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North Union FFA Teams Complete Fall Judging Season The North Union FFA has continued its tradition of excellence in building individuals toward lifelong skills through the FFA’s career development events. Agricultural Education Career Development Events (CDEs) are educational activities that are organized and conducted by the Ohio Department of Education, Office of Career-Technical Adult Education, and Agricultural Education Service. They are designed to assess student competence in business and industry verified occupational skills, as detailed in the Agricultural and Environmental Content Standards. CDEs are a motivating force that stimulates occupational interests in and personal development of high school students enrolled in school-based agricultural education programs. Many of the events are transferred from what they learn in the classroom and the events to apply them to the real world. The past members who have participated in the 49 different sanctioned CDE events have all benefited either educationally or personally with the skills to help them be successful in their chosen career. Often many of the former FFA members go on to use these skills in their career and even major in that field. This fall has been no exception to the student’s high level of achievement.
Michelle Shepherd, Kyle Dresback, Hillary Hall, and Skyler Foos, recently competed in the District 6 Food Science and Technology Career Development Event. The team members studied various aspects of the Food Science Industry which is based heavily upon Science and agricultural principles. This industry deals with every aspect of processing and preparing food from the time it leaves the farm until it reaches the consumer. To prove their skill, the contest assesses their knowledge and abilities in four areas: general knowledge test, taste testing, identifying the best production and management practices, and handing a customer complaint. The team finished third in the sub-district and earned the right to compete at the district contest at River Valley where they placed eighth.
The rural soils team consisted of Riley Hall, Kyle Dresback, and Michelle Shepherd. They placed third out 36 teams in the district and advanced to state competition. They also won the Hardin Northern invitational. (only the top five teams advance) The soils career development event is a complicated contest that requires students to synthesis properties of soil to determine limitations that would need to be overcome to build a house or use the property for agricultural purposes. Soil evaluation ties many aspects of education together. The education components of the soil career development event included competencies in science, math, reading and their relation to Agricultural Science.
In the parliamentary procedure career development event, the team must participate in parliamentary law and conduct a meeting with both pro and con debate. Members must properly present, handle, and dispose of items of business according to Robert’s Rules of Order. The local chapter placed fifth in the central FFA sub-district contest held at Marysville. North Union’s FFA team consisted of Becca Smith, Ruthie Conrad, Caitlin Conrad, Emily Peterman, Tiffany Perkins, Lindsey Pfeiffer, Kara Furrow, Skyler Foos, Brista Drake, and Morgan Deel.
FFA uses agricultural education to create real-world success. Agriculture teachers become advisors to local FFA chapters, which students join. More than 7,000 FFA chapters are currently in existence and more than 507,000 members nationwide; their programs are managed on a local, state and national level. Each chapter’s Program of Activities is designed with the needs of the students in mind. Activities vary greatly from school to school, but are based in a well-integrated curriculum. Chapter activities and FFA programs concentrate on three areas of our mission: premier leadership, personal growth and career success. |