Riverton Parke Jr./Sr. High School’s FFA members competed in the District VII Leadership Development Events contest on Friday, March 12th. During this contest, FFA members in grades 7 to 12 are challenged to develop critical thinking skills and effective decision-making skills, foster teamwork and promote communication while recognizing the value of ethical competition and individual achievement. Because of travel restrictions for some of the schools in District VII, the contest was conducted virtually this year. Many of the local FFA members of Riverton Parke Jr./Sr. High School placed in the “Top 3”. Placing 1st in their contests included Hadley Newman and Kenzie Travis with their Discovery Plant Science Demonstration, Seth McConnell and Ray Brown with the Exhibit, and Dalton Keltz-Purcell in Talent. Newman, Travis, McConnell, and Brown have been invited to compete in the state contest next June. Members who placed 2nd in their contests included Katilynn Koch in Discovery Creed Speaking, Thomasina Archey in Essay, Sophie Sanders and Emily Adams with their Discovery Plant Science Demonstration, Kenzie Mundell and Carson Sutton with their Discovery Food/Animal Science Demonstration and Macy Johnson in Extemporaneous Public Speaking. Placing 3rd included Natalie Harkrider with her Plant and Soil Science Demonstration, Collin Watson with his Natural Resources Demonstration, Katie Watson and Kelsie Blair with the Traditional Scrapbook and Mundell, Sutton, Annie Campbell, and Jake Haase as part of the Discovery Quiz Bowl Team. Other members who competed and placed 4th included Sarah Brown in Freshmen Prepared Public Speaking, Koch in Discovery Prepared Public Speaking, Keltz-Purcell in Agriculture Sales, and Johnson in Employment Skills. Rhylie Cannon and Emma Ugoletti placed 5th with their Discovery Food/Animal Science Demonstration. The District VII Officer Team held a virtual awards ceremony to celebrate the accomplishments of the members which was held Tuesday, March 16th. The local chapter advisors are Micah Humphreys and Michaela Woods.
Pictured the night of the LDE Contest include, in front, from left: Emily Adams, Hadley Newman, Kenzie Travis, Emma Ugoletti, and Kenzie Mundell. In the middle: Sarah Brown, Katilynn Koch, Katie Watson, Annie Campbell, Sophie Sanders, Natalie Harkrider, Macy Johnson, Jake Haase, and Carson Sutton. In the back: Rhylie Cannon, Kelsie Blair, Collin Watson, Dalton Keltz-Purcell and Thomasina Archey. Not pictured are Seth McConnell and Ray Brown.