Independence FFA Finishes Well in Two Competitions

September 26, 2016, (Independence, IA) The Independence FFA Chapter competed in Non-Reasons Dairy Cattle Evaluation and Soils Evaluation on September 15^th at NICC in Calmar, Iowa. The soils evaluation team earned 1^st place overall out of 36 teams and qualified for the State FFA Soils Judging CDE, which will be held at Iowa State University on Saturday October 8^th. The competition included a written exam and the judging of three soil pits. To be successful, students must possess a strong understanding of soil characteristics, landscape positions, slope calculation, soil texture, and soil management decisions. The soils judging team members and their individual overall placings included: Megan Corkery (2^nd), Peighton Prusator (3^rd), Matt Bolton (4^th), and Brynn Martin (6^th)

The chapter also competed in the Non-Reasons Dairy Cattle Evaluation portion of the Tri-State Dairy Days competition. There were 61 teams competing and the chapter earned 4^th place overall in the team standings. The career development event requires students to identify physical characteristics of dairy cattle, breeding characteristics, and linear evaluation. Members of the 4th place team included Jaimes Rowland (4^th place individual overall), Carter Nolan, Ellie Nabholz, and Tanner Erickson-Dale.

Picture “Soils Team” Caption: District champion soils evaluation team members (L to R): Matt Bolton, Brynn Martin, Megan Corkery, and Peighton Prusator

Picture “4th place Dairy Team” Caption: Overall 4th place non-reasons dairy cattle evaluation team (L to R) Jaimes Rowland, Carter Nolan, and Ellie Nabholz (not pictured Tanner Erickson-Dale)

Picture “Independence Dairy Judgers” Caption: Independence FFA was well represented by 40 total dairy cattle evaluation competitors.