Menu
North Putnam FFA members to compete at national convention
The North Putnam FFA is preparing to compete in two contests at the National FFA Convention in Indianapolis on Oct. 19-21.
Mary Timm will be competing in the FFA Creed contest. She won the state competition this past June at the State FFA Convention. She will be required to recite the FFA Creed and answer impromptu questions about the creed in front of judges and an audience.
The questions will range from general production agriculture knowledge to what sections of the Creed mean to her.
Emma Grimes, Shalyn Nelson, Ashley O’Neal and Lainey Willis are the Indiana State FFA champions in the food science contest and will be competing in the National Food Science contest this week as well.
The food science team will be required to complete some safety and sanitation practicums, take a 50-question general knowledge exam, identify aromas, complete food sensory tasks and develop and present a brand new food based upon a scenario provided to them at the time of the contest.
These five FFA members have developed their leadership skills and extemporaneous speaking ability to become successful in their respective contest areas. While winning the state competitions in these events is an impressive accomplishment in itself, what is even more impressive is each of them won the state competition as freshmen.
The North Putnam FFA is headed by advisers Kate Skirvin and Janna Oxford. With their leadership, the FFA membership has risen to more than 100 members.
The chapter will compete in several individual and team contests this year including horticulture, soils, livestock, food science, dairy foods, Skill-A-Thon, forestry, floriculture, parliamentary procedure and more than 15 individual leadership contests.
While FFA members enjoy competing in different contest areas, they also know the value of giving back to their community through service. FFA members will complete several service projects including a food drive, raising money for the P.S. We Love You foundation through Riley Hospital, planting flowers at some area assisted living facilities, writing Santa letters to elementary children and partnering with Putnam County Farm Bureau and Tractor Supply Company to host some agricultural education days.
The North Putnam FFA has already experienced success this school year. These accomplishments include a second-place finish in the state dairy foods contest for middle school members Seth Ariens, Emma Bayless, Jayden Simpson and Grace Timm.
The junior and senior division soils teams advanced to state competition by placing second in the area. Team members Seth Ariens, Alaina Fritz, Jessica Hays, Kiara Nicholson, Zach Purdue, Nick Ring, Anita Spencer, Chevelle Tallman and Wyleigh Thomas competed at the state competition on Saturday in Argos.
If anyone is interested in hearing more about the North Putnam FFA and how students can be involved may contact Kate Skirvin, kskirvin@nputnam.k12.in.us for more information.