A year’s worth of hard work is paying off for 30 Plant City-area FFA students.
The students, representing Durant and Strawberry Crest high schools and Tomlin Middle School, will compete at the FFA State Convention June 10 to 14, in Orlando.
“We are very proud of our students,” said Pam Walden, supervisor of agriculture for Area Six schools. “It’s pretty rigorous.”
The state convention features about 150 different competitions, ranging from ag mechanics to citrus to livestock judging.
“It runs the gamut,” Walden said. “You name it; we judge it.”
Students have spent hours practicing both at home and at school with instructors. Some of the instructors have even spent their own money to get real-life examples of trees, vegetables and plants for their students, so the students don’t have to learn from only a book.
Many of the students have won their competitions at the district level. Other students go straight to state after completing a comprehensive portfolio and delivering presentations ahead of time.
Only high school students are eligible to compete in nationals, with the exception of the agriscience competition for middle-schoolers. Last year, a team from Tomlin also went to nationals in parliamentary procedure for the first time.
“Nothing will impress you more than seeing the sea of blue jackets,” Walden said about the convention.
The awards ceremony will be June 12. Middle-schoolers will be presented with their awards starting at 8:30 a.m. High-schoolers will start receiving their awards at 1 p.m.
Contact Amber Jurgensen at ajurgensen@plantcityobserver.com.
STATE REPRESENTATIVES
DURANT HIGH SCHOOL
First Place State Livestock Evaluation: Morgan Belsley, first high individual; Jacob Belisle, second high individual; Haley Smith; and Justin Stallard
First Place State Agricultural Mechanics Team: Jacob Belisle, second high individual; Kody Aubel, third high individual; Alex Fernandez, fourth high individual; Cole Ebdrub, fifth high individual; and Konnore Long
First Place District to Compete at State Level Prepared Speaking: Mylie Feaster
Parliamentary Procedure Team: Mylie Feaster, Haley Smith, Morgan Belsley, Kaitlyn Taylor, Kelsey Newsome, Mariah Kunze and Alyssa Shepherd
STRAWBERRY CREST HIGH SCHOOL
First Place State Ornamental Horticulture Demonstration Artistic Arrangement: Ashley Modrow and Jamee Townsend
Agriculture Issues Contest at the State Level: Adrian Dyer, Levi Mayo, Jamee Townsend, Victoria Harris, Nick Fernandez and Megan Snyder
First Place District to compete at State Level
Creed Speaking: Clay Joyner
Extemporaneous Speaking: Anna Conrad
Florida’s Finest Chapter; Top 10% of all State Chapters
TOMLIN MIDDLE SCHOOL
State Star Discovery Degree Finalists: Ethan Michael Ohnstad and Ethan Vaughan
First Place State Ornamental Horticulture Demonstration
Consumer Use Area: Marybeth Stewart and Savannah Kummelman
Landscaping Area: Kendall Gaudens and Regan Brown
Marketing Area: Katelyn Yarborough
First Place District to Compete at State Level
Parliamentary Procedure Team: Marybeth Stewart, Arie Fry, Caroline Brummer, Mackenzie M. Steele, Lauren Madera, Matthew Decastillo, Kendall Gaudens and Anthony Tripi
Opening Closing Team: Marybeth Stewart, Caroline Brummer, Mackenzie M. Steele, Lauren Madera, Colten Smith, Shelby Womble and Gresham Stephens
Extemporaneous Speaking: Shelby Womble
Ag Electrification Essay Finalist: Benji Padgett
Talent Finalist: Benji Padgett
Florida’s Finest Chapter; Top 10% of all State Chapters
Agriscience Fair Participants: Mackenzie M. Steele, Lauryn Hutchinson, Alexander Harrison, Garrett Barnes and Clay Barnes