Schools

Saline FFA Honors School Board Trustee Friese As Honorary Member

Friese received an "Honorary Chapter Farmer Degree" for his support of the organization.

Board of Education Trustee David Friese received the Future Farmers of America chapter's highest local award at Tuesday’s school board meeting.

During a formal ceremony conducted by six Saline FFA officers at the meeting, Friese was ushered from his board table and presented the FFA Honorary Chapter Farmer Degree.

“It’s always a pleasure to receive honorary members into the FFA,” said FFA chapter president Evan Medvec, a Saline High School senior. “The purpose of this ceremony is to recognize the efforts of others made on our behalf.”

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Friese, a who retired from teaching in the Wayne Westland School District and was elected to school board in 2007, became involved with FFA after observing exhibits at the community fair and then watching activities in the agricultural science class taught by David Mellor. He has attended FFA shows and banquets and was a regional judge at an FFA fair. Last year, he attended the National FFA convention in Indianapolis.

Friese’s voice cracked with emotion when commenting after the ceremony.

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“These are a great group of kids. Last fall at the National convention, their were 50,000 people dressed like this (wearing the FFA vests). They were very polite with one another and the members really got along,” Friese said. “It was a most enjoyable experience that I think everyone really should get to know. These kids basically represent the roots of this community.”

Medvec and other Saline FFA members will be attending the National Agricultural Science Fair at the FFA Convention in Indianapolis next week, according to Mellor. Medvec won his division in the state agricultural science fair held at Michigan State University over the summer. Other members of the FFA will be going to give a presentation detailing a project to convert storm ponds into a wetland area that filters runoff.


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