3 Teams Qualify For State FFA

On Monday, October 7th three  Battle Lake FFA Career Development Event (CDE) Teams competed in Region III competitions in Alexandria, MN.   The teams were Forestry, Soils, and Nursery Landscape. All three teams qualified for the Minnesota State FFA contests in the spring of 2020. 

The Forestry Team consisting of Braden Carlson, Jonny Fielding, Jack Parker, Nick Wendland and Tommy Ehlert placed third in their competition with Braden taking fourth individually and Jonny placing seventh.  This year’s Forestry CDE required the team to demonstrate their skills in diagnosing forest disorders, managing forests and forest inventory, and applying approved silviculture practices. The team also estimated timber value of standing trees, navigated a compass course, identified tree species and completed a practicum on map interpretation.  

The Battle Lake FFA Soils team featured Elizabeth Radermacher, Kyleigh Shebeck, TJ Underhill, Kyler Leabo and Will Ehlert.  The team took second and Elizabeth placed third and Kyleigh placed eighth individually. The Soils CDE required the teams to evaluate a soil's physical properties and make land use recommendations for production agriculture and homesite development. The students had to be able to estimate slope, texture soil and interpret nutrient levels and make fertilizer recommendations.   

The Nursery Landscape Team consisted of Nikki Jorud, Kate Johansen, Tessa Kortlever, and Cian Buehler.  For all four members, this was their first time competing in the Nursery/Landscape event. For being new to the contest, they did very well placing third overall.  Nikki led the team by placing third individually, Kate was seventh and Tessa placed in the top ten individually by securing the ninth spot. This year’s contests tested the student’s skills in maintaining landscape plants and related products, evaluating equipment and services, identifying landscape trees, shrubs and diseases, and estimating materials needed in landscape designs. 

The Battle Lake FFA Chapter is part of  the National FFA Organization which is among the largest youth organizations in the United States, with 669,989 members in 8,630 chapters throughout all 50 states, Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Islands.  The National FFA Organization is dedicated to making a positive difference in the lives of students by developing their potential for premier leadership, personal growth, and career success through agricultural education.

Nursery Landscape Team Consisting of Tessa Kortlever, Kate Johansen, and Nikki Jorud.  Missing from photo: Cian Buehler

nursery/ landscape

Forestry team consisting of Jonny Fielding, Nick Wendland, Tommy Ehlert, Jack Parker, and Braden Carlson

Forestry 

Soils team consisting of Ky Shebeck, Elizabeth Radermacher, TJ Underhill, and Kyler Leabo

Soils team