The Pine Grove FFA Land Judging and Homesite Evaluation Team, from left, JD Morris, Rachel Wyatt, Samantha Thomas, and Sophia Adams. At right is Advisor Annie Hall. The team placed fifth overall at the state FFA convention, qualifying them to compete at the national level.

The Pine Grove FFA members participated in the West Virginia FFA Convention at Cedar Lakes in Ripley, W.Va., July 11-14.

Land Judging and Homesite Evaluation Team placed fifth overall, qualifying to compete at the National FFA Convention. That event will take place Oct. 24-27 in Indianapolis, Ind. The Pine Grove team consisted of JD Morris, Rachel Wyatt, Samantha Thomas, and Sophia Adams. Thomas also placed individually in land judging, fifth; and homesite, sixth.

In addition to the overall team award, the team placed third in the homesite competition. Land Judging is determining the best use of land for agricultural purposes. The Homesite competition evaluates the use of land for building a house including evaluating for lawns, basements, septic systems, and ponds.

Rachel Wyatt placed second in Prepared Public Speaking. Her topic was Marcellus Shale: Friend or Foe. She had to prepare her six-eight minute speech ahead of time and submit if for scoring. She then delivered that speech from memory and answered questions about the speech topic.

Annaliese Henderson placed fourth in the Extemporaneous Public Speaking Contest. She had 30 minutes to prepare a four-six minute speech and then deliver it and answer questions. In addition to the competition, Henderson served as a 2011-2012 West Virginia FFA Association Regional Vice President.

Pictured from left are Sophia Adams, land judging; Annaliese Henderson, extemporaneous public speaking and West Virginia Vice President; Rachel Wyatt, land judging and prepared public speaking; Advisor Annie Hall, Honorary FFA Degree; JD Morris, job interview and land judging; and Samantha Thomas, land judging.

J.D. Morris placed third in the Job Interview Contest. This contest has members find a job advertisement for an agricultural job and then complete an application, cover letter, resume, and then take part in a phone interview and and full interview.

Ruby Morris, Thomas, and Adams earned their state FFA degree during convention. To receive this the students had to earn and invest $1,000 from their Supervised Agricultural Experience Program (SAE), participate in various chapter activities, and be active in at least five activities above the chapter level. Adams was also the Northwestern Region Star in Agricultural Placement based on her state FFA degree and earned second place in the state for the FFA proficiency award. This is awarded to students who excel with their supervised agricultural experience program to gain work experience and investment opportunities for a future career.

Advisor Annie Hall also received her state Honorary FFA Degree. Honorary membership can be given to farmers, school superintendents, principals, members of boards of education, chapter advisors, teachers and staff members in agricultural education, business people, and others who are helping to advance agricultural education and the FFA, and who have rendered outstanding service. The honorary membership is awarded through a majority vote of the members present at any regular meeting or convention.

“The members did a great job representing their chapter, school, and region,” said Hall. “I am very proud of them!”