By ANDY Taylor
Montgomery County Chronicle

CHERRYVALE — A Cherryvale High School graduate has assumed a state officer position with the Kansas FFA Organization following elections held at the state FFA convention last Friday in Manhattan.

Shane Blaes, a 2007 CHS graduate, was named Kansas FFA Sentinel. He becomes the fifth state FFA officer from Cherryvale and the fourth in six years.

Blaes’ one-year stint as a state officer began immediately after his election in front of a capacity crowd of FFA delegates in McCain Auditorium at Kansas State University. No sooner did he and the five newly-commissioned state officers close the 2008 state convention than they were whisked away to begin officer training on Saturday and Sunday. They’ll continue their training with other state FFA officers from the midwestern United States next week in Omaha, Neb.

“Quite honestly, I haven’t had much time to think,” said Blaes late Sunday evening, following his two days of officer training. “We’ve got a busy schedule ahead of us, which includes officer training plus attending State Conference for Chapter Leaders in several weeks. After that, we’ll be making trips across the state to talk to businesses and industries about their involvement in agriculture and support for FFA.”

Once the 2008-09 school year begins, Blaes and other state officers will be visiting Kansas high schools to encourage recruitment of new FFA members and chapter development, he said.

Serving as a state officer is regarded as a full year of service to the FFA organization, Blaes said. While also wearing the customary blue and gold jackets that have become synonymous with FFA, the officers are also college students. For Blaes, who attends Kansas State University, balancing the demands of being an FFA officer while also attending college classes can be a challenge.

“I’m looking forward to that challenge,” he admitted.

The other five state officers elected at last week’s state convention included Jennifer Butler of Arkansas City, Annarose Hart of Paola, Kathy Sexton of Chapman, Emily Surdez of Sabetha, and Brynn Nulik of Arkansas City.

Previous state FFA officers from Cherryvale include Amy (Allen) Atherton, sentinel, 1991-92; Clint Blaes, state treasurer, 2003-04; Leah Mattix, state reporter, 2004-05; and Torie Reilly, state vice president, 2007-08.

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