On March 11th, Potosi FFA traveled to Lincon University for their annual FFA CDE (Career Development Event) Contest. At the contest, FFA members competed in various events, including dairy foods, horse evaluation, livestock evaluation, and poultry.
CDE events help prepare students for careers in agriculture by learning with hands-on challenges that test students’ skills. Competing in these contests allows students to demonstrate their knowledge and challenge students to apply their skills and knowledge to real world situations that will benefit them in and outside of school and even in the future.
The dairy foods team consists of Caebry Nickelson (9), Mia Kley (9), Gabby McDonnell (12), and Blaire Miller (12). In Dairy Foods, contest participants demonstrate their knowledge of dairy production, processing, distribution, and consumption by identifying dairy and non-dairy products, evaluating milk, and cheese samples. Overall, the Dairy Foods Team placed 4th out of 11 schools from the area with a combined score of 527 points. Individually, Gabby Mcdonnell placed 4th overall out of 42 contestants, Caebry Nickelson placed 20th, Blaire Miller placed 25th, and Mia Kley placed 26th.
Gabby was thrilled after her 4th-place finish yesterday, saying, “I was honestly surprised with my finish yesterday, but I’m so proud of myself, and I am super excited and hoping that I can do it again at area and districts.”
The Horse Evaluation team consists of Myla Blair (11), Maggie Williams (12), Abby Vandergriff (11), and Jeuline Trokey (9). In the Horse Evaluation Contest, participants demonstrate knowledge of equine science by evaluating and ranking horses based on breed characteristics, conformation, and performance. Participants defend their decisions through oral reasons in front of a panel of judges. Overall, the horse evaluation team placed 5th with a combined team score of 899 points. Individually, Maggie Williams placed 5th overall out of 32 contestants, Abby Vandergriff placed 7th, Jueline placed 18th, and Myla Blair placed 31st.
The livestock evaluation team consists of Zane Richards (10), Justin Reynolds (10), and Harold Griffin (11). Livestock judging evaluates participants’ ability to critically analyze and rank animals (beef cattle, sheep, swine, and goats) based on breed standards and qualities for food production, involving placing classes and delivering oral reasons to justify their rankings. Overall our Livestock evaluation team placed 5th out of 13 schools with a combined score of 1162; individually, Zane Richards placed 13th out of 49 contestants, Justin Reynolds placed 19th, and Harold Griffin placed 40th.
The poultry team consists of Crason Reary (11), Brenna Yount (9), Harlee Kley (11), and Cheryl Richard (10). Poultry judging contestants evaluate and rank poultry (both live and products) based on various factors, like past and current production qualities, carcass quality, and parts identification. Overall, the poultry team ranked 9th out of 11 schools, and individually, Carson Reary placed 4th out of 35 contestants, and Brenna Yount placed 13th.
Carson Reary was stoked with his 4th place finish and said, “I think I did pretty well. I need to keep getting high reason scores while I keep improving on the rest of the test.”
The teams will again compete in Area on March 18th and 19th at Owensville High School. With these practice scores, the FFA team is hopeful for a state qualifier finish at districts or even a few qualifiers.
