Members of the Pendleton County FFA chapter earned top finishes during the West Virginia FFA Career Development Events held Sept. 17 and 18 in Morgantown.
Career Development Events give FFA members the opportunity to apply skills and knowledge centered around various agriculture careers learned through agricultural education in hands-on, competitive settings.
The food science technology team, consisting of Katie Keyser (third), Kallie Keyser (fourth), Kaylee Teter (fifth), Hannah Heavner (eighth) and alternate Ava Bowers, earned first place as a team, demonstrating their knowledge of food science through a written exam, practical math application, and various practicums such as identifying concerns in customer complaint letters, completing triangle tests, identifying aromas and safety concerns. They will represent West Virginia at the National FFA Convention and Expo in October of 2027.
The livestock evaluation team, composed of Tia Heavner (fifth), Katie Heavner (seventh), Callie Dunn, and Aiden Whetzel, finished third place as a team. They demonstrated their ability to evaluate animals based on desirable traits for marketing and breeding. The event includes livestock placing and oral reasons as part of the competition.
The poultry evaluation team, consisting of Cole Harper (sixth), Ty Armentrout (ninth), Alex Adams, and McKenzie Vandevander, also earned a third-place team finish. The team members put their knowledge of the poultry industry to the test in a written exam, placing classes of live birds and ready-to-cook classes, giving oral reasons, identifying parts, and the evaluation of eggs and further processed poultry food products.
The strong finishes reflect the preparation and hands-on learning of the chapter’s FFA members. Competing at the state level allowed the students to apply what they have learned in the classroom and through their agricultural experiences.
