On Thursday, March 12th, Switzerland County High School was the host site for the District 12 FFA Leadership Contests.
Schools participating in the 26 different leadership contest categories included: Switzerland County, Batesville, East Central, Franklin County, Jac-Cen-Del, Jennings County, Madison, Milan, North Decatur, South Decatur, and South Ripley.
Beth Abbott of Switzerland County High School currently serves as the District 12 President; and she had a major responsibility in organizing the event. Each contest required two to three judges; and contest areas included demonstrations, exhibits, multimedia, prepared and extemporaneous public speaking, and interviews.
The Switzerland County FFA chapter did very well in the contests, with several members and their projects advancing on to the State Competitions, which will be held at the State Convention at Purdue University on June 15th.
The local FFA chapter represented the school and community well in the following categories:
– The Agriculture Communication Team of Emily Lanman, Jamie Phipps and Beth Abbott, was second; the Agriculture Issues Team consisting of Sara Asher, Andrea Brogan, Kaitlynn Darling, Shea Dickerson and Jessie Ray was second; the Agricultural Business Management Demonstration by Jamie Phipps was second; the Agricultural Sales demonstration was done by Chelsea Duvall; and the Animal Science Demonstration was handled by Corey Lay.
– Also: Chapter Meeting Demonstration by the officer team finished second and advanced to the Section. Officer team members included: Rachel Gurley, Corey Lay, Beth Abbott, Emily Lanman, Carrie Truax, Jamie Phipps, Julie Furnish, Alyssa Leap, Chelsea Duvall and Jenna Shelly.
– Other demonstrations at the District Contest included: Creed by Jenna Shelly; Exhibit Project by Emily Lanman and Jamie Phipps was first; Jessie Ray was third in Extemporaneous Public Speaking; Beth Abbott was second in the Female Leadership Ambassador Program; Corey Lay was first in the Male Leadership Ambassador Program.
– Other Switzerland County students doing demonstrations included: Food Science Demonstration: Somer Alford and Rachel Gurley; Extemporaneous Public Speaking, Chelsea Duvall finished third; Horticulture Science, Corey Lay; Multimedia, Jamie Phipps finished third; Job Interview, Carrie Truax finished first; Plant /Soil Science, Rachel Gurley finished first; Natural Resource Demonstration, Rachel Gurley and Corey Lay finished third; Prepared Public Speaking, Julie Furnish finished second; and Quiz Bowl Team consisting of Jenna Shelly, Shea Dickerson, Jessie Ray and Chelsea Duvall performed well.
– In the proficiency areas: Agricultural Communication, Emily Lanman, first; Agricultural education, Corey Lay, first; Small Animal Care, Jamie Phipps, second; Agricultural Services, Justin Reagan, third; Dairy Production, Josh Hon, second; Specialty Animal, Corey Lay, third; Community Development, Rachel Gurley, first; and last year’s applications that will compete in state competition are: Somer Alford Equine Science; Justin Reagan Home/Community; and Jamie Phipps in Agricultural Communication.
– Those local FFA members who have earned their State Degree and will be recognized on June 16th at Purdue University include: Emily Lanman, Jamie Phipps and Carrie Truax. Corey Lay is the interview process for Indiana State Star in Agri Science. His results will be at the state degree session as well.