By Chad Lyons Contributor
Lafayette High School FFA livestock team finishes sixth in CDE State Finals
The 2021 Florida Future Farmers of America (FFA) Livestock Evaluation Career Development Event (CDE) State Finals were held at the Horse Teaching Unit, located at 1934 SW 63rd Ave., on the campus of the University of Florida on Saturday, April 10. The finals included 20 teams who advanced from the state preliminary in March. The Livestock Evaluation CDE is designed to stimulate learning activities related to the production and marketing of cattle, sheep, goats and swine. The state finals included eight evaluation classes, one set of 10 questions, a written exam, a team exercise and three sets of oral reasons. The CDE is also ran and operated by the university's Animal Science Department.
The Lafayette FFA chapter placed sixth. Team members were Savanna King, fourth state high individual; Daniela Camarillo; Anna Deadwyler and Carter Higginbotham.
The top six were: Deland, with 2,079 points; Santa Fe, with 2,076 points; Chiefland, with 2,075 points; Durant, with 2,068 points; Dade City, with 2,052 points and Lafayette, with 2,035 points.
Parliamentary procedure teams win districts and advance to state
The Florida FFA District III Leadership Development Event Contest was held Tuesday, April 13, at Branford First Baptist Church, located at 607 Suwannee Ave. NW, in Branford. The event was hosted by the Fort White FFA Chapters. Due to the pandemic, Florida FFA decided to omit the sub-district level of competition, therefore all district chapters competed at the district level. The district champions advanced to the Florida FFA State Preliminaries at the 83rd Florida FFA State Convention in June.
The Creed Speaking Leadership Development Event is designed to develop the public speaking abilities of seventh, eighth and ninth grade FFA members, as well as develop their self-confidence and contribute to their advancement in the FFA degree program. The top three speakers were: Avery Buchanan with Lafayette, first; Carson Makenzie with Trenton, second and Grace Dola with Williston, third.
The Prepared Public Speaking Leadership Development Event is designed to develop agricultural leadership, communication skills and promote interest in leadership and citizenship by providing member participation in agricultural public speaking activities. The top three speakers were: Judson Hancock with Williston, first; Jackson Asbell with Bronson, second and Hailey Peterson with Lafayette, third.
The Parliamentary Procedure Leadership Development Event encourages students to learn to effectively participate in a business meeting and to assist in the development of their leadership skills. The Lafayette FFA senior parliamentary procedure team consisted of Jackson Powers, Jaley Moseley, Cason Driver, Seth Chandler, Mackenzie Winburn, Ayden Hart, Taylor Swinson, Lilli Moseley and Evan Murray. The Lafayette middle school parliamentary procedure team consisted of Alyssa Jones, Kambry Moseley, Wyatt Chandler, Clara Knight, Kamdyn Hewett, Emily Reese Thomas and Alyssa Sullivan.
The top three teams in the high school parliamentary procedure division were: Lafayette, first; Fort White, second and Williston, third. The top three teams in the middle school parliamentary procedure division were: Lafayette, first; Chiefland, second and Bell, third.
Lafayette FFA opening and closing ceremonies team competes at district competition
The Lafayette FFA chapter competed in the district Opening and Closing Ceremonies (OCC) Leadership Development Event (LDE). The OCC LDE is designed to develop agricultural leadership by providing for middle school members participation in public speaking activities and stimulating interest in leadership and citizenship. Team members were Dallas Deadwyler, Boone Riley, Maggie Day, Libby Beach, Peyton Ditter, Callie King and Katelyn McCray. The team did not place in the top three.
Lafayette FFA forestry team finishes as state runners up
The Lafayette senior forestry team competed in the 2021 Florida FFA Forestry State Career Development Event (CDE) on Tuesday, April 20, at the Florida FFA Headquarters in Gainesville. The event featured the 12 district winners from across Florida. The Lafayette FFA team members were Jackson Powers; Cason Driver, Third State High Individual; Hailey Peterson and Landen Brock. The Lafayette FFA forestry team placed second.
The purpose of the Forestry CDE is to stimulate interest in forestry, to promote forestry instruction in the agricultural education curriculum and to provide recognition for those who have demonstrated skill and competency as a result of forestry instruction. The CDE consisted of individual practicums that included a general knowledge exam, tree identification (dendrology), equipment identification, forest disorders, timber cruising and compass and pacing. The top five teams were: Durant, first; Lafayette, second; George Jenkins, third; Lake Butler, fourth and Liberty County, fifth.
Lafayette FFA dairy evaluation teams compete in state finals
The Lafayette FFA dairy evaluation teams competed in the 2021 Florida FFA State Dairy Evaluation Finals on Tuesday, April 20, at the Florida State Fairgrounds, located at 4800 US-301, in Tampa. The purpose of the dairy cattle evaluation career development event is to provide a competitive event for agricultural education students which emphasizes skills in dairy cattle management and evaluation. The state finals included the top 20 high school teams and the top 10 middle school teams from the state online preliminary contest. The event included six evaluation classes, two sets of oral reasons for high school, one set of oral reasons for middle school, a written exam and a team Dairy Herd Information Association (DHIA) exercise.
The Lafayette middle school team finished as state runners up and the high school team finished third in the state. The middle school team members were: Trey Lawson, fifth overall high individual; Madison King, sixth overall high individual; Addison Folsom and Regina Camarillo. The high school team members were: Avery Buchanan, third overall high individual; Callie Buchanan, fifth overall high individual; Delaney Deadwyler and Jack Peterson. The teams will be recognized at the upcoming 93rd Florida FFA State Convention. The chapter appreciates Brenda Peterson for coaching both teams.
The final top five placings for the middle school teams were: Okeechobee, first; Lafayette, second; Trenton, third; Bell, fourth and South Sumter, fifth. The final top five placings for the high school teams were: Durant, first; Okeechobee, second; Lafayette, third; Wesley Chapel, fourth and Plant City, fifth.
The FFA makes a positive difference in the lives of students by developing their leadership in premier leadership, personal growth and career success through agricultural education. If you are interested in learning more or would like to support the Lafayette FFA Chapters, please contact chapter advisor Chad Lyons at clyons@lcsbmail.net or chapter advisor Tori Lyons at tlyons@lcsbmail.net, or call (386) 294-1701.