Christiana High School Agriscience Program Continues its Winning Ways

By Caitlyn Puffinburger, FFA Reporter

In recent competition, Christiana high school’s Agriscience department entered six state competitions, with five teams winning first place and one team winning second place. The winning CDE (career development event) teams include Agronomy, Forestry, Poultry, and two Agriscience Fair Projects.  Agronomy’s members include Kaitlyn Ennis, Peter Groft, Tyler Keen, and Caleb Lathem. Forestry team members are Sasha Canady, Kyle Layton, Ben Robinson, and Justin Winnington.  Poultry team members include Liz Gross, Amber Keen, Toni Kress, and Gage Taylor-McDowell.  Rob and Ron Phipps placed first in the 7-9th grade Animal Science Agriscience Fair Project “Twice the Price.”  Megan Greenfield and Chelsea Kelley also placed first with their 10-12th grade Environmental Science Agriscience Fair Project “Slow the Flow.”  Special recognition goes to Sasha Canady and Gage Taylor-McDowell who placed first individually for their competitions.  In addition, the Nursery Landscape team placed second.  Members include: Asim Chaudhry, Greg Klair, Jaime Piatt, and Krystal Shortlidge.  The Nursery Landscaping team went on to represent Delaware at the regional competition held at the Eastern States Exposition in Springfield, MA where they placed an impressive fifth place in the Eastern Region.  

The five first place teams will represent the state of Delaware at the National competition, held in conjunction with the National FFA Convention in Indianapolis on October 19-23.  The FFA Convention is the largest youth conventions in the nation with over 53,000 students in attendance last year.  The National FFA Organization, formerly known as the Future Farmers of America, is a national youth organization over half a million student members, all preparing for leadership and careers in the science, business, technology, and agriculture, as part of 7,000 plus local FFA chapters in all 50 states, Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands.  The National FFA Organization changed to its present name in 1988, in recognition of the growth and diversity of agriculture and agriculture education.  The FFA mission is to make a positive difference in the lives of students by developing their potential for premier leadership, personal growth, and career success through agriculture education. 

The Christiana high school FFA was chartered in 1970.  The program is heavily science based, offering classes in plant and animal science, natural resources and agricultural engineering. According to FFA President Krystal Shortlidge, Christiana FFA provides its members with numerous opportunities for involvement – through community service, leadership opportunities, and social activities.  Kyle Layton, Vice President of the organization feels that the Career Development Events allow him to see the relevance of skills learned in his AP Science and Math classes and how they can be applied to the real world.  FFA Secretary, Sasha Canady noted that in addition to FFA many of the members are also involved in Christiana’s National Honor Society, various sports, band and other school activities.

We are looking forward to a successful National competition and another eventful year!!

 

 

 

 

October 2009