Thomas County Middle FFA recently competed in the Wildlife Management and Forestry Career Development Events. Both teams won first place at the area level and qualified for the state competition.

The Wildlife Management event includes four practicum areas that are completed by a different individual. Team members included: Ashley Brannen in Game Bird Biology, RJ Dukes in Whitetail Deer Management, Caleb Harrell in Aquatic Management, and Taylor Stegall in General Identification. Taylor was named the 2nd Highest Individual in her practicum at the state level, and the team finished 7th overall.

The Forestry event includes 10 practicum areas that are designed to test a variety of forestry skills. On the area level, the team brought home numerous individual awards including: Caleb Harrell (1st place Insects and Disorders ID); Ashley Brannen (1st place Land Measurement); Gavin Ryals (1st place Timber Cruising for Cord Volume); Katie Sylvain (1st place Timber Cruising for Board Foot Volume); Roy Smith (1st place Reforestation); Taylor Stegall (2nd place Tree Identification); Cody Johnson (2nd place Hand Compass); Rayne Gipson (2nd place Ocular Estimation); Austin Clark (4th place Timber Stand Improvement); Samantha Johnson and Bryan Williams (3rd place Forest Management). The team finished 10th overall at the state competition.  

Pictured below in the first image is the Forestry Team standing from left to right is Ms. Audrey Davis, Bryan Williams, Austin Clark, Gavin Ryals, Roy Smith, Cody Johnson, Samantha Johnson, and Rayne Gipson.  On the front row from left to right is Ashley Brannen, Caleb Harrell, Katie Sylvain, and Taylor Stegall. 

Pictured in the second image is the Wildlife ManagementTeam from left to right is Ashley Brannen, R.J. Dukes, Caleb Harrell, Taylor Stegall, and Ms. Audrey Davis.