Yuma high schools compete at FFA convention

The FFA chapters of several Yuma high schools not only learned valuable life skills at the 82nd National FFA Convention, but earned recognition during participation in competitive agricultural events.

Yuma, Gila Ridge, Kofa and Antelope high schools sent chapter members to the convention Oct. 21-24 at the Indiana State Fairgrounds.

Only Yuma and Gila Ridge had teams competing in the Career Development Event with schools from 36 other states. The Gila Ridge team finished in the silver bracket of the food sciences division while Yuma High finished in the bronze bracket of the dairy foods, said Leigh Loughead, Yuma High's FFA adviser.

"It's a national contest, the competition is tough. But they managed to perform well, held their own, despite being on a national stage."

In the dairy contest, students needed to test milk samples for flavor and according to USDA standards as well as identify cheese samples. They also had to identify the parts of milking machinery and take a written exam on all aspects of dairy production and marketing.

The convention was a prime opportunity for students to interact with FFA chapters from across the nation, Loughead said. It also offered students a chance to network with agriculture company executives and staff members of universities that offer agriculture degrees.

"It let students see what's available in career and academic opportunities outside Yuma. If anything, I hope students learned the value of teamwork and leadership qualities, because those are the tools they need to be successful no matter what career they go into."

Alexandria Eatherly, 16, a Yuma High sophomore, said it was a good experience because she got to meet people from all over the country and see how other FFA chapters compared to Yuma.

Alexandria said it was exciting to be recognized within the bronze bracket and felt that she gained leadership experience by competing.

"The speeches from the national officers motivated me to try to get to the next level. Right now I'm a chapter recorder, but I want to run for district level president. I definitely see myself in the agriculture industry for the rest of my whole life."

Although his team did not compete, Antelope High School FFA adviser Mike Jorajuria said he wanted to expose his students to the extemporaneous speaking contests and the FFA Creed speaking contests.  He likes to emphasize those events for his students because public speaking is one of the state's agricultural education competency requirements, he said.

"No matter what field you go into, you're going to be involved with a large organization. At some point you're going to be called to speak in front of a large audience. It's probably the thing people least like to do. But public speaking is part of leadership. And the more you do it, the better you become."

William Roller can be reached at wroller@yumasun.com or 539-6858.