Throughout the months of March and April, Bowling Green FFA participated in FFA events and career development events.
First, FFA members participated in the Public Speaking Career Development Event. Public Speaking is a contest where students are required to recite either the FFA Creed or their own written speech. Aidan Thomas competed in the Beginning Prepared Public Speaking contest where he had to write, memorize and present a 5-7 minute speech and answer questions. Aidan placed second in the Wood County Sub-District Competition, first in the district, and placed in the top 12 at the state contest.
Emma Nester competed in the extemporaneous speaking contest, which involved picking a topic at the contest, writing a 4-6 minute speech in 30 minutes, presenting the speech and answering questions. Emma placed second in the sub-district competition, third in the district, and placed in the top 10 at the state contest.
Members also participated in the District 1 CDEs. The Spring District Contests took place in March at the Fulton County Fairgrounds. The 14th place General Livestock Judging team consisted of Aidan Thomas, Addie Brokaw, Addison Schurger, Kelsey Kline, Kiersten Hendricks, Luke Strow, Grace Swaisgood, Quentin Foos, Olivia Rogers, Isabella Belleville, Cadence Litchfield, Natalee Harris, and Orlando Alvarez. The Agronomy team placed eighth with team members Addie Naus and Lila Nalepka.
Participating in the Equine CDE were Laina Schmeltz, Kylah Crawford, Ellery Rhodes, Sam Wiles, Jules Firsdon, Kendall Crawford and Carter Thompson. The team placed third in the district. Schmeltz was the second-highest individual, and Crawford was fourth.
The Poultry team placed 16th with team members James Mahlman and Emma Nester. Shawn Carney, Gavin Roessner, Casey Naus, and Lily Rader participated in the Wildlife CDE. The team placed 16th. The Nature Interpretation team placed seventh with team members Lilly Wilkie and Kate Howick.
Tyler Schwind, Konner Chambers, and Damon Manders participated in the District Ag Mechanics CDE at Four County Career Center. The Ag Mechanics contest involved performing 10 skills including welding, cutting with a torch, flaring, measuring, and much more. They placed fourth in the district and Schwind placed first as an individual in the contest.
Junior FFA members attended the Career Premier at the Wood County Fairgrounds. During this event, members observed a variety of career options and interacted with Wood County businesses. Members also assisted the Wood County Soil and Water Conservation District by helping to pack trees for their annual tree sale. Members identified, dipped, bagged, and organized thousands of trees that people will purchase for windbreaks, landscaping and wildlife habitats.
Bowling Green FFA is a satellite program of Penta Career Center.
