Four Bleckley County FFA members recently placed first in the Area 3 FFA Agricultural Technology and Equipment ID Career Development Event. The event was held at Fort Valley State University in Fort Valley on November 7^th, 2019. Team members were Ethan Parks, Caleb Senters, Chase Jones, and Jacob Foskey. Ethan Parks was the high individual and Caleb Senters placed second out of all competitors in this CDE.

The purpose of the Jr. Agricultural Mechanics Career Development Event is to provide an opportunity for students in grades 6-9 to practice those skills and abilities developed as a regular part of the agricultural education curriculum. The CDE is designed as an introductory event that provides experiences in agricultural mechanics and assesses the knowledge gained from classroom instruction. Each team member had to complete an electrical wiring circuit, take a written exam, complete a measuring practicum and compete in a tool identification component.

The Bleckley County FFA Land Judging Team won the State FFA Land Judging Career Development Event on October 26, 2019 at Fort Valley State University. Team members were Louie Lumley, Joni Lumley, Lizzy Parks, and Mia Crooms. Louie Lumley also had the highest individual score in the state.

The Land Judging Career Development Event provides students the opportunity to determine a field’s potential for erosion by assigning a land classification and determining the correct use and treatment practices for selected sites. FFA members must consider topsoil texture and thickness, effective depth, permeability of subsoil, slope, erosion, and drainage.

As the state winning team, they will represent Georgia at the National Land and Range Judging Contest in Oklahoma City, OK in May. 

Dr. Walt Parks, Bleckley County High School FFA advisor, was the team’s coach.  The Land Judging Career Development Event is sponsored by Georgia Farm Credit Associations as a special project of the Georgia FFA Foundation.