By MacKenna Clifton

West Rowan High School FFA

MOUNT ULLA — The West Rowan High School Future Farmers of America chapter attended the 90th FFA State Convention in Raleigh on June 19-21.

More than 30 members of the chapter attended the Convention and competed in career development events. The competition covered job skills ranging from communications to mechanics and helpedo develop the students’ potential for their future occupations.

West Rowan High School winners and representatives included:

• Agricultural communications: Rebekah Russell, Chloe Patterson, Taylor Walton and MacKenna Clifton earned first place.

• Agricultural issues: Parker Greene, Ryley Corriher, Jack Wilhelm, Carly Burleyson, Mayerlin Alpizar and Sierra Lambert were awarded first place.

• Agricultural mechanics: Ethan Adkins, Nathan Sparks, Dakota Kinley and Alex Keadle earned fourth place.

• Agronomy career development: Morgan Rogers, Kemuel Mauney, Tinsley Meyers and Ali Keys placed second.

• Creed speaking: Jack Wilhelm competed.

• Extemporaneous public speaking: Ryley Corriher was awarded third place.

• Food science: Jessie Cline, Diana Taylor, Gavin Staton and Jillian Burleyson earned 10th place.

• Meat evaluation: Lauren Hayes, Sarah Steele and Mayerlin Alpizar earned fifth place.

• Milk quality and products: Sierra Lambert, Sandi Cobb, Rebekah Russell and Cindy Connolly earned fourth place.

• Prepared public speaking: Mayerlin Alpizar was awarded fourth place.

• Tool identification: Beau Butterfield, Noah Holshouser, Grace Walters and Seth Brown earned fifth place.

The agricultural communications and agricultural issues teams will join marketing to compete in Indianapolis at the 91st National FFA Convention and Expo on Oct. 24-27.

In addition to the competition, West Rowan FFA submitted 19 proficiency awards. Proficiency awards honor members who have gained specialized skills they can apply to their future through Supervised Agricultural Experiences.

The following students were awarded first place in North Carolina and will compete at the national convention:

• Macy Burleyson for swine production entrepreneurship.

• Reece Stapleton for specialty crop production,

• Lauren Hayes for sheep production.

• Thomas Waldo for nursery operations.

• Chloe Patterson for fruit production.

• Jesse Baker for forage production.

• Morgan Rogers for equine entrepreneurship.

• Lea Smith for diversified agricultural production.

• Cassidy Hewitt for beef production.

• Jesse Baker for beef production entrepreneurship.

• Stacey Ketchie for agriscience research plant systems.

• Abigail Wilson for agriscience research integrated systems.

• Jonathan Taylor for agricultural mechanics design and fabrication.

• Dakota Kinley for agricultural processing.

• Dalton Kepley for agricultural mechanics repair and maintenance.

• Rebekah Russell for agricultural sales placement.

West Rowan FFA also had four State FFA degree recipients: Parker Greene, Ethan Adkins, Hunter Davis and Nathan Sparks.

Jack Wilhelm and Sydney Swing competed in the Agriscience Fair and were awarded first place for their projects.

Madeline Wilhelm was recognized as the State Star in Agriscience and retired as the 2017-18 state vice president.

West Rowan’s FFA chapter earned the National Chapter award, ranking gold in the state. The chapter also received an FFA Alumni Grant and N.C. Tobacco Trust Fund, had an FFA Scholarship recipient and was recognized for having 100 percent FFA membership.