Newberg FFA rises to national challenge

Aaron Morland found himself on the National FFA convention stage in Louisville last Saturday night to learn he placed third in the Extemporaneous Public Speaking Event. Morland, a 2013 NHS graduate, received a cash award to recognize his success in a contest that tests the ability to prepare and present a factual speech on a specific agricultural issue. Each of the 46 competitors select one topic from a choice of categories and have 30 minutes to prepare a four to six minute speech and respond to five minutes of questions.

The Newberg FFA Environmental Sciences & Natural Resources Team - Cayd Erickson, Emily Marble, Megan Joyce, Lillia Huiras and Mackenzie Gunn, spent two days of intense competition applying classroom knowledge to real-life situations. The team earned a Bronze Award. Erickson earned a Silver Individual Award, while Joyce, Huiras and Marble each earned Bronze Individual Awards. The Environmental and Natural Resources career development event focuses on testing students' problem solving and decision making skills in environmental and natural resources, specifically soil profiles, wate and air quality, waste management, environmental analysis and use of global positioning units. The Newberg team successfully competed at the state level to qualify to represent Oregon in this national contest.

Tia Piscatelli earned a Silver Award in the Small Animal Production and Care Entrepreneurship contest.  The Agri-Entrepreneurship education program is designed to better prepare students to become entrepreneurs and perceive entrepreneurship as a viable career choice.

Four Newberg FFA members were selected to participate in National FFA Agriscience Fair after being selected as state winners in their respective categories. Students conduct a scientific research project pertaining to the agriculture  and food science industries and present their findings to a panel of judges with a display and a report. Newberg participants include:

• Johanna DeJoria - Animal Systems Division II,  Bronze Award
• Katie Noragon & Karissa Noragon - Animal Systems Division IV, Bronze Award
• Cole Evans - Power Structural & Technical Systems Division I,  Bronze Award

Newberg High School ag teacher, Bob Beckner, is the advisor to the Newberg FFA program. The National FFA Organization is a national youth organization of 557,318 student members as part of 7,498 local FFA chapters in all 50 states, Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands. The FFA mission is to make a positive difference in the lives of students by developing their potential for premier leadership, personal growth and career success through agricultural education.