is a chemical that is applied to crops that
is a memory I will treasure forever. I’m very blessed to have been able to make the Maryland government tried to ban during the last session. The team had
this trip.” to present the facts in an unbiased, creative way. The team earned a bronze
placing, and consisted of Riley Flick, Abby Kinnaird, Maddie Krantz, Megan
McIntosh, Stephanie Moreland, and Taylor Wivell. The team was coached by
Cathy Little and Michael Poffenberger.
The Environmental and Natural Resources team provided students a way
to gain awareness and demonstrate knowledge in areas that affect our air, soil
and water. Our members interpreted data, used measuring devices in the field
and worked through real-life scenarios involving environmental threats. The
team placed bronze, and placing individuals included: Noah Barth, placing
bronze; Robert Hahn, placing silver; Kallan Latham earning gold; and Jimmy
Kempisty placing fourteenth in the nation. The team was coached by Ashley
and Jeff McAfee.
Chapter members who did not compete in competition, attending as
delegates, included Danny Janc, Brett McCelvey, Carley McGhee, Ty Lenhart,
Claire Scheider, Cadin Valentine, and Ali Werlang. A special thanks to our
chapter chaperones Cathy Little, Patti Hubbard, Jeff McAfee, Charles and
Jo Harshman, Kayla Brannen, Matt Dellinger, Carrie Wivell, and Michael
Poffenberger.
Hannah Bath earned her American FFA Degree this year, and Catoctin was
recognized on the national level as a two-star chapter.