While most school activities take a break or have practices during the summer, the Union High School FFA has been extremely busy. In this past week, they attended their state convention at Mississippi State University. Students meet to learn more about agriculture and discuss the future of agriculture education while at the FFA convention; they also participate in many social activities to meet people from other FFA chapters. Moreover, students receive various awards from competitions throughout the year, and like other school organizations, they elect state officers. At this year’s state FFA convention, Union High School FFA students received many awards for winning various competitions, and the community should express pride in its FFA organization.
The Union High School FFA won many awards throughout the year, and one student even won an election for state officer. At the Senior State Level, Union FFA students won first place in tractor operations and maintenance, veterinary science, and agriculture sales. While the first category proves self-explanatory, the last two categories show a diversity in the work of FFA students; in the veterinary science competition, students form a four-person team and learn how to identify different species of animals. They perform several practicums in front of judges for competition. Furthermore, in agriculture sales, students receive information on a specific product, and they must devise a plan to market that product. Students in this competition also take a test on basic marketing methods. Moreover, Union FFA students won eleven senior state degrees, which serve as awards for students’ progress during phases of leadership. In order to receive a state degree, they must meet a list of requirements and apply for the degree. Furthermore, a student from the Union High School FFA even won the election for a state office. Brendan Harrison now serves as the Senior State FFA Vice President.
Although Union received many awards at the senior state level, students also received many awards at other levels. For the Junior Central District, Union High School won awards in opening and closing, extemporaneous speaking, creed speaking, prepared public speaking, and tool identification. In the Junior State category, they won awards in Livestock Judging, Opening and Closing, and Prepared Public Speaking. At the Senior District level, students won awards in arc welding, tractor operations and maintenance, and agriculture mechanics. Furthermore, Jack Rigdon won the State Star in Agriculture Placement award, which goes to the student with the best placement in the SAE (Supervised Agricultural Experience) and with proven leadership skills. The Union High School FFA won awards at all levels, and everyone should express pride in those students for their achievements.
Union certainly has cause to express pride in the Union High School FFA. After winning all these awards, the Union High School FFA has earned the right to compete at the National FFA Convention in Indianapolis, Indiana later this year; the veterinary science and agriculture sales teams will both compete at nationals, and the community should wish these students the best of luck. Union residents should also congratulate any of these students on their accomplishments at the state convention and express pride in them. After all, these students represent the future, and they have already begun to accomplish great things.
Send your Union community news to Matt Hennington at mch.2000@hotmail.com.
