FFA standouts head for nationals

 Eight Flathead FFA chapter members will vie for top honors as they compete in the National FFA Convention and Expo Oct. 29 through Nov. 1 in Louisville, Ky.

Flathead FFA includes students from Flathead and Glacier high schools.

Students will compete in two Career Development Events — Forestry and Livestock Evaluation. One team from each state may compete in each of the 24 Career Development events.

Career Development Events help students develop abilities to think critically, communicate clearly and perform effectively in a competitive job market.

Members of the Forestry team are Alexis Cahill, Brianna Erickson, Jayme Evenson and Sandra Ek. The team is advised by teacher Brian Bay. This is the fourth Flathead FFA team in the past six years to compete at nationals in Forestry.

During competition, team members are expected to recognize environmental and social factors affecting the management of forests and identify major species of trees that are of economic importance in domestically and internationally.

Members also should be able to recognize and understand approved silvicultural practices in the United States, identify forest disorders and their causes, take forest inventory, use marketing management strategies and recognize safety practices in forest management.

The Livestock Evaluation team includes Destiny Brewer, Emily Hilde, Karly Hanson, and Livia Jackola. Teacher Justin Heupel is the advisor.

In this event, participants will evaluate classes of breeding and market beef, sheep, swine and goats according to the latest U.S. Department of Agriculture market grades and cutability.

Then they provide oral reasons for their selections. Team members also collaborate on various team activities in marketing and genetics.

The Flathead FFA chapter will be recognized at nationals for achieving a three-star rating in the National FFA Chapter Awards program.

This is the sixth time in the past eight years the chapter has received three stars, the highest rating a chapter can earn for successfully completing an annual set of required activities that encourage members to grow as individuals, work as a team and serve others in their communities.