The Appomattox Senior and Appomattox Middle FFA chapters traveled to the campus of Virginia Tech in Blacksburg, Virginia, to participate in multiple statewide Career Development Events (CDEs) and Leadership Development Events (LDEs) June 9-12, 2025. CDEs assess the knowledge and skills of FFA members on various agricultural topics. Participating in these events allows FFA members to develop industry-driven career skills. Middle school chapter members participated in the Creed Speaking, Junior and Senior Hippology, and the FFA Quiz Bowl contests. High school chapter members participated in the Senior Agricultural Education, Senior Agricultural Mechanics, Avian Bowl, Discussion Meet, Employment Skills, Floriculture,  Livestock Judging, Nursery Landscape, Horticulture, and Veterinary Science CDEs. The members of each team spent several weeks of their summer vacation studying and preparing for these events.

Both AMS and ACHS FFA were recognized with the “100% Membership Award” for ensuring that every agriculture student is also an FFA member. This was made possible through the generous support of the Appomattox County Farm Bureau. The high school chapter received a gold rating in the public relations award and was named the Southeast Area Chapter Forestry and Wildlife award. Chapter Reporter, Gracie Covington, prepared a scrapbook detailing chapter events over the past year that earned a bronze rating. AMS FFA received a silver rating in the public relations award and earned a bronze rating for the superior chapter contest. Appomattox Senior FFA also received a gold rating in the superior chapter contest, earning the opportunity to attend the National FFA Convention in Indianapolis, Indiana, this October. Additionally, the chapter was the state champion in the Growing Leaders division of the contest. ACHS FFA was crowned the Southeast Area winner in the Building Communities. The chapter was also declared the overall top chapter in the state.

Colton Jones represented his chapter and the Southeast Area in the state championship for the Creed Speaking Leadership Development Event. He qualified to participate by winning the Southeast Area event in March. During the state championship, Jones recited the FFA creed from memory and answered questions from a panel of judges for five minutes. Ultimately, he placed 6^th in the state-level competition.

Appomattox Primary School teacher Jean Moore helped coach two hippology teams from AMS. Hippology is a competition that tests participants’ knowledge of the equine industry. Contestants completed a written exam covering various topics related to horses, including breed identification, horse leg conformation, color patterns, and anatomical features. Additionally, they participated in events assessing their understanding of horse feeds, tack, measurements, parasites, and more. The junior team, consisting of Liam Anderson, Layton Firebaugh, and Montana Moore, placed 11th in their event, with Moore achieving the 18th highest individual score. The senior team, which included Rose Broyhill, Colton Jones, and Carly O’Brien, also performed well in the senior event. 

Liam Anderson, Layton Firebaugh, Colton Jones, and Carly O’Brien participated in the FFA Quiz Bowl contest. The participants completed a written exam that covered FFA history, general knowledge, leadership, and agricultural education. Later, the team competed in a fast-paced buzzer round against other middle school teams. They finished in 5th place in both the Quiz Bowl exam and 5^th in the team tournament. Jones was the 12^th highest individual in the exam portion of the contest.

Savannah Jones participated in the State Agricultural Education LDE. As part of the competition, she was tasked with developing a lesson plan and materials for a 6th to 8th-grade lesson on natural resources. Jones created a 60-minute lesson that focused on leaf shapes, dichotomous keys, and tree identification. She presented a 20-minute portion of her lesson to a panel of judges, using cooperative learning strategies. Ultimately, Jones placed 4th as the highest individual in her category.

Jay Harris, Pierson Harvey, Tim Henderson, and Chloe Wilson participated in the Senior Agricultural Mechanics contest. In this competition, participants were required to demonstrate their arc welding skills by performing a butt-joint weld and applying knowledge of agricultural electrification. Additionally, the team completed various problem-solving tasks and answered test questions related to machinery, electricity, compact equipment, structures, and environmental and natural resources. The team finished in 6th place overall, and Harris achieved recognition as the 3rd highest individual scorer.

The Avian Bowl CDE involves a team-based round of trivia questions and an individual test that assesses members’ knowledge of poultry management and sciences. ACHS team members included Chloe Dejong, Jay Harris, Pierson Harvey, and Chloe Wilson. Harris was the 6^th high individual, and the ACHS team placed 5^th overall.

Evelyn Johnson and Kat Broyhill represented their chapter in the state Youth Discussion Meet contest, organized by the Virginia Farm Bureau Young Farmers. Both students were required to research five current agricultural issues and facilitate productive discussions with their peers. Each participant demonstrated skills in productive thinking, problem-solving, and public speaking. Broyhill performed well in the event, while Johnson advanced through two rounds of competition and reached the “Elite 8” round.

Ethan Dowdy participated in the Employment Skills LDE, where FFA members engaged in a series of mock interviews. Prior to the event, Dowdy prepared a resume and cover letter, and he submitted a job description to the judges. He completed two challenging interviews and participated in a networking activity to showcase his interview skills. Dowdy excelled in the event and achieved 6th place.

Christian Dawson, Lainey Hamilton, Lorelei Holt, and Maris Wilson participated in the state Floriculture event. This contest required students to complete a general knowledge exam and identify plants and equipment. Students also had to identify pests, disorders, and diseases of plants.  Each participant demonstrated their skills in flower arranging and potting of young plants. Lainey Hamilton achieved recognition as the 10th highest individual scorer. Overall, the team performed exceptionally well, placing 6th in the competition.

Chloe Dejong, Alyssa Marsh, Rylee Stratton, and Peyton Thacker represented ACHS in the Livestock Judging CDE. Participants were required to evaluate live classes of beef cattle, swine, lambs, and goats. They assessed production statistics based on herd Expected Progeny Difference (EPD) data for various classes. The team finished as the 11th highest overall in the event. Stratton ranked in the top 20 individuals and advanced to the final round, where she presented brief oral speeches to a panel of judges, explaining her class placements. Stratton performed exceptionally well as an individual competitor.

Christian Dawson, Lainey Hamilton, Evelyn Johnson, and Maris Wilson were members of the Nursery Landscape CDE team. Each participant completed a written exam covering basic horticultural principles related to the production, marketing, usage, and maintenance of landscape plants and turf. They were required to identify various plants, pests, disorders, and beneficial insects. Additionally, each student participated in an estimating practicum that tested their ability to interpret landscape drawings. Hamilton ranked as the 10th highest individual, and the team overall placed 5th. Virginia FFA offers a unique opportunity to showcase schools that compete in both the Floriculture and Nursery Landscape CDEs. The Horticulture contest is an opportunity to identify the top horticulture programs in Virginia. Appomattox was the state runner-up. 

The Veterinary Science CDE assessed students’ knowledge in various areas of modern veterinary practice, including pharmacology, anatomy, physiology, general animal care, identification of pet breeds, veterinary equipment, and parasites. The Appomattox team, consisting of Niki Ballagh, Gracie Covington, Autumn Harris, and Savannah Jones, excelled in the written exam, identification, and math components of the event. They achieved 1st place in the state, outperforming 27 other teams. Additionally, Covington was the top individual, finishing in 1st place, while Harris placed 5th, Jones placed 7th, and Ballagh placed 9th. As the state champion Veterinary Science team, they will represent ACHS and Virginia at the National FFA Veterinary Science CDE during the National FFA Convention in Indianapolis, IN, this October.

Niki Ballagh, Chloe Dejong, Jay Harris, and Tim Henderson received their State FFA Degree, the highest degree that a state association can bestow upon its members. Attaining this level of membership demonstrates these members’ superb record-keeping skills and FFA participation. 

Savannah Jones earned recognition as a state proficiency award winner. This program aims to honor students who excel in work-based learning projects as part of the Supervised Agricultural Experience program. Jones was named the state champion in Agricultural Education. She has played a key role in organizing several agricultural education events, including “Little Farmers’ Day” and “Kindergarten Day” at ACHS. Additionally, Jones has led multiple workshops at Virginia Cooperative Extension events such as Central Virginia Farm Day and Farm and Family Day.

Appomattox FFA members would like to thank the many individuals involved in making this trip possible. We express our sincerest thanks to the Appomattox FFA Alumni and all the sponsors who provided scholarships to members to participate in these events. Without their help, our dreams would not have become a reality. We are thankful to Karen Spicer, who provided transportation. Many local individuals, organizations, and businesses also worked to help prepare students for the competitions. Individuals or organizations wishing to sponsor the chapter’s trip to the National FFA Convention should call FFA Advisors Elizabeth Duncan, Dani Hodges, Cassie Long, or Ed McCann at 434-352-8396.

Colton Jones placed 6^th in the State Creed Speaking contest.

Montanna Moore, Layton Firebaugh, Liam Anderson, Carly O’Brien, Colton Jones, and Rose Broyhill were on the AMS Hippology teams.

Layton Firebaugh, Liam Anderson, Carly O’Brien, and Colton Jones placed 5^th in the FFA Quiz Bowl Contest.

Savannah Jones was the 4^th highest individual in the Agricultural Education LDE.

Chloe Wilson, Tim Henderson, Pierson Harvey, and Jay placed 6^th in the Senior Agricultural Mechanics Contest.

ACHS 5^th place State Avian Bowl Team: Jay Harris, Pierson Harvey, Chloe Wilson, and Chloe Dejong

Evelyn Johnson and Kat Broyhill participated in the State Youth Discussion Meet.

Ethan Dowdy placed 6^th in the Employment Skills LDE.

Lorelei Holt, Christian Dawson, Lainey Hamilton, and Maris Wilson were on the 6^th place Floriculture CDE team.

Peyton Thacker, Rylee Stratton, Chloe Dejong, and Alyssa Marsh participated in the Livestock Judging CDE.

Evelyn Johnson, Christian Dawson, Lainey Hamilton, and Maris Wilson placed 5^th in the Nursery Landscape CDE.

Autumn Harris, Gracie Covington, Niki Ballagh, and Savannah Jones were on the State Champion Veterinary Science CDE team.

Savannah Jones was named State Champion in the Agricultural Education Proficiency Award. 

Jay Harris, Chloe Dejong, Niki Ballagh, and Tim Henderson earned their State FFA Degrees.