ASHLAND — The Ashland FFA Floriculture team traveled to the Pickaway County Fairgrounds in Circleville to compete in the State Floriculture Career Development Event (CDE) on April 13 against 69 other teams from around the state.
The team was composed of seniors, Elise Frazer and Haley McNaull, and sophomores Hannah McNaull and Gwenyth Miller.
Of 254 individual contestants, Haley McNaull placed first, Elise Frazer placed second, Gwenyth Miller placed sixth, and Hannah McNaull placed seventh. These individual scores placed the team first in state.
The team completed the online test portion of the contest on March 23, where they identified tools and plants, and answered questions on floral practices. Their scores after this segment of the competition placed them 1st in the state, starting them on a strong foot to begin the final competition.
In Circleville, the team competed individually in practicums of:Â plant identification with both common and scientific names, plant diseases, pests, industry tools, plant and arrangement judging classes, and a bud vase practicum.
In the plant identification portion, students observed 50 live plant specimens and identified them by scientific name or their common name.
For the plant disease and pests portions students observed twenty specimens with issues spanning from white flies to aphids to phosphorus deficiencies.
While in the industry tools practicum, participants identified tools from floral tape to a thermostat. Plant and arrangement judging classes consist of five stations of either potted plants or floral arrangements that the contestant must rank from best to worst.
Finally, contestants design a three carnation bud vase with leather leaf and gypsophila and complete a price sheet.
Thank you to Floriculture coach Mrs. Mary Cox for coaching the team for the past four years.
The team’s success can be attributed to her excellent teaching and constant encouragement. Her coaching days will continue as she helps prepare the team for the national contest in October.
The girls hope to come home from their final competition together with a first place national title!Â