by TESSA MULLIS, Polk County FFA Federation Officer
With school back in session, FFA chapters across the county have opened their doors to new members and have begun gearing up for several different events. As competition season has opened up, we have several upcoming events for members to participate in.
October 21 marks the first day of Fall preliminaries for several competitions. These events will be held online through each individual school. Several competitions are open to both middle school and high school members, like Food Science, Environmental Science, Citrus Evaluation, and Vegetable Evaluation. Additionally, Tool ID is open only to middle school members and Agriculture Education is open only to high school members.
Each of these competitions is unique and focuses on several different aspects of industries within agriculture. These events will test a team’s abilities in their respective areas, giving each member an opportunity to showcase their talents and dedication. There truly is something for everybody! I want to wish the very best of luck to all of our members competing in fall preliminaries!
In late October, the esteemed National FFA Convention will be held in Indianapolis, Indiana. This year several Polk County FFA members will be traveling to Indiana to experience the unparalleled National Convention. This convention allows FFA members across the nation to interact with one another and bond over the one thing that ties FFA together, our love of agriculture. The convention will allow students to attend workshops, widen their agricultural perspective, and hear from the National FFA officers during general sessions. This trip also allows students to experience agritourism around the Indianapolis area, expanding their agricultural knowledge and experiences.
At the National Convention there will not only be a strong presence of our Polk FFA members, but a showcase of the extraordinary talent of some of our Polk members. George Jenkins FFA will be competing in the national forestry contest. Additionally, Frostproof will have two members, Lindsey True and Wilhelmina Ullrich, competing in the national agriscience fair under the Social Sciences category. Congratulations to these members for making it to the national level!
The coveted American degree is the highest degree an FFA member can receive. The gold standard denotes the dedication, drive, and success an FFA member has pursued within this organization. This year, several Polk FFA graduates will receive this honor on the national stage at the National FFA convention. Congratulations to these former Polk FFA members on your immense accomplishment.
We are thrilled to see Polk County represented by some of the best and brightest at the National convention, and we look forward to the outcomes of the upcoming fall events.