US: FFA national floriculture event winners announced

Winners of the National FFA Floriculture Career Development Event (CDE) were announced at the annual awards banquet on October 21. The National FFA Floriculture CDE was held in conjunction with the 89th National FFA Convention & Expo in Indianapolis. Ms. Melissa Riley from Georgia served as superintendent of this year's event.

The top ten individuals and the national winning team members received cash awards to recognize their success in the event. The cash awards and the floriculture event are sponsored by Ball Horticultural Company and Bayer.

In the National FFA Floriculture CDE, FFA members test their knowledge and skills in the production and retailing of flowers, plants and foliage. Participants must complete a general knowledge exam on the floriculture industry, identify plant materials, demonstrate problem solving and decision-making skills, employment and customer service skills, technical floral skills and the ability to work as a team. Teams competed at the local and state levels to earn the privilege of representing their home state at the National FFA Convention & Expo.

This event, held at the Indiana State Fairgrounds in Indianapolis, is one of many educational activities at the national convention in which FFA members apply the knowledge gained in the classroom for real-life situations.

Top placing teams
1st Place-- Virginia Elijah Ashby, Juan Gonzalez, Haley Warren, and Alyssa Moxley, all of Magna Vista FFA
2nd Place-- Minnesota Keith Lent, Amanda Olson, Jenna Benson, and Savanna Weber, all of Howard Lake-Waverly-Winsted FFA
3rd Place-- Georgia Amber Pritchett, Bobby Jones, Elizabeth Smith, and Emsley Smith, all of Mary Persons FFA
4th Place-- Missouri Brittany Byram, Libby Glaser, Katelynn Schulte, and Brianna Bunners, all of Owensville FFA
5th Place-- Iowa Gracie Danner, Jaida Dalton, Belinda Heckman, and Lauren Aird, all of West Liberty FFA
6th Place-- North Carolina Jacob Ray, Robert Parnell, Henry Kirkpatrick, and Haley Fogleman, all of Southern Alamance FFA
7th Place-- Connecticut Shannon Goggin, Catherine Dunham, Elizabeth Nielsen, and Courtney Gibson, all of Woodbury FFA
8th Place-- Oregon Emily Patt, Rogue Hartman, Grace M McCracken, and Emma Gibbs, all of Oakland FFA
9th Place-- Tennessee Kenzie Bastian, Aisling Hagan, Cole Tipton, and Troix Cox, all of David Crockett FFA
10th Place-- Washington Nicole Ballard, Zakya Misallati, Kendra Mutch, and Alice Ish, all of Cedarcrest FFA

Top placing individuals
1st Place-- Alyssa Moxley of Magna Vista FFA , VA
2nd Place-- Amanda Olson of Howard Lake-Waverly-Winsted FFA , MN
3rd Place-- Libby Glaser of Owensville FFA, MO
4th Place-- Keith Lent of Howard Lake-Waverly-Winsted FFA , MN
5th Place-- Jacob Ray of Southern Alamance FFA , NC
6th Place-- Gracie Danner of West Liberty FFA , IA
7th Place-- Jaida Dalton of West Liberty FFA , IA
8th Place-- Madelynn Yalowitz of Louisburg FFA , KS
9th Place-- Madison Fricko of Lapeer County Tech FFA- AM , MI
10th Place-- Juan Gonzalez of Magna Vista FFA , VA

The National FFA Organization is a national youth organization of 649,355 student members as part of 7,859 local FFA chapters in all 50 states, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. 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. The National FFA Organization operates under a federal charter granted by the 81st United States Congress and it is an integral part of public instruction in agriculture. The U.S. Department of Education provides leadership and helps set direction for FFA as a service to state and local agricultural education programs.

For more information:
FFA.org