Decatur FFA team goes to district

Wednesday, March 26, 2014

DECATUR -- Over the centuries the art of growing crops, raising livestock and running family farms has been passed down from father to son and mother to daughter. This passing of knowledge is essential for maintaining a healthy agricultural community. In the early 20th century, one national organization has been dedicated to keeping this art form alive.

The Future Farmers of America, founded in 1928, is dedicated to teach young people at the high school level the science and business of agriculture. Local students from all walks of life come together to learn new ways of keeping this vital industry a part of Americana. The Decatur High School FFA chapter is one such group dedicated to teaching the art, science and business of agriculture to students from grades 7-12.

The Decatur FFA chapter has two beef quiz bowl teams, four livestock judging teams and a farm business team that have participated in several contests throughout Northwest Arkansas.

Students traveled to a competition at the University of Arkansas Feb. 21 to participate in the beef quiz bowl. Both Decatur bowl teams participated in the event. Although the teams made a good effort, they failed to win the contest.

That afternoon, the University of Arkansas sponsored a livestock judging contest. Decatur entered four teams, one of which was the beef quiz bowl unit. Wyatt Bingham was the high point individual in the hogs and placed fifth in the competition. Lacy Barrett placed eighth overall.

The team next participated in the Wild Hog Competition at the U of A which was hosted by the Prairie Grove FFA chapter. Both the Decatur livestock judging team and farm business team competed in the event.

The livestock judging team, consisting of Lacy Barrett, Joey Barnes, Sam Goble and Wyatt Bingham took fifth place out of 58 teams.

The farm business team made up of Haley Burden, Teddy Clements and Kara Becker took 10th place.

"For two days we did really well. I'm really proud of the kids," Lisa Barrett, FFA faculty sponsor, said. "They have been working hard and putting in a lot of effort and it has paid off."

The Decatur FFA chapter next participated in the district competition held March 20 at Arkansas Tech in Russellville. Three teams competed in this event. The livestock team of Barrett, Barnes, Goble and Bingham took 11th place while the farm business team of Burden, Clements, Becker, and Jacob Jones took 17th in the district. The third team took 25th place.

Each team needed to place in the top eight to be eligible for the state competition. The livestock judging team missed going to state by six points. They did well in all categories except in market lambs. By faltering in this division, they dropped six points which cost them the chance to advance to state. This dashed Decatur's hope for a third trip to state.

"They are a young team. They are three juniors and a freshman," Barrett said. "We will keep taking them and working with them and, hopefully, they have the potential of becoming a state winning team."

General News on 03/26/2014