Indiana FFAP.O. Box 9Trafalgar, IN 46181

317-878-4000317-878-5428www.inffa.org

PF

Nathan BlumeMorocco, Indiana

North Newton FFA ChapterAdvisors: Ron DeYoung and Sabrina Tartar

Nathan Blume, 18, is truly humbled and exhilarated to be serving the Indiana FFA Association as the 2016-2017 Indiana FFA State Treasurer. What enthuses Nathan the most, is that he has been given the opportunity to serve and represent the nearly 12,000 Indiana FFA members. Nathan is the son of Christopher and Gina Blume.

Throughout four years of active membership in the National FFA Organization, Nathan has served in numerous leadership positions on the Chapter, District, and State level. On the Chapter level, Nathan had served as the North Newton FFA President for two consecutive years. He had also been awarded Chapter Star in Agribusiness for two consecutive years and the most active chapter member of 2016. Nathan has served as the chair for the National FFA Week, Livestock Materials, National Ag Day and the Chapter Banquet committees. Nathan has also been very active in community service projects put on by the chapter, such as the backpack program, food pantries, and landscaping for the community. On the District level, Nathan was stationed by the emblem of Washington as the 2015-2016 District 1 Treasurer. Throughout his involvement at the State level, Nathan has been a conference counselor at the Seeking Opportunities Achieving Results Conferences and the Foundations in Reaching Excellence Conference. In addition, Nathan has participated in the Premiere Leadership Training, Leadership Development Workshop, and Foundations in Reaching Excellence as a member. Nathan has also had the opportunity to experience the Indiana State Fair workdays and set-up days, as well as work at his chapter’s FFA food stand at the Newton County Punkin Vine Fair.

Nathan has been involved in many Career Development Events, including National Horse Evaluation, earning a Silver Emblem rating at the 88th National Convention. Nathan has also competed in the Essay Contest—earning 1st at the district level and 2nd at the 86th Indiana FFA State Convention, Poultry Evaluation—receiving 5th at the State level, and the Food Science Demonstration at the State level. At the District level, Nathan placed 1st the Food Science Demonstration, 3rd in Plant and Soil Science Demonstration, 3rd in Leadership Ambassador, 2nd in the Horticulture and Landscape Management Demonstration, and his Chapter Meeting team placed 3rd. Nathan also placed 4th individually ay the State Horse Evaluation contest, his junior year. Most recently, Nathan placed 3rd at the area Forestry contest, as well as being on the area winning team, advancing to the state level.

Nathan’s Supervised Agricultural Experience is very diverse, but focuses on Poultry Production Entrepreneurship. His operation consists of twenty- five laying hens, up to thirty meat pen broilers, and six meat pen turkeys. His responsibilities include feeding the poultry, cleaning pens, and properly managing their feeding schedule. Nathan also worked for a local grain farmer and farm equipment restorer part-time. Nathan’s Poultry Production proficiency received 1st at the district level.

Nathan has been extremely active within his school and community as well. He is a seven-year member of 4-H, participating in the Horse and Pony, Swine, Dairy, and Poultry projects. Within his school, Nathan is the Public Relations officer of the National Honor Society, Captain of Academic Super Bowl, Captain and State Qualifier of Academic Spell Bowl, and Committee Chair of Military History Club. Athletically, Nathan was the Captain of the Varsity Track team and on the Varsity Swim team, earning Academic All-Conference for both sports, as well as being named to the 2015-2016 Academic All-State Team for swimming. Nathan was also named the North Newton School Corporation wide student of the

month for April 2015. Nathan was named a Lilly Endowment Scholarship finalist as well as a recipient of the Beck’s Hybrids Scholarship and the Jim and Betty Dye Scholarship.

Nathan graduated as valedictorian of his class, being ranked 1st of 92 students, with a 4.07 GPA. Nathan graduated with an Academic Honors Diploma. Nathan plans to attend Purdue University with the intent of achieving a dual major in Agronomy and Plant Genetics. Nathan hopes to one-day work as an agronomist for his own company.