Greenhands place fifth in Dairy

Members of the Marion/Florence FFA chapter received fifth place in the Greenhand division at the South Central District FFA Dairy Career Development event Nov. 23 hosted by the Hillsboro FFA chapter at the Marion County Fairgrounds.

Contest participants were required to evaluate and place six classes of dairy cows and heifers. They also had to prepare and present a set of oral explanations as well as take a written test over the dairy industry.

In the Greenhand division, the top three scores from members of each team that participated were used to determine final team placings. Members from Marion’s Greenhand team who scored were Christian Larson, Jacob Cope, and Ryan Nelson.

Other members from Marion who competed included Aaron Molleker, Cara Martin, Colton Jeffrey, Clark Kroupa, Cody Carr, Tyler Wildin, Ronnie Wright, Andrew Huber, Montana Percell, and Patrick McCarty. Shayla Rahe competed in the upperclassman division.

Landscapers place third

Also on Nov. 23 members competed in the Nursery and Landscape Career Development Event hosted by the Winfield FFA chapter at the Marion County Fairgrounds.

Participants in the contest were required to identify 50 samples of landscape or nursery plants that are commonly used in the nursery/landscape industry. They also had to complete two practicums that involved reading and interpreting a landscape plan and a pesticide label. Contestants were also required to take a written test on the nursery/landscape industry and identify some common pests or diseases affecting nursery plants.

Individually for Marion, Jessie Taylor placed eighth overall and Andy Shipman received ninth place.

Other team members competing from Marion included Eric Vogel, Nick Klenda, and Heather Fine.