East Knox FFA excels at Mt. Gilead event

Twelve members of the East Knox FFA recently competed in the Mt. Gilead Invitational Career Development Events held at Mt. Gilead High School and the Morrow County Fairgrounds. They participated in six categories — Milk Quality & Products, Poultry, General Livestock, Equine Management, Wildlife Management, and Nature Interpretation.

The Milk Quality & Products team placed 11th in the event. Those team members were McKenzie Schwartz and Joey Lively. In the competition team members perform the California Mastitis Test on milk samples, identify cheeses and provide information on a cheese matrix, determine dairy versus non-dairy products with fat content, and taste for off-flavors in milk samples along with the intensity of that off-flavor. In addition, they take a written test and complete problem solving questions.

The Poultry team placed 11th and consisted of Gwenyth Opheim, Caylynn Kieber and John Chadwick. In the event members judge classes of past production hens, broilers, and ready-to-cook broilers; grade eggs for interior and exterior qualities; identify broiler parts, determine problems with further processed poultry products, grade broiler carcasses, and complete a written test including calculation problems.

The General Livestock team placed 41st overall and the team consisted of Alexia Wine, Madisyn Frost, and Hayden Garman. In this event members learn to recognize quality production animals. The skills students gain in evaluating general livestock should help them become better livestock producers and consumers by giving them hands-on, practical experience in identifying and understanding traits that impact production and quality.

The Equine Management CDE Team placed 19th overall. This contest is designed as a hands-on method to teach students modern horse evaluation and selection skills, while also developing management abilities critical for success in the equine industry. Those team members were Rhyan Williams and Laureyah Neely.

AJ Salmons and Wyatt Baker competed in both the Wildlife Management and the Nature Interpretation contests. They placed 11th in Wildlife Management and fifth in Nature Interpretation. In the event contestants had to identify mammals, game birds, fish, food and cover plants, and equipment.

They also had to complete three practicums and take a general information test on wildlife management. The practicums consisted of understanding pond management, determining habitat requirements, and identifying game laws and safety.

The purpose of the wildlife management CDE is to promote instruction in the areas of fish and wildlife management, as well as to provide recognition for those who have demonstrated skills and competencies as a result of natural resources instruction. In the Nature Interpretation CDE it is designed to stimulate interest and to promote instruction in nature interpretation as well as to provide recognition for those who have demonstrated skills and competencies as a result of natural resources instruction.

The invitational competitions help prepare FFA members for the State Career Development Events which take place on March 28 at the Ohio Exposition Center in Columbus.