Ten enthusiastic members of the Tyrone Area FFA Chapter volunteered at the Blair County Chamber of Commerce Farm-City Dinner on November 13, 2024, serving drinks and food,and warmly greeting guests.
The evening commenced with welcoming remarks from Joseph Diamond, chair of the Farm-City Committee and a Blair County Chamber of Commerce member.
Anna Longenecker, the Blair County Dairy Princess, delivered an engaging speech highlighting dairy products’ benefits for weight loss.
Additionally, Tracy Plessinger, manager at Altoona-Blair County Airport, addressed the attendees, sharing insights into the agricultural community.
Junior Catherine Sklenar enjoyed serving at the event.
“I felt happy I could help and serve people. The event brings important people in the ag industry together, and I would love to go back,” Sklenar said.
“It was an awesome experience. Being new to the FFA program, it was really nice to see so many other members from different schools all supporting the same cause,” First-year FFA member Pyper Sparklin said, “I am so grateful for the members from our chapter, who have made me feel welcome, and for the opportunity to experience this amazing community.”
After dinner, keynote speaker Tyler Shaw, Vice President of Shirley’s Cookie Company, shared the company’s history and emphasized the significance of its agricultural connections. The company takes pride in Tyler as the third generation of leadership dedicated to Business Excellence, Family, and Community.
“This is my second year doing the Chamber of Commerce dinner. Not only did I get to help serve dinner and drinks to those who have supported the ag industry, but I also met more FFA members. I love being able to help, especially because they have put so much work into helping the ag industry. If I weren’t graduating, I would help serve again,” senior Nevaeh Hollabaugh reflected on her experiences.
The evening concluded with the presentation of the annual Agricultural Community Excellence (ACE) Award to Cove View Farms, owned and operated by the Bechtel family. Cove View Farms involves multiple family members, with Gary and his wife, Muffy, running the farm alongside their son Andrew and Gary’s brother Dale. Gary and Muffy’s two daughters are also involved; their daughter Sara and her husband are dairy farmers in New York, while their daughter Robyn serves as the agriculture teacher and FFA advisor at Williamsburg High School.
Founded by Gary’s grandfather, Glenn Bechtel, around 1935, Cove View Farms has a rich history. Gary’s parents, Fred and Mary, were honored with the Farm Family of The Year Award in 1974. The ACE Award was initiated as a continuation and expansion of the chamber’s Farm Family of the Year Award, which began in 1970, recognizing the various facets that make agriculture a primary industry in the county.
