St. Francis FFA competes at State
On May 5th-7th the St. Francis FFA teams headed to Manhattan for State Career Development Events (CDEs). The chapter had five teams and two individuals competing. The teams were Horse, Veterinary Science, Dairy Cattle, Farm Bureau Discussion Meet, Livestock Evaluation, and Food Science. On the state level the top ten individuals receive metals and teams and individuals can receive gold (to 10%), silver (top 25%) and bronze rankings (top 50%) based on contest total scores.
The Dairy Cattle Evaluation team was a very young team and had the best showing for the chapter on the state level. The team evaluated six classes from heifers to aged cows, gave two sets of reasons and completed a 50 question test about the dairy industry. The team consisted of Colton Neitzel placing 24th (silver), Hadleigh Hilt placing 35th (silver), Jordyn Faulkender placing 58th (bronze), and Caleb Todd placed 116. The team placed 10th out of 41 teams and received a silver ranking with 1038 points.
The Horse Judgers competed in a tough competition that was relocated inside with video performance classes due to rain. They judged six classes that were both performance and halter horses and gave three sets of oral reasons. The team was lead by Bailey Workman that placed 48th (bronze) and followed by Marlo Jensen that placed 94th and Caleb Todd that placed 98th. As a team they placed 25th with a total score of 1066.
The Livestock Evaluators were Kattie Wurm placing 45th (silver), Brady Dinkel placed 59th (silver), Garin Cooper placed 106th (bronze), and Shadryon Blanka placed 112th (bronze). The team placed 20th overall out of 83 teams, earned a silver ranking and had a total of 1425 points. The team had to place seven classes, complete a keep/cull class and do three sets of oral reasons.
The Food Science contestants consisting of Mason Schmid earned 10th (gold), Hadleigh Hilt placed 71st (bronze), Echoe Lennox placed 115th (bronze), and Marlo Jensen placed 210th. Contestants had to identify aromas, compete a math practicum, identify safety and health violations, compete a triangle test and solve a customer inquiry test.
Vet Science team came in 52nd overall with 885 points. Team members completed several industry tests, completed a mat practicum and had to identify breeds, parasites and veterinary instruments. Mason Schmid finished 108th (bronze), Garin Cooper placed 212nd, Kattie Wurm placed 228th and Shadryon Blanka finished in 245 in the second largest competition at State CDE’s.
The Discussion Meet participants were Mason Schmid and Echoe Lennox. These individuals had to place in the top two at districts to be eligible to participate at state. In this competition groups of six individuals are given an agriculture issue and receive points for their ability to discuss and reach solutions as part of a committee. They faced off against the best of the best from around the state and came up short to qualify for the final round.
At the end of May there will be several FFA members heading to State FFA Convention in Manhattan. Two individuals, Mason Schmid and Echoe Lennox will compete in speaking competitions and Echoe will continue her pursuit of a 2019-20 Kansas FFA State Office. While at Convention members will attend sessions to learn more about FFA and agriculture and interact with FFA members from around the state of Kansas.
