image Tahoma High School FFA teacher Mrs. Marie Page and her award-winning FFA students were presented with Mayoral Proclamation Monday night to recognize their amazing success at this year's Puyallup Fair.

Now for the picture. Going left to right - front row - Reni Lucido, Marie Page, Mark Gato, Victoria Jonas, Kaylee Davidson, CJ Katzer, Jan Coluccio. Back row - Tyler Jenks-Bass, Craig Katzer, Patrick Noy, Logan Nordeen, Alexis Bayer, Emily Page, Shauna McBride, Lorena Delong, Michelle Wiseman, Karly Gordon.

P R O C L A M A T I O N

WHEREAS, the National FFA Organization (also known as Future Farmers of America) envisions a future in which all agricultural education students will discover their passion in life and build on that insight to chart the course for their educations, career and personal future FFA; and

WHEREAS, Future Farmers of America was founded by a group of young farmers in 1928, with a mission to prepare future generations for the challenges of feeding a growing population; and

WHEREAS, Tahoma High School has had an FFA program for 29 years under the watchful eye and devoted leadership of Mrs. Marie Page, and is dedicated to making a positive difference in the lives of students by developing their potential for premier leadership, life skills, personal growth, and career success through agricultural education; and

WHEREAS, Tahoma FFA students have participated in competition at the Puyallup Fair for 29 years, a sampling of this year's events/categories include Horticulture, Rabbit Heardmanship, Novice Rabbits, Rabbit Mini Lop, Dwarf Hotot, Rabbits Fitting and Showing, Educational displays, and Sheep exhibiting, just to name a few. With a grand total of over 4,000 students making this annual trek down to Puyallup, the students average 10-12 hour work days for nine consecutive days; and

WHEREAS, at the 2011 Puyallup Fair all 175 of Mrs. Page's FFA students were awarded 1st in State for Horticulture. Special recognition was awarded to Emily Page, Abby Blake, Reni Lucido, Tyler Jenks, Michelle Wiseman, Kaylee Davison, Gracie Montgomery, Logan Nordeen, Shauna McBride, Morgan Malnati, CJ Katzer, Mark Gato, and Pat Noy; and

WHEREAS, Tahoma FFA while exhibiting in the spring at the little Puyallup Fair and the Northwest Junior Livestock Show, earned Grand Champion, Reserve Grand Champion at both events and the prestigious Black and White Commissioner Award, which is given out to only one exhibit at the fair, Tahoma has won that award twice in 29 years; and

NOW, THEREFORE, I Deputy Mayor Victoria Laise Jonas, on behalf of Noel T. Gerken, Mayor of the City of Maple Valley, do hereby proclaim November 15, 2011, Tahoma FFA Day to honor Mrs. Page and her student's commitment to leadership, agriculture, traditions and education.

Signed this 14th day of November, 2011

Deputy Mayor Victoria Laise Jonas
Deputy Mayor names Nov. 15 Tahoma FFA Day