Natoma FFA Has Success in Spring Events
The Natoma FFA Chapter has enjoyed a productive 2018. On Sunday, April 28th, the state career development event teams headed for Manhattan and the campus of Kansas State University to compete in Milk Quality and Products, Food Science, Dairy Cattle Judging, and Livestock Judging. The Milk Quality team placed 9th in the state, with sophomore Vaughn Stull taking 11th individually and sophomore Shayne Engling holding the 21st spot. Freshman Jayce Dickerson and sophomore Jacob Murphy rounded out the team and helped solidify the top 10 placing. In the Food Science event, junior, Ethan Dickerson was the 8th place individual out of a field of 239 contestants. Sophomore Austin Thomson competed in the Dairy Cattle Judging and Livestock Judging events. The Kansas FFA State CDE events give FFA members the opportunity to compete against top teams from all seven districts of the Kansas FFA. There are no class divisions, so 1A chapters like Natoma compete against powerhouse chapters such as 4A Labette County, who this year won 4 championships and logged 3 other top 5 finishes.
Earlier in April, Natoma received the “2018 National Superior Chapter Award” at the Northwest District Banquet, which is given to chapters that successfully complete and submit a satisfactory program of activities via the FFA’s National Chapter Degree. Natoma FFA President Ethan Dickerson was also the NW District Beef Production proficiency winner in entrepreneurship for his purebred cattle herd, record keeping, and application. In the 2017-18 NW District Sweepstakes, an overall career development event success points competition, Natoma finished 7th out of 30 chapters in the senior division and 9th in the greenhand division; the smallest chapter in the top 10 of both divisions.
In late May, the Natoma FFA will travel to Manhattan again for the Kansas FFA State Convention and in October they will attend National FFA Convention in Indianapolis, IN. A big thanks goes out to the many generous supporters of Natoma Agriculture Education and FFA!
Ethan Dickerson, Northwest District Beef Production proficiency winner and 8th place individual at the Kansas FFA State Food Science event.
Natoma FFA 9th Place State Milk Quality & Products Team. (L to R) Jayce Dickerson; Vaughn Stull (11th place individual); Shayne Engling (21st place individual); Jacob Murphy
Natoma FFA at the Northwest District Banquet. Back row L to R: Jeremy Long, Advisor; Shandra Griffin, Ethan Dickerson, Vaughn Stull, Preston Ostmeyer. Front row: Jacob Murphy, Jayce Dickerson, Austin Thomson
