In the News: FFA sectionals on NHS’ home turf

Newberg High School was overtaken by a tide of blue jackets March 1 when the school’s FFA chapter held this year’s sectional competition.

“It went pretty well,” said Kory Blake, 18, a senior who is running for statewide officer for next school year. “We started a little late,” he admitted, as the students had to wait until school let out to start competing.

Blake finished second in extemporaneous speaking, flipping positions with the student he had competed against at the district contest. “I drew organic farming this time,” he said. “I was very happy to do so.” He said the judges gave the students good feedback about their organization and were pleased with their work.

While it was nice not having to travel, Blake said holding the competition made it a bit harder on the Newberg team. They spent time preparing for the event, time they normally would have spent prepping for their individual contests. “I was literally setting stuff up, making copies until I competed,” he said.

Aaron Morland, 15, a sophomore, agreed that the pre-competition stress was a bit of a disadvantage, but thought that once the competition had begun in a room he was accustomed to, it gave him a bit of advantage. Apparently it worked, as he took first place in sophomore public speaking.

Blake said the chapter started preparing two months ago for the event and the club hosted about 100 competitors and 50 judges.
Adviser Bob Beckner said the chapter hadn’t hosted a competition since 2000 or 2003.
NHS students placing in the competition were:

• Austin Babcock took fourth place in creed speaking.
• The team of Ian Burgess, Tia Piscitelli, Sierra Drill, Chelsea McConnell, McKenna Season and Trevor Piller were first in beginning parliamentary procedure.
• The team of Ben Fleming, Sam Morland, Kory Blake, Alaena Wilfong, Aaron Morland, Brennan VandenHoek and Nick Grill were fourth in advanced parliamentary procedure.
• Trevor Piller took first in beginning prepared public speaking, Aaron Morland earned a first-place finish in sophomore prepared public speaking and Alaena Wilfong brought home a first-place ribbon in advanced prepared public speaking.
• The second-place ribbon for extemporaneous public speaking went to Kory Blake.

First- and second-place winners qualify to compete at the state convention at Crater High School in Central Point/Medford. They will be joined by previous qualifiers from NHS, including: the district winning Farm Business Management team, district co-op winners, district Small Animal Production Entrepreneur and Veterinary Science Placement Proficiencies winners, district Swine Entrepreneur Proficiency winner, AgriScience Experiment presenters and Oregon FFA State Officer candidates.

Laurent Bonczijk, The Newberg Graphic