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A Fair Success for Atwater FFA
Students
Over 125
Atwater High School FFA students participated
and exhibited a variety of livestock and
horticulture projects at the 2009 Merced County
Fair last week. This was one of the largest
groups of Atwater FFA students in more than a
decade. “Our program continues to grow each
year,” said FFA advisor Dave Gossman, “The
increased student involvement is a direct
reflection on our strong community support.”
Sixty-three
students exhibited various livestock projects.
Competition highlights included Ali Copeland and
Carolyn Schiber earning FFA Grand Champion and
Reserve Champion Market Goats. Lauryn Navarro
earned Grand Champion Jersey Dairy Bred Heifer
and Champion Yorskshire Breed Champion in swine.
Stefani Dias earned Outstanding Bred Dairy
Heifer Exhibitor. Keziah Brigham earned Champion
Registered Beef Future Breed Bull. “We had many
1st and 2nd year FFA
exhibitors and overall they did an outstanding
job with their efforts,” said FFA advisor Beth
Knapp.
Showmanship
highlights included freshman Samuel Lord-Huff
winning the Freshman Swine Showmanship award and
placing 2nd overall. Carolyn Schiber
won the Freshman Goat Showmanship and Ali
Copeland placed 2nd overall in the
Advanced Goat Showmanship with Carolyn Schiber
placing 3rd overall in the advanced
category. Marissa Jorge placed 3rd
overall in the Novice Dairy Showmanship class.
Atwater FFA
won the Beef and Sheep Clean barn awards with
Atwater FFA winning the overall Chapter Scoop
award for overall clean barns in all species.
“This highlights the effort and teamwork of our
students throughout the fair,” said Knapp.
The Atwater
FFA Horticulture program won the Horticulture
and Floriculture Sweepstakes award based on
their plant exhibits and 1st place
finish overall for their FFA landscape exhibit.
“The Atwater High School Horticulture program
continues to grow and expand and we’re excited
to see more students getting involved.” said FFA
advisor Jackie Ioimo.
In addition
to plants and animals, the Atwater FFA exhibited
agriculture mechanics projects that correlated
with their classroom and ag shop curriculum.
“The fair is an excellent opportunity for
students to showcase their skills in tool
repair, wood working, electrical wiring,
plumbing, welding, and metal fabrication,” said
Atwater FFA Beef and Agriculture Mechanics
advisor Sam Meredith, “The students have an
opportunity to display and take pride in their
efforts.”
Students
involved in the FFA program have been raising
their animal projects since early spring.
Students invested their own money or received
agriculture loans through American Ag Credit
towards the expenses related to their projects.
“If it wasn’t for the tremendous support of our
community, many of these students would not have
the opportunity to experience this opportunity
of responsibility, business, learning, personal
pride, and accomplishment,” said Agriculture
instructor Dave Gossman, “It is the continued
support of the community that drives our goal of
getting students involved.”
FFA provides
students with the opportunity to gain “hands-on”
learning through agricultural education. For
more information on how your son/daughter can
get involved, contact your local high school
agriculture program or log onto
www.AtwaterFFA.org.
Written By: Mekayla Coughran, Atwater FFA
July 2009 |
