DELPHOS — Trina Pohlman not only achieved a state award that most FFA students spend years striving for, she is the first female student from St. John’s to reach that goal. On May 3 she walked across a stage in Columbus to grasp the prize she has worked for since her freshman year.
Pohlman, now completing her junior year, first achieved her Green Hand Degree during her freshman year. She then accomplished her Chapter Degree and District and State Evaluations.
Keeping track of her work in a large notebook and assisted by her FFA advisors, Lucy Baumbauer and Scott Elwer, she had to compile her hours and activities to complete each step of her goal.
Among her accomplishments were the Washington Leadership Conference at Washington, D.C. She was reporter for two years, Ad Sale chairman, active in Career Development, Food Science and Technology and on the Floor Culture Team with her local chapter.
Pohlman earned $1,000 by working at Ace Hardware after school as part of her project. She raised four market hogs and will show two hogs this summer at the Van Wert County Fair.
She is the daughter of Charles and Janice Pohlman and gives credit to her family for her interest in FFA.
“My father taught it, my brother Joe inspired me when he was in FFA and my other brother, Brian, teaches Ag classes at a school in New Madison,” Pohlman said.
While she is thrilled her photo will now be displayed at her school along with her other family members FFA photos, she’s not planning a career in dealing with live animals.
“I think I want to be a dietician instead,” Pohlman laughed.