Fillmore Central FFA First Quarter Contests
The Total Agriculture Education model includes three components: knowledge learned in the classroom and laboratory setting, leadership and career skills developed in FFA, and out-of-class, individualized, hands-on experience gained through Supervised Agricultural Experience (SAE). One opportunity for students to showcase their SAE is by exhibiting at the county and state fair. Five members of the Fillmore Central FFA Members showed their respective livestock at the 2018 Nebraska State Fair during Labor Day Weekend.
The members who exhibited hogs were Koby Head, Gatlin and Travien Motis. Gatlin Motis exhibited two purebred breeding gilts. Both gilts received blue ribbons. Koby Head exhibited a crossbred market gilt and a crossbred market barrow. Koby’s gilt received 1st purple of the class. His barrow received 2nd purple of the class. Travien Motis showed a crossbred breeding gilt and a purebred breeding gilt. Both of his gilts received blue ribbons.
Two members represented FC FFA in the beef show. Sisters, Lydia and Sadie Birky were the members who exhibited beef at the state fair. Lydia was awarded a purple ribbon in showmanship and Sadie was awarded a blue ribbon. Lydia exhibited one Simmental heifer, receiving Reserve Champion. Sadie exhibited a Maine Anjou heifer and received second purple of its class.
One member, Tori Stoldorf, exhibited individual vegetables in FFA horticulture and received eight purples and one red ribbon.
The exhibitors would like to thank the Fillmore Central FFA Booster Club for providing money to offset the price of their meals during the state fair. Congratulations to all the exhibitors for an excellent state fair.
FFA members can also develop career skills is by competing in Career Development Events (CDEs). Agriculture students learn the concepts, knowledge, and skills needed in their agriculture classes and then apply them in the competitive contest. Agriculture students who are not in FFA are allowed to compete in some of the CDEs.
The fall semester provides the opportunity for the Fillmore Central FFA members to compete in Land Evaluation. On October 3rd, 15 Fillmore Central students competed in the South Central Area Land Judging CDE near York. The Upper Big Blue Natural Resource District (NRD) hosted the event with assistance from the Natural Resources Conservation Services (NRCS).
Land Judging is a competition where contestants classify and score four fields or sites, which are located in varying areas within one location. The land is evaluated on the following factors: depth of soil favorable for root development, surface soil texture, subsoil permeability, slope, topsoil thickness, and percentage of erosion. They then use the results of these factors to determine the Land Class of that site. Classes I, II, III, and IV are suitable for row crop production. Classes V, VI, and VII are better suited for permanent vegetation such as rangeland and pasture use. Class VIII has severe limitations and should only be used for wildlife habitat and recreational purposes. Land evaluators combine the determined factors and land class to decide which land treatment practices are appropriate for each site.
Scorecards are graded to tabulate a total score for each individual. Teams of four are designated at the time of registration. The top three individual scores comprise the team score. Teams that place in the top six, with a limit of one team per school, qualifies for the state competition. Individuals and teams are ranked and ribbon. Ribbon classifications include: purple for top, followed by blue, red, and then white. There were 336 individuals and only the top half receives ribbons. Ribbons were awarded to the following Fillmore Central students: Purple – Sydney Simacek (2nd place). Blue – Brock Tatro (20th place), Macey Novak (35th place), Kaylea Geiser (41st place). Red – Koby Head, Kali Nedrow, Garrett Nichols, KayLynn Sieber, Sadie Birky, Connor Asche. White – Trenton Srajhans. Other members who competed included: Lance Ayer, Avis Koca, Gunner Gewecke, and Conner Nunn.
Our top team of Sydney, Avis, Sadie, and Kali received 5th place overall team, received a red ribbon, and qualified for the state competition on October 17, near Wahoo. At state there were 151 individual contestants. The team place 13th out of 30 teams. Individually, Sadie placed 20th and received a blue ribbon; Sydney and Kali were in the top 60% and received pink ribbons. The team and Mr. VanDeWalle thank Peggy Birky and Barb Koca for providing the gifts and snack bags for the State Land Judging trip.