MORGANTOWN, W.Va. -- Jefferson County Schools FFA (Future Farmers of America) members represented their district well in the West Virginia State FFA Winter Career Developments competition. The event was held on the campus of West Virginia University in Morgantown in early December. Participating JCS chapters included Charles Town Middle School (CTMS), Harpers Ferry Middle School (HFMS), Shepherdstown Middle School (SMS), Jefferson High School (JHS), and Washington High School (WHS).
The JHS FFA Agricultural Technology and Mechanical Systems Team (pictured above) took top honors in the competition, claiming its second consecutive state title. The team will represent West Virginia at the national contest in October 2023 in Indianapolis, Indiana.
Other top-placing teams in the competitions are listed below:
7th and 8th Grade Agriscience Knowledge CDE (16 teams)
Charles Town Middle FFA placed 5th as a team. Team members include Mason Friend, Tyler Stolipher, Abigail Lowe, and Dylan Titus. Mason Friend finished 6th place individually.
Middle School Food Science CDE (5 teams)
Charles Town Middle FFA placed 1st as a team. Team members include Porter Bethke, Khloe Fisher, Jacob Gray, and Raylynn Smith. Porter Bethke finished 4th individually, Khloe Fisher finished 5th, Jacob Gray finished 9th, and Raylynn Smith finished 12th. Additionally, Harpers Ferry Middle FFA placed 3rd as a team.
Agricultural Technology and Mechanical Systems CDE (24 teams)
Jefferson FFA placed 1st as a team. Team members include Matthew Dixon, Brady Marnoch, Brant Hamrick, and Hunter Ours. Hunter Ours placed 2nd individually, Brady Marnoch placed 3rd and Brant Hamrick was 5th.
Washington FFA placed 5th as a team. Team members include Aiden Fisher, Mary Gruber, Andrew Saxon, and Odell Ware. Aiden Fisher placed 1st individually.
Farm Business Management CDE (11 teams)
Washington FFA placed 2nd as a team. Team members include Nevaeh DeSarno, Ethan Meagher, Ruby Plummer, and Madison Roggenkamp. Madison Roggenkamp placed 2nd individually, Ruby Plummer placed 5th, and Ethan Meagher placed 7th.
Jefferson FFA placed 6th as a team. Team members include Chris Croson, Hayden Jeffries, Hailey Owens, and Ashlee Study. Hayden Jeffries placed 10th individually.
Floriculture CDE (22 teams)
Washington FFA placed 5th as a team. Team members include Mila Catrow, Chloe Constantino, Julie Fincham, and Ruby Plummer. Chloe Constantino and Julie Fincham placed in the top 20 individually.
Vet Science CDE (24 teams)
Jefferson FFA placed 4th as a team. Team members include Garrett Glassford, Natalya Rushizky, Matthew Shaffer, and Cecilia Welch.
Other teams competing in the events included:
Harpers Ferry Middle FFA
7th and 8th Grade Agriscience Knowledge Team
Shepherdstown Middle FFA
7th and 8th Grade Agriscience Knowledge Team
Team members: Clarissa Domino, Morgan Grove, and Bentley Hamrick.
Jefferson FFA
Food Science Team
Team members: Briley Bauer, Hannah Goode, Olivia Marstiller, and Logue Schriever
Washington FFA
Food Science Team
Team members: Kendall Andrick, Carter Hillman, Lexi Masters, and Madison O’Brien
Plant Pathology CDE
Team members: Jordan Clayton, Rebecca Cline, Bella DeCelie, and JD Zimmerman
Vet Science CDE
Team members: Hannah Howe and Sam Landis