Putnam County FFA chapters sweep District VII Convention

Members of the South Putnam FFA team included (left from back) Dartagnan Neudeck, Malerie Minor, Bentley Downing, Bree Mahoney-Sutherland, Jacob Beadles, Craig Robinson, Taylor Montgomery, Marcus Robinson, Julia Gabbard, Jimmi Clark, Alex Steffy, Alie Newby, Caroline Hodge, Aiden Beadles, Brodie Carr, Darnell Bennett, Brock Heavin, Andrew Carr, Brady Robinson, Catherine Hodge, Madie Newby, Drew Steffy, Helen Eaglin, Jackson Hayman, Hailee Young and Whitney Boswell. Not pictured are Brooke Robertson, Garrett Heavin, Eric Hinkle, MacKenzie Clark, Grace Burdge and Parker Hacker.

Courtesy South Puthnam FFA

On March 2, all three FFA chapters in Putnam County made strong showings at the District VII FFA Convention hosted at Parke Heritage High School in Rockville.

They competed in various leadership development event contests, including speeches, demonstrations and interviews in order to improve on their communication, employability and leadership skills.

Thirteen schools attended the competitions, and 78 awards were available in the top three of each of the 26 different events. Putnam County FFA members brought home over half, earning 42 of those top-three awards.

Members of the North Putnam FFA team included (left from back row) Jacob Nevitt, Lainey Willis, Jayden Simpson, Seth Ariens, Brant Sheldon, Levi O’Neal, Emily Gasho, Carter Thomas, Emma Grimes, Wyleigh Thomas, Ashley O’Neal, Handley Everman, Shalyn Nelson, Mary Timm, Emma Bayless, Alaina Chew, Grace Fry and Ruby Sullivan. Not pictured are Keely Black and Jonathan Poynter.

Courtesy North Putnam FFA

South Putnam FFA, with advisers Cassie Lehmann and Amanda King, earned 21 overall top three placings with seven first-place, eight second-place, and six third-place finishers. North Putnam FFA, advised by Kate Skirvin and Janna Oxford, came out with 13 overall placings with six first-place, three second-place and four third-place finishers. Cloverdale FFA won eight placings in the contest with two first-place, three second-place and three third-place finishers with advisers Donnie Sheldon and Chris Kaufman.

Out of 20 proficiency awards distributed, 15 first-place finishes also went to Putnam County FFA members.

Every member who scored a first-place result will advance to compete at the FFA State Convention, which will be hosted at Purdue University in June.

Members of the Cloverdale FFA team included (left from back row) Gabby Roberts, Jimmy Kendall, Hailee Young, Kedrick Coon, Jordan Opiela, Brady Mann, Emily Mann, Abby Nees, Michaela Nees, Andrea Nees, Gayle Baugh and Chloe Smith. Not pictured are Morgan Goss, Grace Leonard, Audrie Fulkerson, Emily Sims, Emily Byford, Sarah Baker, Shelby Nees, Kaitlen Kerr, Kiersten Wade, Sadie Priest, Sydney Willis and Kaylyn Couch.

Courtesy Cloverdale FFA

FFA students who placed in the leadership development events were:

Agriculture Sales Presentation:

Bentley Downing, second place;

Agriculture and Farm Business Management Demonstration:

Mary Timm, first place; and

Hailee Young and Jacob Beadles, second place;

Agriculture Mechanics and Technology Demonstration:

Jordan Opiela and Kedrick Coon, first place; and

Taylor Montgomery and Craig Robinson, second place;

Animal Science Demonstration:

Whitney Boswell and Andrew Carr, first place; and

Sarah Baker, third place;

Food Science Demonstration:

Malerie Minor and Brady Robinson, first place; and

Emily Sims and Gabby Roberts, second place;

Horticulture Science and Landscape Management Demonstration:

Brooke Robertson and Marcus Robinson, second place; and

Shelby Nees and Emily Byford, third place;

Natural Resource Management Demonstration:

Taylor Montgomery and Craig Robinson, first place;

Plant and Soil Science Demonstration:

Marcus Robinson and Alex Steffy, second place; and

Emily Gasho, third place;

Persuasive Essay:

Helen Eaglin, third place;

Freshman Creed Speaking:

Handley Everman, first place; and

Catherine Hodge, third place;

Extemporaneous Public Speaking:

Lainey Willis, first place; and

Malerie Minor, third place;

Freshman Extemporaneous Public Speaking:

Brant Sheldon, second place;

Prepared Public Speaking:

Drew Steffy, first place;

Freshman Prepared Public Speaking:

Seth Ariens, first place; and

Audrie Fulkerson, second place;

Job Interview:

Ashley O’Neal, third place;

Leadership Ambassador:

Mary Timm, second place; and

Eric Hinkle, third place;

Quiz Bowl:

Jacob Beadles, Jimmi Clark, Dartagnan Neudeck and Brady Robinson, second place; and

Grace Timm, Wyleigh Thomas, Emma Bayless and Handley Everman, third place;

Multimedia Scrapbook:

Gayle Baugh, second place; and

Jimmi Clark, third place;

Talent:

Brooke Robertson and Bree Mahoney-Sutherland, first place;

Discovery Creed Speaking:

Ruby Sullivan, first place; and

Madie Newby, second place;

Discovery Degree Plant/Soil/Natural Resources/Horticulture Demonstration:

Ruby Sullivan and Keely Black, first place; and

Caroline Hodge and Alie Newby, second place;

Discovery Degree Animal/Food Science Demonstration:

Brock Heavin, first place; and

Levi O’Neal and Carter Thomas, second place;

Discovery Degree Prepared Public Speaking:

Emily Mann, first place;

Alaina Chew, second place; and

Jackson Hayman, third place;

Discovery Degree Quiz Bowl:

Aiden Beadles, Brodie Carr, Julia Gabbard and Jackson Hayman, first place; and

Jimmy Kendall, Kiersten Wade, Kaity Kerr and Abby Nees, third place;

Chapter Meeting:

Mary Timm, Grace Timm, Madi Williams, Jacob Nevitt, Greeley Eastep, Gabby Louie, Gavin Poynter, Lainey Willis and Dylan Arnold, first place; and

Morgan Goss, Jordan Opiela, Kedrick Coon, Shelby Nees, Libby Dominguez, Haley Smith, Gabby Roberts and Emily Byford, third place;

Novice Chapter Meeting:

Jayden Simpson, Seth Ariens, Katie Fry, Shelby Hilton, Alaina Fritz, Handley Everman, Brant Sheldon, Emma Bayless and Trenton Oliver, first place; and

Catherine Hodge, Brodie Carr, Megan Arnold, Jackson Hayman, Matthew Williams, Julia Gabbard, Addison Gabbard, Summer Cohee, Madie Newby, Allison Bastin, Aiden Beadles and Brock Heavin, second place.