The Polk FFA Chapter participated in the 60^th annual North Carolina FFA Association Land Judging Career Development Event on Nov. 8-9.

The senior team placed second in the Pisgah View Federation, third in the Western Region and seventh in the state. Senior Team members include Tanner Garrrett, Nora Contreras, Sammie Haase and Hunter Hilbig.

The junior team consisting of Aaron Adams (alternate), Hunter Kilgore, Leah Hardin, Georgia Garrett and Katelyn Allison took all first place honors in the federation, region and state in the junior division. All four members of the junior team placed in the top ten individually.  Retired agriculture teacher Richard Smith and current agriculture teacher Chauncey Barber coached the teams.

In early April 1955, 188 FFA members met on a parcel of land in Harnett County near Dunn, N.C. where I-95 was being constructed. It was on this site that the first “Soil Appreciation and Soil Judging School” was held. Sixty years later, hundreds of FFA members from across the state traveled to Iredell County to participate in the year’s 60^th annual North Carolina Land Judging Career Development Event.

This event encourages students in grades 7-12 to analyze land characteristics such as soil type, erosion and drainage to determine the best possible use. Knowledge about soils can be organized and applied in managing farms, fields and woodlands, developing communities as well as engineering work. Students are able to comprehend why soils respond differently to management practices and how soil properties affect crop growth and urban uses.

The top three teams and high scoring individual will be recognized during the 86^th North Carolina FFA State Convention in Raleigh June 17-19, 2014.

This event is one of 43 different career development events offered to North Carolina FFA members on the state level. The Soil Science Society of North Carolina sponsors this event.

The North Carolina FFA is a youth organization of 20,013 student members preparing for leadership and careers in the science, business and technology of agriculture with 250 local chapters across the state.

FFA makes a positive difference in the lives of students by developing their potential for premier leadership, personal growth and career success through agricultural education. Visit www.ncffa.org for more information.

– article submitted by Chauncey Barber