for the News-Tribune
KEYSER — Twenty-seven Mineral County FFA members competed in the 2009 State Career Development Event held Sept. 22-24 in Morgantown.
Among the competitors were the members of the Agricultural Mechanics team, who placed first in their category at the state level and are now taking part in the National FFA Convention this week in Indianapolis, Ind.
Career Development Events are competitive contests that evaluate students on knowledge and skills in a specific area of the agricultural industry.
At the state competition, Mineral County FFA joined over 900 students from the 58 schools represented, and six of the seven Mineral County teams placed in the Top 10.
At the awards ceremony held at the West Virginia University Coliseum, WVU President James P. Clements, along with division chairs and faculty of the Davis College of Agriculture, State FFA advisor Keith Burdette, and State FFA President Jada Hostutulur addressed and congratulated the competitors on their accomplishments.
Also as a part of the ceremony, Mineral County FFA advisor Charlie Bennett, who serves as president of the West Virginia Agricultural Teachers, recognized Burdette for his 27 years of service to agricultural education and West Virginia FFA.
Members of the Mineral County Ag Mechanics team who are competing this week in Indianapolis include: Zach Cumming, first place individual in the state; Stephan White, third place individual in the state; Rocky Keister, fifth place
individual in the state; and Megan Jones, 17th place individual in the state.
Also participating will be Kaylee Self, alternate.
The team will compete against potentially 49 other state winners in national competition which involves the following:
Machinery and Equipment Systems: Repair, maintenance, processing, materials handling, and adjustments.
Marketing and Information Systems: Customer relations, accounting, communication, economics, safety, service calls, reading and understanding labels.
Energy Systems: Mechanic power, electrical power, chemical power, wind power, and solar power.
Structural Systems: Storage, handling, disposal, concrete, plumbing, structural material selection, heating, ventilation, and air conditioning.
Environmental and Natural Resource Systems: Water quality, material compatibility, soil and water conservation, and disposal of waste.
The Mineral County FFA chapter will also be recognized nationally in an awards ceremony at the National FFA Convention with a Gold Emblem National Chapter Award based on chapter activities conducted over the past year.
At the state competition, additional Mineral County students placed in the Top 10, including Ryan Turner, second place individual in Livestock Judging; Rachel Jenkins, fourth place individual in Nursery Landscape; Kyle Kesner, fifth place individual in Nursery Landscape; and Sarah Miller, 10th place individual in Nursery Landscape.
Other Mineral County teams included:
Nursery Landscape team: Second place in the state. Members: Rachel Jenkins, Kyle Kesner, Sarah Miller, and Lauren Streets.
Agronomy team: Seventh place in the state. Members: Kaylee Self, Heather Largent, Autumn Wilson, and Lisa Davis.
Livestock Judging team: Seventh place in the state. Members: Ryan Turner, Jessica Woodworth, Heather Whetzel, and James Kirk.
Poultry team: Fifth place in the state. Members: Amanda Wilson, Abigail Hutzell, Dustin Bradshaw, and Zachary Malone.
Forestry team: Ninth place in the state. Members: Laura Freeman, Levi Spencer, Ed Long, and Theodore Robertson.
Entomology team: Members: Dana Jewell, Brittany Malone, and Zachary Malone.
The mission of FFA is to promote premier leadership, personal growth, and career success in the agriculture field. FFA membership is available to students enrolled in agricultural education classes at the Mineral County Technical Center or Frankfort High School.
Mineral County's Agriculture Education program offers diverse course programs including Agriculture Science I and II, Agricultural Mechanics I and II, Animal Science – Small Animals, Animal Science – Large Animals, Animal Science and Production, Aquaculture I and II, CAD, Equine Science, Forestry I and II, Greenhouse Management, Horticulture, Introduction to Majors, Oxy Acetylene Welding, Small Engines, and Wildlife Management.
Chapter FFA advisors include Charlie Bennett, John Ritchie, Julie Sions, and Carol Webb.
Keyser, W.Va. —
