Lamar Community College recently welcomed nearly 800 high school students to campus for the Future Farmers of America Career Development Day, the largest crowd yet for the event.  Seven Hundred-Eighty FFA members from 42 schools throughout Colorado and Oklahoma attended and competed in a range of events.

Greg Cash, LCC Agriculture faculty and the lead organizer of the event, noted that this is the largest contest of its kind in Colorado with the exception of the State FFA CDE competition.

“It is great to see so many FFA members from across the state come to LCC for this event.  This is the largest event we’ve ever hosted and I believe that reflects the quality of the contest,” Cash said.  “Thank you to those who donate so much of their time to make this contest great.”

FFA students competed in a wide range of events including Ag Sales, Farm and Ranch Management, Crops, Horse Judging, Floriculture, Job Interview, Land Classification, Livestock Judging, Meats Judging, Veterinary Science, Milk Quality, and Ag Mechanics.  Participating students tested their knowledge and experience in their chosen event.

The top team and high scoring individual for each category were recognized for their accomplishment with a plaque.  Each high-scoring individual also received a $500 scholarship to LCC.

Winners for the events (top team, high-score individual):

• Ag Sales: Sanford High School, Sheridan Peterson (Sanford)
• Farm and Ranch Management: Pritchett High School, Dawson Roesch (McClave)
• Crops: Pritchett High School, Camden Wilson (Pritchett)
• Horse Judging: Pueblo County High School, Victoria Martinez (Pueblo County)
• Floriculture: Hoehne High School, Ashley Yergert (Kim)
• Job Interview (Individual event only): Jacob Pitts (Crowley County)
• Land Classification: Stratton High School, Mattie Crouse (Stratton)
• Livestock Judging: Douglas County High School, Madalyn Bohr (Douglas County)
• Meats Judging: Fowler High School, Maddison Coatts (Moffat County)
• Veterinary Science: Fruita High School, Haliegh Prosser (Wiley)
• Milk Quality: Fowler High School, Carson Miller (La Veta)
• Ag Mechanics: Lamar High School, Baily Rucker (Rocky Ford)

Three of the high-scoring individuals are earning the top honors for the second time: Camden Wilson of Pritchett for Crops, Madalyn Bohr of Douglas County for Livestock Judging, and Haliegh Prosser of Wiley for Veterinary Science.

Winners in the Ag Mechanics category earned an additional award, courtesy of Air Gas of Lamar.  Lamar High School, who earned the top team spot for the second time in a row, took home a torch set.  Baily Rucker of Rocky Ford won an auto-darkening welding hood for earning the top individual award.

While the majority of the event was held on campus at LCC, three events were held off-site including Ag Mechanics (Lamar High School), Land Classification (held in the field), and Livestock Judging (Prowers County Fairgrounds). 

Hosting a contest of this size would not be possible without the help of many people.  LCC’s Agriculture Department would like to say a special thank you to Thoughts and Bloom in Lamar, John Ogden, Chris Wilkinson, Air Gas in Lamar, and many other individuals that donated hours of their time.

Photo (left to right): LHS Ag Mechanics team members Nolan Sharp, Bart Gruenloh, Colton Eberhardt, and Lucas Tinnes are pictured with Greg Cash, LCC Ag faculty.  The LHS Ag Mechanics team took hope top honors for the second time in two years.

Photo: Haleigh Prosser of Wiley receives the high-scoring individual award for Veterinary Science, her second time to win the award, from Greg Cash.