By ROWENA PLETT

Staff writer

More than 300 students from 26 schools in the south-central Kansas FFA district converged Feb. 9 on Marion High School on to compete in poultry, ag business management, and food science career development events.

Marion FFA members were group leaders and helped set up and take down contests.

Poultry

Participants were required to evaluate and place a class of hens, identify 10 retail cuts of chicken, use a candling light to examine the interior of eggs for defects, evaluate two classes of processed breaded poultry meat cuts for their retail suitability, judge a set of 10 broiler carcasses, evaluate a class of eggs for exterior defects and grade them, and take a written test.

Thirty-nine teams and 136 individuals competed. The event was officiated and coordinated by Scott Beyer of the poultry department at Kansas State University.

Hillsboro’s team of Ashley Peters, Anslee Brewer, Keeley Brewer, and Dallas Whorton placed fourth. Peters placed third overall.

Another Hillsboro team of Bryant and Eli Dalke, Karley Loewen, and Ella Suderman placed fifth. Goessel placed eighth.

Centre’s B team of Daniel Moenning, Jenna Bittle, Olivia Carlson, JaQuin Smith, Robert Spohn, Andy Madron, Hayley Whitely, Hailey Barton-Whitcomb, Dwayne Moenning, and Kaitlynn Bina placed third.

Ag business

Participants took a 50-question test over farm management and concepts related to managing finances in an ag-related business. They also completed a test on how to solve different farm management problems.

Marion’s Johnny Zieammemann placed second. Centre’s B team placed third overall. Olivia Carlson placed fourth, and Bina placed ninth.

Food Science

Participants identified food aromas, evaluated food safety situations, and took a written test about the food science industry.

Fifty-two teams and 181 individuals participated.

Centre’s A team of Daylyn Wood, Olivia Carlson, Kaigen Brewer, and Allie Stuchlik placed eighth. Isabel Rziha placed first. The B team placed second in its division. Jenna Bittle placed sixth; Hayley Whiteley, seventh; and Kaitlynn Bina, eighth.