Two teams of Manor FFA members placed in the top 20 nationally during the National FFA Convention & Expo, held Oct. 30 to Nov. 2 in Indianapolis.
The Manor FFA Dairy Cattle Evaluation and Management team of Colt Barley, Alyssa Chalfant, Madeleine Denlinger and Berkee Perry placed 8th in the nation, earning a team gold medal.
The Nursery Landscape Team of Maddy Kahler, Sarah Bleacher, Janelle Richardson and Morgan Harnish placed 19th in the nation, earning a team silver medal.
During the competition, Nursery Landscape team members completed a written test on industry principles, had to identify equipment, plants, pests and disorders encountered in the industry, and use a landscape plan to make plant and business decisions.
They also had to work as a team to build a free-standing wall, fill out a service invoice, plant and stake a tree and demonstrate proper use of a chainsaw, power blower and push mower.
This was the first time Manor FFA had a Nursery Landscape team in national competition.
The Dairy Cattle Evaluation and Management Team members had to complete individual tests of knowledge, judge six classes of heifers and cows and act as consultants to help a producer to reduce disease, improve milk quality and provide vaccination schedules and protocols to reduce future diseases.
The students received coaching help from Manor FFA alumni Aaron and Angie Breneman.
Also at the national convention, two Manor FFA members – Rose Drumm and Justin High – received their American Degrees, the highest honor in FFA.
Rose is a 2017 alumna of Penn Manor, and Justin graduated in 2016.
Congratulations to these very talented students!
