Loris FFA Soil Team members Blake McCormick (left), Lauren Todd, Derek Booth and Adam Gore.
LORIS AND AYNOR FFA TEAMS TO COMPETE IN NATIONAL LAND JUDGING FINALS
COLUMBIA, SC…The Loris High School FFA Team took first place honors in the State FFA Soil Judging Finals held in Edgefield County recently, according to John W. Parris, State Director of Public Affairs with the SC FFA Association.
The Loris Team, along with the Aynor Team which was named State Runner-Up in the competition, won expense-paid trips to participate in the National Land Judging Finals scheduled to be held in Oklahoma next May.
The Loris team members are Blake McCormick, Lauren Todd, Derek Booth and Adam Gore. Nate Bellamy, Agricultural Education Teacher at Loris, is the team advisor.
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Aynor FFA Soil Judging Team Devin Barnhill (left), Grafton Cannon, Kasie Dawsey and Josh Ammons with Stacey Bazen. |
Aynor team members are Devin Barnhill, Grafton Cannon, Kasie Dawsey and Josh Ammons. Their advisor is Stacey Bazen, Agricultural Education Teacher at Aynor High School. Devin Barnhill, the high individual scorer in the state competition with a score of 232 out of a possible 240, was awarded an expense-paid trip to the 2006 National FFA Convention in addition to the trip to Oklahoma.
The Thurmond Technology Center Team placed third in the state finals. Team members are Josh Corley, Parker Northrop, Kyle Harper and Graham Holson. Parker Northrop was the third high individual scorer in the state event. Dan Henderson, Agricultural Education Teacher at Thurmond Technology Center, is the team coach.
West Oak FFA member Ginger Givens was the second high individual scorer in the state competition and was awarded an engraved watch. Her advisor is Stanley Gibson, Agricultural Education teacher at West Oak High School.
Agricultural Education students qualify to participate in the national event by placing as one of the two top teams in the state. They must match their skills in judging the adaptability of land for various purposes and uses such as farming and home site development. The competition emphasizes principles essential in careers such as environmental science, agri-business, real estate marketing, homebuilding and natural resource conservation.
South Carolina’s FFA Soil Judging competition is coordinated by Clemson University’s Agricultural Education Administrative staff and co-sponsored by Progress Energy, Duke Power, SCANA and the SC Conservation Districts Foundation. Technical assistance is provided by the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service.
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Thurmond FFA Soil Judging Team members Josh Corley (left), Parker Northrop, Kyle Harper and Graham Holson with Dan Henderson. |
Ginger Givens with State FFA Vice President Jacob Powers. |