RANDOLPH – Students from chapters around the state, including those from the Green Mountain Technology and Career Center (GMTCC), rolled into the VTSU- Randolph campus early Monday, May 20, for the two-day Vermont FFA State Convention to register for career development events (CDEs) throughout the day.
GMTCC forestry student Cyrus Tanner participated in the spring forestry event, where students focused on forestry applications, tree identification, map and pacing, tree measurement and forestry equipment identification.
Sustainable Ag students from GMTCC competed in the dairy cattle evaluation CDE where they were presented with four different cow classes to evaluate, rank and give an oral reasoning presentation of their results to judges.
At lunch, the first of the general sessions commenced, led by the state officer team. Green Mountain Tech received their first award for first place in the winter forestry event that occurred in January.
After lunch was the Maple competition sponsored by Vermont Maple Sugar Makers Association (VMSMA) and UVM Proctor Maple Institute. Students graded syrup for color, clarity, density and flavor, identified maple equipment, took a general knowledge test, evaluated tree tapping and did a lateral line install practical.
The rest of the afternoon, students participated in workshops, general ag quiz bowls, and a team-building workshop with a national officer from New Mexico.
Evening activities were filled with ag olympic activities, such as sack races, card towers and musical chairs.
Day two of the convention on May 21 began with an early breakfast and a later Jeopardy Ag facts workshop.
Speaking events began at 9 a.m., for students competing in prepared public speaking, creed and interviewing skills. Convention members then moved to the industry career and college fair where they engaged with numerous industry professionals and got college materials.
At lunch, other CDE awards were made to chapters were given out for the agriscience poster entries, equine and tractor operations. Students then prepared and changed into their green “Dig into the Future” FFA t-shirts for an off-campus tour of Silloway maple to see their sugarhouse, sugarwoods and sample their maple creamees, then returned to watch the parliamentary procedure competition before a final general session and banquet.
Awards at the banquet included GMTCC forestry student Cyrus Tanner winning the individual score for the spring forestry competition, and the agriculture students winning their nationally qualifying dairy evaluation CDE. Other awards recognized a student to go to an expense-paid leadership conference in Washington, D.C. The conference concluded with the newly nominated state officers being inducted into their new positions.
