PHOTOS: Locals compete and receive high marks at FFA National Convetion

Members of the Spencer County FFA Chapter in Kentucky were one of 32 teams participating in the National FFA Agronomy Career Development Event (CDE). The event was held in conjunction with the 84th National FFA Convention in Indianapolis, Ind. The team, led by adviser Bland Baird, was awarded a Gold emblem. Members also competed for individual awards with 122 other participants. Nicholas Dysinger received a Silver emblem, Caleb Fulkerson received a Silver emblem, Tyler Goodlett received a Silver emblem, and Shelby West received a Gold emblem. The top six individuals and the national winning team members received scholarships to further their education at a post-secondary institution of their choice. The scholarships and the agronomy event are sponsored by Bayer CropScience of Research Triangle Park, North Carolina as a special project of the National FFA Foundation. The National FFA Agronomy CDE is a competitive activity that allows students to apply classroom knowledge to real-life situations. Participants’ knowledge of agronomic sciences was tested through several levels of competition including developing solutions for problematic scenarios; identification of seeds, insects, soil and crops; and other management practices.

Members of the Spencer County FFA Chapter in Kentucky were one of 43 teams participating in the National FFA Farm Business Management Career Development Event (CDE). The event was held in conjunction with the 84th National FFA Convention in Indianapolis, Ind. The team, led by adviser Darryl Matherly, was awarded a Gold emblem. Members also competed for individual awards with 160 other participants. Marianne Gaddie received a Gold emblem, Shelby Hall received a Gold emblem, Bryce Martin received a Gold emblem, and Patricia Zermeno received a Gold emblem. The top six individuals and the national winning team received scholarships to further their education at a post-secondary institution of their choice. The coaches of the top two teams were named Farm Business Fellows. The scholarships and the farm business management event are sponsored by John Deere of Moline, Illinois as a special project of the National FFA Foundation. The National FFA Farm Business Management CDE is designed to test the ability of students to apply economic principles and concepts in analyzing farm and ranch business management decisions. Participants respond to questions concerning economic principles in farm business management as well as a problem-solving analysis section. Each team in the event has competed with other chapters in their state for the privilege of participating in the national event.

Tevin Shouse from the Spencer County FFA Chapter in Kentucky was the third high individual in the 2011 National FFA Dairy Cattle Evaluation Career Development Event (CDE). Led by adviser Bland Baird, Shouse was among 166 students from 43 states who participated in the this year’s event. Pictured, from left to right, are the top individuals in the Dairy Cattle Evaluation CDE: Tevin Shouse from Spencer County FFA in Kentucky, Susan Mann from Spencer County FFA in Kentucky, and Shanna Slagel from Prairie Central FFA in Illinois. More than 3,200 youth from across the country participated in 24 different CDEs during the 84th National FFA Convention in Indianapolis, Ind., on October 19-22. The top six individuals and the national winning team members received scholarships to further their education at a post-secondary institution of their choice. The scholarships and the dairy cattle evaluation event are sponsored by Dean Foods Company of Dallas, Texas and the National FFA Foundation. The National FFA Dairy Cattle Evaluation CDE is a competitive activity that tests the student’s ability to select and manage quality dairy cattle. Event components include six classes of dairy cattle, linear classification of five Holstein cows, a sire selection and dairy management exercise and placing of four dairy animal pedigrees. Each team competed at local and state levels to earn the privilege of representing their home state at the national FFA convention.

The Spencer County FFA Chapter from Kentucky was the winning team in the 2011 National FFA Dairy Cattle Evaluation Career Development Event (CDE). The students, led by adviser Bland Baird, were among 166 students from 43 states who participated in the this year’s event. Pictured, from left to right, are: advisor Bland Baird, and team members Austin Jaggers, Susan Mann, Tevin Shouse, and Joseph Snider. More than 3,200 youth from across the country participated in 24 different CDEs during the 84th National FFA Convention in Indianapolis, Ind., on October 19-22. The top six individuals and the national winning team members received scholarships to further their education at a post-secondary institution of their choice. The scholarships and the dairy cattle evaluation event are sponsored by Dean Foods Company of Dallas, Texas and the National FFA Foundation. The National FFA Dairy Cattle Evaluation CDE is a competitive activity that tests the student’s ability to select and manage quality dairy cattle. Event components include six classes of dairy cattle, linear classification of five Holstein cows, a sire selection and dairy management exercise and placing of four dairy animal pedigrees. Each team competed at local and state levels to earn the privilege of representing their home state at the national FFA convention.

Members of the Spencer County FFA Chapter in Kentucky were one of 44 teams participating in the National FFA Floriculture Career Development Event (CDE). The event was held in conjunction with the 84th National FFA Convention in Indianapolis, Ind. The team, led by adviser Darryl Matherly, was awarded a Gold emblem. Members also competed for individual awards with 166 other participants. Amanda Martin received a Gold emblem, Danielle Montgomery received a Silver emblem, Kathryn Prus received a Silver emblem, and Holly Ware received a Gold emblem. The top six individuals and the national winning team members received scholarships to further their education at a post-secondary institution of their choice. The scholarships and the floriculture event are sponsored by Ball Horticultural Company of West Chicago, Illinois and the National FFA Foundation. Merchants in the Indiana area also donated and loaned plant materials used for the event. In the National FFA Floriculture CDE, FFA members test their knowledge and skills in the production and retailing of flowers, plants and foliage. Participants must complete a general knowledge exam on the floriculture industry, identify plant materials, and demonstrate problem solving and decision-making skills, employment and customer service skills, technical floral skills and the ability to work as a team. Teams competed at the local and state levels to earn the privilege of representing their home state at the national FFA convention.

Members of the Spencer County FFA Chapter in Kentucky were one of 33 teams participating in the National FFA Marketing Plan Career Development Event (CDE). The event was held in conjunction with the 84th National FFA Convention in Indianapolis, Ind. Emily Hume, Courtney Cox, and Alison McGaughey competed with 96 other members from across the country. The team, led by adviser Darryl Matherly, was awarded a Silver emblem.

Members of the Spencer County FFA Chapter in Kentucky were one of 41 teams participating in the National FFA Meats Evaluation and Technology Career Development Event (CDE). The event was held in conjunction with the 84th National FFA Convention in Indianapolis, Ind. The team, led by adviser Darryl Matherly, was awarded a Silver emblem. Members also competed for individual awards with 155 other participants. Sarah Bowman received a Silver emblem, Darilyn Browning received a Silver emblem, Amelia Herndon received a Silver emblem, and Mackenzie Mayer received a Silver emblem. The top six individuals and the national winning team members received scholarships to further their education in a post-secondary institution of their choice. The scholarships and the event are sponsored by Cargill Meat Solutions of Kansas; Hormel Foods Corporation of Minnesota; Kraft Foods -Oscar Mayer of Wisconsin and Tyson Foods, Inc. of Arkansas as a special project of the National FFA Foundation. The National FFA Meats Technology and Evaluation CDE is a competitive activity that tests students’ skills and competencies in evaluating and identifying meat carcasses and products. Event components include a general knowledge exam; beef carcass evaluation; identification of wholesale and retail cuts of beef, lamb, and pork; quality and yield grading of beef carcasses; a team meat merchandising activity; and solving of a meat formulation problem. Each team has competed on the local and state levels to earn the privilege of representing their state at the national FFA convention.