Last week the annual North Carolina State Future Farmers of America (FFA) competition was a much-anticipated event, bringing together the best young agricultural minds from schools across the state. This year, the rivalry was particularly fierce as Enka High (EHS), North Buncombe High (NBHS), Charles D. Owen High (OHS), A.C. Reynolds High (ACRHS), and Clyde A. Erwin High (CAEHS) geared up to compete for the top honors.
Each school competed in an array of categories, and a few student teams brought home state championships. This October, NBHS and EHS will head to Indianapolis for the National competition.
Being a part of FFA means the world to Agriculture teacher Kevin Franklin of EHS.
“Every student deserves a place to belong in high school,” he said. “FFA is a niche for a lot of kids, and for many students this ends up being a career path they follow in life.”
This year will be the seventh national appearance for EHS, and one senior was filled with emotions to have the opportunity to go to the big stage.
“FFA has felt more like home than anything else I’ve done in high school,” said Lana. “It’s an awesome experience getting to go into senior year like this. Having Mr. Franklin on my side has been amazing, because if it wasn’t for him I wouldn’t have done this.”
Buncombe County Schools wishes EHS and NBHS the best of luck as they prepare for Nationals. Please see below the list of categories each school participated in, and their placement.
Enka High:
Ag Mechanics - 1st Place
Tool Identification - 1st Place
North Buncombe High:
Parliamentary Procedure Team - 1st Place
American Degree - Silver Hyatt
State FFA Degrees - Max Jones, Makayla Hensley, Kenley Herron and Brooke Eberle
Top 30 in the state - Gold Level FFA Chapter
Beef Production Entrepreneurship - 2nd Place
Livestock Judging - 3rd Place
Clyde A. Erwin High:
Meats Evaluation
Charles D. Owen High:
Forestry - 3rd Place in the West Region
Nursery Landscape - 17th in state and 2nd Place in the West Region
State FFA Degree - Jacob Tally
3 State Delegates - Jacob Tally, Graham Harrison, and Lydia Williamson
A.C. Reynolds High:
Super Chapter through the National Chapter Award program
Ag Mechanics - 8th Place
Intro to Horticulture - Top 50% in the state-level competition
Tools and Material
Old North State FFA Degree - Bryson Moseman
State Delegates - Lucy Jones and Lily Wright