FFA members compete in career event
The Washington County FFA Livestock Evaluation Career Development Event (CDE) was held at the West Alexander fairgrounds with 40 members from Avella, Fort Cherry, Mcguffey, and Trinity FFA chapters competing in the contest.
Members were tested on reason, judging skills and a written knowledge test. They judged classes of breeding ewes, Suffolk ewes, and were given tests on market goats, market lambs, market hogs, steer class, and breeding heifers. Each team was responsible for answering questions about the steer class, and two individuals from each team gave oral presentations.
In the individual competition, Cailey Dahlquist, 17, daughter of Carla and Eric Dahlquist, won first place. Kalvin Hrutkay, 14, son of Brian Hrutkay and Peggy Blumer, won second place. Ensley Clark, 15, daughter of Jason and Rachel Clark, earned third place. Cailey, Kalvin and Ensley are Trinity High School students and members of the Trinity FFA Chapter.
In the team competition, Trinity FFA Chapter Livestock Judging Team, including Courtney and Cailey Dahlquist, Chloe Tamulinas, and Ensley Clark, took first place. The Fort Cherry Chapter Livestock Judging Team team of Evelyn Dimoff, Ashlin Hawkinberry, Alex Rumbaugh and Billy Felton took second place.
During the the contest, several students participated in the Tractor Driving competition. The students had to drive a manure spreader through a course and back into an area the size of a barn door. They also had to back a hay wagon into an area the size of a barn door, only having six inches of room on either side, and they had to complete a written test and identify parts of the tractor.
Pat Spears, 16, son of Tracy Spears, won first place. He is a member of the McGuffey FFA chapter. Layton Sturgeon, 17, son of Jeff and Brenda Sturgeon, won second place. He is a member of the H.G. Parkinson FFA Chapter. Tyler Cerceillo, 15, son of Lisa and Donnie Taggart and Mike Cerceillo, earned third place. He is a member of the Avella FFA.