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Each year, members of the Blanco FFA chapter put in numerous hours to enhance their social and leadership skills by training for leadership development events. There are twelve different contests that students can compete in, each with a different career objective. Blanco FFA members competed in eleven of these events and took home sweepstakes honors at the Hill District Competition. The Hill District consists of sixteen local 1A to 5A schools and the top two in each division qualify for the Area VII Leadership Contests.

Teams that placed first and advanced to area are Jr. Chapter Conducting, Sr. Chapter Conducting, Public Relations, Jr. Creed Speaking, Jr. Skills and Sr. Skills. Also advancing and placing second in district was the Sr. Quiz Team.

In the Chapter Conducting Contest, students are required to demonstrate the use and knowledge of parliamentary procedure. They are given a series of problems in which the group works together to solve. Team members for both teams included: Jr. Chapter Conducting: Callie Culton –President, Sam Isenberg – Vice-President, Ryan Wagner – Secretary, Kellam Nabers – Treasurer, Tyler Hardin – Reporter, James Leachman – Sentinel and Will Byler – Advisor; Sr. Chapter Conducting: Mindy Dechert – President, Payton Duvall – Vice-President, Clint Dreyer – Secretary, Keaton Dodd – Treasurer, John Pepper – Reporter, Kylie Leachman – Sentinel and TJ Raby – Advisor.

The public relations event requires students to create a presentation designed to educate and promote the FFA organization. Each year the audience changes, with this year’s target being business and industry leaders. Team members included: Taylor McCormick, Grayson Elrod, Katelyn Bradfute, and Maggie Dennis.

The Jr. Creed Speaking contest requires students to memorize word for word the five paragraphs of The FFA Creed and then interpret it for the judges. Callie Culton took top honors in the Jr. Division while Sam Isenberg finished in fifth place in the Sr. Division.

In the Skills Contest, team members present a demonstration on a practical skill. The Blanco team demonstrates how to test soil for deficiencies in nitrogen, potash, and potassium. Team members for both teams are as follows: Jr. Skills – Ian Ray, Elise Edmondson, Tim Goodman and Morgan Lowak. Sr. Skills – Corey Dowlearn, Lauren Winn, Lindsey Winn and Kelcee Hunter

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The contest designed to test the mind of students is the Quiz contest. Students are tested over the FFA Manual, Parliamentary Procedure Guide, Current Agricultural Events and Texas Agricultural Statistics. Members of the Sr. Team included: Alex Gustafson, Tyler Noah, Taylor Hartmann, Susannah Campbell, Grady Childress, Cody Perez and Matt Pepper. In individual competition, Grady was 3rd, Alex 4th, Tyler 6th, Taylor 7th and Susannah 11th.

The Jr. Team placed third. Edward Alvardo led the way as the 4th high individual overall. Colton Childress was 7th and Joanna Delavan was 9th. Other team members included: Mackenzie Johnson, Britton Wagner and Skylar Itz.

The Radio Broadcast contest requires students to develop and present a program over a current agricultural topic. Blanco’s team, which placed third, chose to discuss the effects of trophy whitetail deer hunting in relation to population management. Team members included: Brooks Wyatt, Brian Roche, and Jared York.

Finally, in the Job Interview competition, a student is required to develop a resume for a mock job position. The contestant must then complete a cover letter, application, and follow-up letter while also taking part in a phone interview and a personal interview. Representing Blanco and finishing third was Kaleigh Anderson.

There will be a total of 30 Blanco FFA members competing at the Area VII contests, which will be held at Blanco High School on Wednesday, November 18.