The Camden FFA Chapter took another historic step on Saturday February 3rd. Eleven chapter members became the first group since the chapter’s re-formation to participate in FFA competition as they participated in the New York State FFA District 5 Leadership Development Event at Hamilton Central School.
A Leadership Development Event is a series of competitions designed to cultivate growth among FFA members in areas such as character development, leadership, public speaking, and chapter operations. At the District level, the new Camden chapter was joined by students from Adirondack, Brookfield, Canastota, Cazenovia, DeRuyter, Fonda, Hamilton, Herkimer, Holland Patent, Madison, Mohawk Valley, Morrisville-Eaton, Mount Markham, Owen D. Young, Remsen, Stockbridge Valley, Vernon-Verona-Sherrill, Waterville and West Canada Valley.
District 5 is typically one of the state's most competitive districts. Over 250 students competed on Saturday.
In addition to competition, the day features a community service component. The region’s competitors came together to pack 10,000 meals on behalf of Meals of Hope for distribution across the region.
Seven Blue Devils placed in the top eight in their events to earn a qualifying spot for the upcoming FFA Sub-State Competition. The Sub-State Competition will be held on March 16th at Cincinnatus.
Eighth grader Kayla Winn was among Camden’s top performers at the competition as she placed eighth out of 42 competitors in the Junior “People in Agriculture” event. That finish secured a berth at Sub-States. For this event, Winn had to develop a poster board presentation about careers in several defined areas of agriculture. She also prepared a brief summary of a career encompassed by the poster topics, and had to discuss the job requirements and benefits of that job with a judge.
A group of six students will be joining Winn at the Sub-State competition after placing in the top eight in the “Agriculture Issues” team competition. Camden’s team consisted of Alexis Albrecht, Matt Albrecht, Luke Eveleth, Patrick Eveleth, Izabella Johnson and Autumn Porter. This event is a research-based competition that invites students to explore a selected challenge facing the field of agriculture. Teams have to prepare a written portfolio summarizing their findings, execute an in-person presentation in front of three judges and an audience, and answer any questions the judges may have to offer.
Seventh graders Amelia Nobis and Zachary Rogers, and eighth graders Mary Hall and Madisyn Fuller also participated in the Junior “People in Agriculture” category.
Advisors Brianne Willson and Karly Marshman were very excited about the way the Camden delegation performed in each student’s first time on this stage, and in Camden’s first FFA competition since the early 1970s.
“We are incredibly proud of all eleven students,” They said. “Every student stepped outside their comfort zones, put forth their best effort, and represented Camden very well.”
