A-C FFA Team Fourth in the Nation!

The National FFA Organization recently awarded members of the Amanda-Clearcreek FFA Agricultural Communications team a gold emblem. The team competed in the National FFA Agricultural Communications Career Development Event (CDE), held during the 81^st National FFA Convention. Winners were announced at the annual awards banquet. As a sponsor, DTN/The Progressive Farmer and The National FFA Foundation provided funds for plaques, medals and scholarships for winning teams and high scoring individuals.

Members of the team include: Alyssa Jenkins, Teran Pinkstock, Tara McCalla, Ryan Davis II and Josh Cordle. Their advisor and CDE coach, Scott Sharp, of Amanda, Ohio accompanied the team. Alyssa placed an amazing 8^th place individually earning a gold rating and a $500 scholarship. Teran placed 13^th with Tara placing 17^th, both earning gold ratings. Ryan placed 50^th earning a silver rating. Earning a silver rating, Josh placed 96^th. The team only missed a total of 33 points out of 900. There were 33 teams in this CDE. This team earned the right to compete after winning their state CDE last winter. These members had no experience with this contest coming into their District 7 CDE. This is a great accomplishment for these members in chapter. They did a great job in representing their chapter and state.

The National FFA Agricultural Communications CDE is a competitive activity that tests students’ skills in all areas of the agricultural communications field and evaluates how well they can apply classroom knowledge to real-life situations.

Participants attend a simulated news conference and use the information gathered to complete individual practicums in news story writing, press release writing, radio broadcasting, web design, and graphic design. Prior to the event, students compile communication project proposals related to innovative agricultural practices, management techniques and marketing tools. Each team then creates a 15-minute presentation based on their proposal. Members also compete in an editing exercise and a general communications quiz. The event is one of many educational activities at the National FFA Convention in which FFA members practice the lessons learned in agricultural education classes. The event was held at the University Place Hotel in Indianapolis, Ind.

The National FFA Agricultural Communications CDE was sponsored by DTN/The Progressive Farmer of Minneapolis, Minnesota, and The National FFA Foundation. It is one of 23 different national events that use competition to connect classroom learning and careers. The National FFA Organization, formerly known as the Future Farmers of America, is a national youth organization of 507,,763 student members- all preparing for leadership and careers in the science, business, and technology of agriculture- as a part of 7,439 local FFA chapters in all 50 states, Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands. The National FFA changed its present name in 1988, in recognition of the growth and diversity of agriculture and agricultural 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 agricultural education. Visit www.ffa.org for more information.

For Amanada-Clearcreek FFA Agricultural Communications CDE results from past years, click here.