The sweepstakes award belongs to the SMHS FFA after 35 agriculture students competed in five agriculture career and industry skills competitions during the Merced College FFA Field Day on March 17.
Santa Maria FFA Ag Pest Control Team placed 2nd at the competition and senior Andrea Rico placed 2nd individually. This competition helps prepare students for a career as an Agriculture Pest Control Advisor.
The Vegetable Crops Evaluation Team placed 3rd, while the Land & Soil Evaluation and the Milk Quality & Dairy Products Teams placed 4th.
In addition, the Santa Maria FFA Floral Design Team traveled to a competition in Dinuba California where they placed 3rd in their contest.
The sweepstakes award is given to the FFA chapter which had the overall highest placing teams at the competition. There were over 50 different FFA Chapters that competed at the Merced College Competition.
Santa Maria FFA Agriculture Pest Control, Vegetable Crops Evaluation, Land &Soil Evaluation, Milk Quality & Dairy Foods and Farm Power Teams all competed in the Merced College annual Career Development Event competitions.
FFA Career Development Events allow students to gain hands on job skills in everything from public speaking to critical thinking. Students compete both as a team and individually against FFA Chapters from across the state of California.
Santa Maria FFA students will be attending the State Finals competitions at Fresno State University and Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo later this spring.
Picture 1 – Group Picture Picture 2 – (Pest Team Left to right) Andrea Rico, Alexa Aquino, Dalia Quintanar, Abdi Rodriguez, Sara Araujo, Maria Magano, Leydi Rios, Amy Bautista. Picture 3 – (Vegetable Team Left to right) Alexis Cedeno, Adriana Arias, Monerrat Nolasco, Felix Perez, Efren Santos, Maria Alvarez.