Heights FFA Members Among Top 10 In Skillathon Competition
Earlier this month, Hamilton Heights FFA members traveled to Boone County Fairgrounds to compete in the Area Livestock Skillathon contest. These students had been preparing for a very long time to bring their best to the competition. They did not disappoint.
The contest consisted of four areas of identification and knowledge-based tests.
As part of the identification, students needed to know, 1) Breed Identification (know the name of the breed along with the description of the breed, so where it comes from and what its purpose is; 2) Feed Identification (What is the feed along with the category it fits into: protein, energy, mineral); 3) Equipment Identification (name the piece of equipment) and 4) Meats Identification – this is the hardest ID pieces of the contest. Students must be able to identify the species it comes from (beef, pork, or lamb), what primal it comes from (example: loin, rib, leg, round, etc.), the retail name (porterhouse, T-bone, rib roast, etc.) and cookery (how is it cooked: Dry, Moist or Dry/Moist).
Two other components of the contest are knowledge test based through 1) an Industry Quiz (25 questions of animal industry all around knowledge) and 2) Quality Assurance Test (20 questions – students need to know how to read medicine/feed labels and answer questions about those feed/medicines).
HHHS Juniors – 10th Team/Junior Division
Team members: Brooke McMillen, Abbie Sheller, Kaylee Smith, and Leah Happel
Senior Division
HH FFA Gold – 2nd Team: ADVANCING TO STATE
Madison McLendon – 4th individual
Lauren Happel – 7th individual
Cheyenne Boggs 17th individual
Cooper Rollins – 40th individual
HHHS 4-H Gold – 4th Team: ADVANCING TO STATE
Tatym Green – 10th individual
Quentin Derrer – 11th individual
Kaden Derrer – 14th individual
Jenna Schnarr – 18th individual
HHHS FFA Orange – 7th Team
Marshall Frye – 13th individual
Ryann Liggett – 24th individual
Jasmine Smith – 36th individual
Keagan Shively – 70th individual
Individual – Sophia Hulen – 43rd individual
Overall, there were 35 seniors’ teams, and 129 individuals. In the junior division there were 14 teams and 58 individuals that participated in this competition.
“I am super proud of all of these members for preparing and attending the contest and then for all of them to do so well!” said Emilie Carson, FFA Advisor. “If you look at our scores overall, our members are all stacked up right together and to me that’s a win in itself. Then on top of that, all our teams are in the top 10! INCREDIBLE! This is one of my favorite events as an agriculture educator to coach and see my students succeed in and Wednesday was the perfect storm. Our area is stacked with tough competition, and we are proud to have two of the four teams advancing to state. Over the next few weeks, we will be working hard to prepare for the state competition at Purdue on October 7.”
HHHS FFA Juniors 10th Team (l-r): Leah Happel, Annie Sheller, Abbie Sheller, Kaylee Smith, and Brooklyn McMillen. Courtesy photo.
HHHS FFA Orange 7th Team (l-r): Jasmine Smith, Marshall Frye, Ryann Liggett, and Keagan Shively. Courtesy photo.
HHHS FFA Gold 4th Team (l-r): Kaden Derrer, Tatym Green, Jenna Schnarr, and Quentin Derrer. This team placed 4th at area and is advancing to state the state competition. Here they will be met with more activities including team events. Courtesy photo.
HHHS FFA Gold 2nd Team (l-r): Lauren Happel, Cheyenne Boggs, Madison McLendon, and Cooper Rollins. This team placed 2nd at area, earning a spot at the state competition on October 7 at Purdue University. This next level will include team activities like quality assurance, keep/cull classes, marketing, and meat, hay, and wool judging classes. Courtesy photo.
Hamilton Heights FFA Skillathon Team competitors. Courtesy photo.