Sunday, May 11, 2008

First year FFA members were awarded the “Greenhand Degree” after learning the FFA Creed, basics of FFA and Supervised Ag Experience. Second and third year students earned their “Chapter Degree” after showing leadership, parliamentary procedure, speech or presentation, and expansion of SAE. The “State Degree” is for Senior and 1st year students out of high school and they must have earned or invested $3,000 in their FFA records.

The “American Degree” is for one to four years out of high school who have earned or invested $7,500 in their FFA records. Alex Lush just received this honor at National FFA Convention in Indianapolis, IN.
The Wilcox-Hildreth FFA Chapter sent 22 of its members to the District Livestock Judging Contest, which was held at the Buffalo County Fairgrounds. The students judged six classes of livestock. 

They were divided into two divisions. There was the senior division which included junior and senior students and there was the junior division which included freshman and sophomore students. The senior division judged all six classes of livestock, answered questions on three classes, and gave oral reasons to a judge on the other three classes.  The junior division judged all six classes and answered questions on three classes.

The Wilcox-Hildreth FFA Chapter will be sending a team of four to state from both divisions. They won the junior division as a team. The team consists of Matt Nelson, Cody Steinkruger, Greg Winz, and Charlie Robison. Matt Nelson was the top individual, Cody was 9th, Greg was 13th, Charlie was19th, and Thomas Gardels placed 45th. There were approximately 240 individuals in the junior division. 

The senior team placed 3rd. The individuals of the team were Brandon Gardels, Matt Gardels, Emilee Dorn, and Kirk Harms. Brandon Gardels was the top individual, Matt Gardels was 14th, Dorn was 29th, and Harms placed 32nd. Tyler Guthrie will be the alternate as he tied with Harms and received 33 after a tie breaker.