West Greene foursome excels at FFA convention
Following a first-place showing at the Pennsylvania state scholastic livestock judging contest held at Penn State University in June, four members of the West Greene High School Future Farmers of America organization 鈥� Avery Berdine, Savannah Pettit, Courtney Ross and Makenzie Thomas 鈥� took their skills to Indianapolis in October to compete in the 2018 National FFA Convention and Expo.
Three of the four are Lady Pioneers athletes. Pettit plays both basketball and softball at West Greene. Thomas is on the volleyball, rifle and softball teams. Ross plays volleyball and is also on the rifle team.
鈥淲e all share passions in raising and judging livestock,鈥� said Pettit, 2018 president of the West Greene FFA chapter, of the foursome.
Referring to itself as the premier youth organization dedicated to preparing members for leadership and careers in the science, business and technology of agriculture (FFA website), more than 4,000 FFA members were recognized for their involvement and contributions at the event. Besides a higher level of competition, FFA members had the opportunity to participate in numerous programs, including, but not limited to Agricultural Communications, Agricultural Sales, Agronomy, Dairy Cattle Evaluation & Management, Environmental & Natural Resources, Farm & Agribusiness Management, Forestry, Livestock Evaluation, Poultry Evaluation, and Veterinary Science.
Divided into marketing and genetic teams at Penn State and into similar teams in Indianapolis, 鈥淭eamwork was important and we had to work together,鈥� Pettit added. 鈥淲e judged different animals and had to provide reasons why we gave certain scores. Even though we know each other from school and the organization, being in this environment at Indianapolis actually created a different level of friendship and we created new memories as teammates.鈥�
However, besides competing at Penn State for the opportunity to travel to Indianapolis, there was an added incentive for the West Greene team.
鈥淎t Penn State we promised our retiring Ag teacher Mr. Curtis Hughes (since replaced by FAA sponsor Karlie Wright) that we would win, and we won and lived up to our promise,鈥� Berdine proudly said.
But she just as quickly focused on the pressures they encountered in Indianapolis.
鈥淭his was definitely a nerve-wracking experience and very stressful,鈥� Berdine noted, 鈥渂ut we made memories we will have forever. This was a once-in-a-lifetime experience. It meant so much for us to be there. That was our initial goal.鈥�
Adding that West Greene was awarded a team bronze medal, 鈥渋t was satisfying and rewarding to get to Indianapolis in the first place,鈥� Berdine said, 鈥渁nd even more rewarding (that we received the bronze medal) in that we were going up against the best Ag students in the country.鈥�
Berdine, who placed third at Penn State, raises sheep, market lambs, and calves on her family蘑菇视频 170-acre farm. In conjunction with the Greene county 4-H program, she shows market steers, market lambs, market hogs, in addition to engaging in sheep and beef breeding. Berdine蘑菇视频 parents, Hoyt and Stacy, were also FFA members.
Pettit agreed with Berdine on the value of teamwork.
鈥淲e were judged as individuals and as a team and realized even more that we had to depend on others to move on in the competitions and we had to work well with each other. We realized the importance of trusting others.鈥�
Pettit蘑菇视频 father, Doug, is a former FFA member, and sister Sierra is also in the program.
Thomas鈥� twin sister, Haleigh, and younger sister, Alison, are also FFA members, as were her parents Angie and Heath.
鈥淲e raise lambs and pigs and do a lot of showing,鈥� added Thomas, who, along with Berdine, received an individual bronze medal, in addition to the team bronze award for judging at Indianapolis. 鈥淚 love working with livestock and being around livestock is fun for me. This keeps me busy and being in the FFA is a family tradition. As a team we will never have this opportunity again. Competing against FFA students from all over the country can be intimidating but you have to focus on what your responsibilities are and do the best you can. As stressful as it may have been, overall it was an enjoyable experience.鈥�
At Penn State, Ross, whose father, Steve, was a member of the FFA, took home sixth-place state honors for livestock judging, repeating the honor she achieved last year. Ross and Pettit were recognized as silver award winners.
In Indianapolis, Ross concurred with her teammates that the competition 鈥渨as obviously at a higher level than at Penn State, where schools from throughout the state participated. But in Indianapolis there were students and teams competing from throughout the United States. We were competing against the best in the country. This was an amazing experience. It was exciting being there and seeing and competing against teams from all over the United States.鈥�
Involved with local 4-H clubs, including Market Lamb 鈥� 鈥淚 love this category,鈥� she beamed 鈥� and Market Swine, her 鈥渇avorite鈥� category, Ross adds that she 鈥渨as drawn to pigs since I was little.鈥�
She is also involved with sheep breeding, market rabbit, and market goat programs. Cows, sheep, and pigs and the specialties on her family蘑菇视频 farm.