Members of the Riverton Parke FFA Livestock Skillathon Team competed in the State Contest on Saturday, October 1st held at Purdue University Animal Sciences Research and Education Center in West Lafayette, Indiana. At the state contest, members complete both individual and team portions of the contest. In the individual portion, members must identify various cuts of meat, livestock breeds, feeds and livestock equipment, take a quiz over the animal science industry, complete a quality assurance quiz, and judge classes of meat, wool, and hay. In the team portion, members work together to complete a quality assurance quiz, place a market/performance class of livestock and complete a keep/cull exercise with breeding animals. Noelle Blake, Joel Harrah, Thomas Koch and Jase Martin competed in the junior division and placed 3rd overall out of 19 teams. Individually, Thomas Koch placed 4th overall, Jase Martin placed 6th and Joel Harrah placed 10th out of 71 individuals. Sarah Brown, Jack Harrah, Katilynn Koch and Sophie Sanders competed in the senior division and placed 3rd overall out of 27 teams. Individually, Sarah Brown placed 2nd overall, Sophie Sanders placed 23rd and Jack Harrah placed 36th out of 106 individuals. The senior team will be recognized at the 2023 Indiana FFA State Convention as a Top 4 team. The livestock skillathon team is coached by FFA advisor, Michaela Woods.
Pictured with their awards include, in front from left: Thomas Koch, Jase Martin, Joel Harrah, and Noelle Blake. In the back: Sarah Brown, Katilynn Koch, Sophie Sanders and Jack Harrah.