Page 6 - Dresden Buzz 11/14/2025

PAGE 6 | LOCAL NEWS HEALTH & WELLNESS
NOVEMBER 14 - 27, 2025
West Muskingum FFA named 3-Star Chapter Undo the Desk:
Stretches to

Reboot Your Body
at Work

BY ALEXUS MASTERSON, MPH,
FAMILY & CONSUMER SCIENCES EDUCATOR
OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY EXTENSION,
MUSKINGUM COUNTY

Being in this job for a little over 2
years, I have noticed my body changing.
I move a lot less and my body feels stiff-
er at times. Movement is an important
part of health that helps posture, men-
tal clarity, and posture. Office work by
nature is sedentary, which means pro-
longed periods of sitting or lying down
while doing activities like working at a
desk, playing video games, or watching
tv. When we are concentrated on a task
it can be difficult to remember to move
your body.
There are health risks when we don’t
move our body enough throughout the
day including back and neck pain, poor
circulation, reduced productivity and
Chapter members who attended the National FFA Convention in October 2025. Those holding the plaque are 24/25 Chapter President Abby Crum and 25/26 mood, and the increased risk of chronic
Chapter President Maria Hill. Submitted conditions. I feel the reduced produc-
tivity and a shift in mood while I’m at
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1
work and don’t have the ability to move
and expand to their full potential, the of other members, sat down at the be- students each year. From year to year, as much, especially during the winter
months. Our bodies were not designed
wheels were finally gaining momentum ginning of the 2022 school year with this there may be a handful or only 1 or 2 to sit stationary all day, so it is impor-
and moving forward. Fast forward to fall goal in mind, knowing the application returning members that worked on the tant to give tour body a break every and
of 2022, the completely student led or- was going to be their Mt. Everest. "With previous application. With each new ar- get some movement in. Our brain, eyes,
ganization, with its 81 active members, the hard work of our officer team, com- rangement of students developing ac- and body need a break from screen time
decided to take a big leap forward by fill- mittee chairs, and members, the events tivities that would then be carried out or lack of movement as it can be harm-
ing out an award application that would and the application got done. Once the and included in that years’ application, ful if done for long periods of time, as
set their chapter a step above the rest. applications were scored and rated, we the momentum and determination that we previously discussed. Stretch every
The National FFA Organization, former- had laid the foundation, now aware of they could do better continued to grow. 1-2 hours and hold each stretch for 20-
ly known as Future Farmers of America, the standards and expectations we were The most recent application, filed 30 seconds. Using tools like resistance
provides chapters across the nation a supposed to meet," Elswick said. That back in January of 2025, reflected on bands or a standing desk is helpful to
chance to obtain elite status through the first application was rated Bronze at the the 2024 chapter activities. Activities promote movement. If you have mobility
national chapter award program. The state award evaluations, giving the chap- are designed to make positive impacts issues, chair exercises are a great way to
yearly award application starts by going ter plenty of room to improve, but meet- on chapter members, school peers, stay moving and reduces the risk of fall-
through the district, state, and finally na- ing that first goal of just completing the and local community groups. These ac- ing. Standing stretches include forward
tional evaluation process to determine application. "Each year since that, we tivities ranged from collecting recycling folds for hamstrings, chest openers
its worth. The application itself requires were able to correct errors, improve our within their school building to making against the wall, and side bends. Desk-
the chapter to submit their Program of events, and build on the feedback from rope toys out of donated T-shirts to then friendly stretches with no equipment
Activities, which must contain at least previous applications," Elswick donate to the local animal shelter. They include neck rolls, shoulder shrugs, and
15 unique activities within the catego- reflected. hosted a teacher appreciation dinner, calf raises.
ries of growing leaders, strengthening The following year, the application developed incentives for FFA members Incorporating these stretches into
agriculture, and building communities. came back with a Silver rating, reflecting at West Muskingum High School that your daily routine can improve your pos-
These categories are determined by Na- that the corrections and improvements were named to the honor roll, and host- ture, reduce discomfort, and boost your
tional FFA to be the quality standards being made were heading them in the ed Muskingum County Farm Bureau for overall well-being. Start small, stay con-
that define the quality of a local chapter. right direction. So again, the students their annual breakfast meeting. They sistent, and feel the difference.
"When we first started this process, took the comments made during evalu- also established a working relationship
we had no experience and no starting ations and continued to make adjust- with the Muskingum County Soil and
point. Our first year filling out the appli- ments to their activities. The challenge Water Conservation District Urban Gar- lowing year's application, which was
cation, the goal was to just submit it," was, and continues to be, that every year den at Marshall Greens, raising plants already halfway through. However, af-
said Abi Elswick, a 2024 graduate of is a different application, requiring dif- for them to use in their community gar- ter much anticipation, the results from
West Muskingum and former chapter ferent activities from the previous year, dens as well as assisting in planting in National FFA were shocking. For the first
president. Elswick, along with a handful which are also implemented by different the spring and garden cleanup in the time in the history of the West Musk-
fall. ingum FFA Chapter they were awarded
Anxiously, the chapter received their a 3-star rating from the National FFA Or-
feedback once again from the state ganization, the highest award a chapter
evaluations. This time, GOLD! This can earn!
meant that the chapter had done some- "Proud is an understatement," said
thing that hadn’t been done since 2009 advisor Jeremy Ryan. "What started as
when Bob Daniels was the educator and a simple goal to complete the applica-
advisor for West Muskingum FFA. In May tion, reached a whole new level when
2025, two members represented the we were named a 3-star Chapter. These
chapter to be recognized in Columbus students put in a lot of hard work, a lot
at State FFA Convention for this accom- of time, and went above and beyond
plishment. This was a big milestone for any expectation." By earning the 3 star
the students, reflecting back to the origi- chapter designation, the chapter was in-
nal goal to just be able to complete the vited to receive their award at the 98th
application for submission, to now being Annual National FFA Convention.
recognized as top 10% in the state! But National FFA Convention, hosted in
the excitement did not stop there. Gold Indianapolis, Indiana, happens in Octo-
rated chapter applications are then for- ber every year as a culmination of most
warded to national evaluations. Chapter FFA members and a time to review and
award applications are able to receive reflect on the work being done within
1, 2, or 3 stars from National FFA. Since the organization. This year, West Musk-
2023/2024 Committee Chairs Dylon Brown and Kiah Wallace and 2023/2024 Secretary Abby Crum this was mostly new to the chapter, they ingum was able to take 28 members
delivering supplies and homemade dog toys to Animal Shelter Executive Director April Gibson. had low expectations. They thought they
Submitted would receive lots of feedback and have
many adjustments to make for the fol- CONTINUED ON PAGE 8