FFA field day competition brings prospective students to Fresno
By Priscilla Castro
The Collegian
Having the chance to compete for a state championship title and getting the opportunity to visit a college is not something high school students get to do everyday, but on Saturday some students interested in agriculture will get a chance to do this.
On Feb. 4 Fresno State will host the Mid-Winter FFA Field Day and State Finals. The competition for high school students is presented by The College of Agricultural Sciences and Technology. FFA (Future Farmers of America) is a nationwide organization, with state associations, that prepares high school students for careers in the agriculture industry.
This competition is for high school students, but the FFA Field Day Committee, which consists of about 20 people including college students, help make this event possible at Fresno State.
The day will begin at 7:30 a.m. and the events will be held in Agriculture Science building and at the Farm Laboratory. Actual competition begins at 8 a.m. and will run until the early afternoon. There will be individual and team competitions. The competitors who are competing in this event did not need to qualify to compete on Saturday, but the winners of this event will be taking home state championship titles.
Following the competitions will be an awards ceremony at 2 p.m.
This is not the first time that Fresno State has hosted an FFA competition. The most recent FFA event was the cotton contest, in November 2005. The state finals are scheduled for April 22-25.
Megan Jacobsen, public relations senior chair said FFA’s mission is to promote premier leadership, personal growth and career success. FFA is also the largest organization of its kind in the world.
FFA also helps prepare and encourages students for a career in the agriculture industry. FFA also teaches their members about animals and how to grow crops.
Students will be competing in contests such as citrus judging, fruit tree pruning and grapevine pruning.
Megan Jacobsen, public relations senior chair said the committee is expecting about 200 competitors from different high schools. This competition is expected to draw competitors from across the state.
The judges for this event will include college students, professors, people in the agriculture industry or anyone who would just like to volunteer their time.
Other colleges across the state like Cal Poly also hold FFA competitions, but Fresno State hosts the majority of the state finals.
Even though this competition is an opportunity for these students to show off their work, they will also get a chance to start thinking their future. At the event Fresno State will also be given the opportunity to recruit future students.
The competitors will also be given the chance to take a look Fresno State’s agriculture program, so the students can see what Fresno State has to offer them. Jacobsen said there will be advisors at the event to speak with students about Fresno State’s program.
Not only is this a way for students to learn about the College of Agriculture Sciences and Technology, Jacobsen said this is also a way for people to see what college does for the state and the community.
FFA Field Day is open to the public and free of charge.
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