Edison FFA Equine Team heads to national competition

The Edison High School FFA Equine Team is heading to a national competition in June.

Team members Maddie Granatir, Ellie Richards, Mimi Ault and Leila Sudvary attended the Edison Local Board of Education meeting May 21 in Richmond, where they outlined plans for the American Paint Horse Association World Championship Show June 18-21 in Fort Worth, Texas.

The event is the world’s premier Paint Horse competition and is held annually at the Will Rogers Memorial Center. It attracts more than 5,000 people from around the world and includes open, amateur and youth competitors in events such as reining, roping, hunt seat and Western all-around classes, along with exhibits and entertainment.

Granatir, a junior at Edison High School, said the students participate in the Equine Management career-tech education pathway through FFA and have competed at state and national events, including the National Arabian Judging Contest in Oklahoma last fall.

Granatir has competed for three years at the state level. Richards, a freshman, has participated for one year and advanced to state competition. Ault and Sudvary, both sophomores, are in their second year with FFA and have attended state and national events.

“The Equine Management CTE is a compilation of judging different animal classes. We will judge horses on confirmation and in performance classes,” Granatir said. “So, that’s in hand with work with horses as well as riding.”

Granatir said the competition also includes testing and public speaking while requiring students to use their knowledge of horses and related fields.

“It just it sets us up for a good future because we learn all of these different skills through this one competition,” Granatir said.

Ault said the team earned a national berth after placing second at the state level.

“We have gone through a lot to get here and beat out 106 teams from throughout the state of Ohio,” Ault said, adding that the team earned Edison’s first banner since 1993.

Richards said expenses include flights, lodging, food and competition fees. FFA co-adviser Cori Griffith said the organization has raised money throughout the year through fruit sales and other fundraisers to help offset costs.

Sudvary said board support would help the team represent Edison nationally and support members’ future goals.

“We can ensure equal opportunity for all of our team members, highlight the strength of our agricultural program, bring recognition and pride to the school and community, and help offset the costs for students and the chapter,” Sudvary said. “We’re all planning to do something agricultural in the future, and it would look good on the resume that we’ve gone to a couple national contests now.”

Ault said equine is one of the largest and most difficult competitions in which to place, requiring significant work from team members. Students said teams from Texas, Florida and North Carolina will compete, and Edison’s participation will help spotlight the district.

Following discussion, board members complimented the group on its presentation and agreed to support the team’s effort.