 |
 (Journal-Tribune photo by Patrick Dundr) The North Union FFA Agronomy Team members earned top honors at the National FFA Convention including Rusty Lowe who earned first place honors. Pictured above, clockwise, are coach Jared Evans, Lowe, Jake Davis, Tyler Patton and Brett Sheets. NU agronomy team honored By Cindy Brake
Marysville Journal-Tribune Rusty Lowe doesn't eat tomatoes but he knew enough about growing them and a whole lot more, including how to select a good chili pepper, to be named the top individual in the national agronomy judging contest at this year's National FFA Convention in Louisville, Ky.
Lowe and his three team members all placed in the top 10 at the national convention taking home second place as a team.
Each received a scholarship for his individual accomplishments.
Lowe received a $900 scholarship and said the funds will assist in his firefighter studies at Hocking Technical School. After school, Lowe said he plans to return to his family's grain operation on Springdale Road and also work as a firefighter.
Brett Sheets, a junior, placed fourth and received a $750 scholarship. Tyler Patton, a sophomore, placed eighth and received a $500 scholarship. Junior Jake Davis placed 10th and received a $500 scholarship.
The payoff for team coach Jared Evans, a 1998 graduate of North Union High School, was pure revenge. When he was a senior in high school, the team he was on placed second in the state and did not make it to the national contest.
A total of 32 teams competed in this year's two-day National FFA Agronomy Career Development Event. To compete each team had to win its state contest.
Lowe, a graduate of North Union High School, said he was totally shocked when he was named the top winner. When asked what made the difference this year, he said, "I decided to start studying." Even though he is now a graduate, Lowe was a member of last year's team and was eligible to compete at the national contest held Oct. 27-28.
Questions included a team activity on irrigating a tomato field in California and a crop evaluation of chili peppers and hay. Lowe said he knew how to evaluate hay but when it came to chili peppers he "kind of winged it" by looking at size, color and mold.
The contest included identifying plants, seeds, insects and diseases, as well as knowing general information about pesticide application.
Coach Evans said North Union has a rich history in agronomy competitions, dating back to the 1970s. National competitions began in 2000 and the Union County team has competed nationally in three of those years. The team placed second nationally in 2000, 2003 and 2004.
The four-member team began preparing in September. Evans estimates that the team spent more than 100 hours in preparation. Earlier in the year they competed and won five invitationals before taking the state title. |