FFA returns with top honors

Monache FFA has made history — earning more top awards than any other team during the 2012 Sequoia FFA Sectional Competition.

In all, more than 90 FFA members and 30 teams participated. For Monache, 18 students represented Monache FFA in the public speaking team contest. The team members were responsible for memorizing a section of the FFA Opening and Closing Ceremonies script and reciting it as a team in front of a panel of judges.

“These students have been training for over a month to develop their superb public speaking skills as well as their confidence to get in front of a group of people and perform,” said MHS Ag teacher Jason Ferreira.

Monache High’s Novice Team — consisting of Cassidy Lewis, president; Mckenzie Beardsley, vice president; Catarina Alvarado, secretary; Bailey Jeanes, treasurer; Jocelyn Castillo, reporter; and Jasmine Hernandez, sentinel — captured first place for High Team at two competitions, Strathmore High’s and Sequoia Section Contest. It also captured five out of six High Individual awards by Lewis, Beardsley, Jeanes, Castillo and Hernandez.

In the Open Division Team for all ages and grade levels, the team — consisting of Courtney Flores, president; Evan Shaffer, vice president; Ashley Heffley, secretary; Yisel Ayon, treasurer; Spencer Paskwietz, reporter; and Fritzi Andrade, sentinel — also captured first place High Team. In addition, team members Flores and Heffley won High Individual Awards.
In the Officer Team division, Chance Lewis, vice president, and Isaac Herrera, reporter, won High Individual awards. Also participating in the division was Allegra Fritz, president; Sierra Zimmerman, secretary; J.T. Scott, treasurer and Sierra Rodriguez, sentinel.

The Officer Team placed fourth at the Strathmore High contest and narrowly missed first place and placed second at the Sequoia Sectional.

Advising the group were Monache FFA advisers Cindy Brown, James Corbett and Ferreira, who reported that through out the competition, numerous comments from other advisers and students were heard asking “How do they do it?”

“These students are to be commended for a job well done. By far they were the best FFA Chapter at this competition,” Ferreira said. “Monache FFA is proud of their accomplishments and looks forward to the continued success of these FFA members and other students alike.”