The Jay Area Chamber of Commerce voted on next year's officers at its meeting Monday at the library of Jay High School, and approved two donations totaling $650 to help local youth.
The Jay Chamber's new president will be Eric Seib, Operations Manager for the Town of Jay and current president Terry Miller will be vice president. Current secretary Gretchen McPherson will continue to hold that position, while former treasurer Megan Ivy, who stepped away earlier this year while pregnant, will resume her role as treasurer.
In other business, Jay middle schoolers Emma Barrow, Emerson Walters, Avery Mitchem and Josie Lowery along with Jay High Schoolers Logan Cooley, Ally Ashworth, Austin Ashworth and Travis Godwin, the highest scoring for both middle and high school divisions, paid a visit to the library to share their participation in the Florida Future Farmers of America (FFA) State Land Judging competition.
Cooley achieved the highest score for the high school division and Walters scored the highest for the middle school division.
“They have put in countless hours to memorize their material as well as to apply the knowledge they have learned,” said FFA advisor and Ag Teacher Kaylen Findley. “They've spent their Saturdays doing this. They've gone to state every year, so this is a big deal, winning state overall. Its amazing to see how much they put into it and how much they deserved to win. They've really worked hard for this. They will soon compete on a national level, where they have had to learn more. They are determined to be competitive on a national level. It's a once in a lifetime opportunity for them.”
Findley said the students will be in dirt pits and they have to figure out land characteristics to determine the best use of the land for both agricultural and residential purposes.
The students use simple tools, like a knife and pencil and paper, to observe and interpret the soil in order to make wise land use decisions. Students can compete at the county, state, and national levels.
Four students and two chaperones will go to compete in the national competition and the cost for each student is about $100.
Jay Chamber members made a motion to donate $100 per student, totaling $400, to help with the trip to Oklahoma City, Okla. for the national competition, set for Monday, April 29 through Friday, May 3. The motion was seconded and the donation was approved.
Next, Frederick Barrow asked the chamber for a donation to the 18th Annual Jay Pro Rodeo set for the last weekend in April at the Ted May Arena on Highway 4.
All proceeds benefit area youth and a recent bed tax grant for advertisement allows each sponsor a new banner at the event.
A motion was made to donate $250 to the rodeo, which was seconded and approved by chamber members. The motion carried.
Next, Jay High School Principal Stephen Knowlton told the group he would like to propose that the Jay Area Chamber's April meeting be held at Jay High School and the members agreed that would keep the partnership between the school and the chamber strong.
“We want to build the whole person,” said Knowlton, emphasizing that he and his teachers strive to encourage students to become workforce ready through both college and certifications in technological fields. “We have a 98 percent graduation rate, the highest in the county here at Jay. We want potential employers to have a ready work force locally, and have developed vocational programs, such as Information Technology (IT), construction, culinary arts, Health Occupations Students of America (HOSA) and FFA to appeal to students who may not be college bound, but can get certified in different fields and be career-ready. College is not for everyone, and these programs offer students skills, training and experience that will help them when they get out into the world.”
Knowlton said that local chamber members who own businesses interested in having students as volunteers or employees to give them work experience or skills can call Guidance Counselor Beth Caupp at the high school.
Opie's Kool Stop's Lori Elder said she needed volunteers to help with Friday night's events, such as helping to place chairs for the movie, serve popcorn and other activities and welcomed students who could help.
