The Agriculture Department at Northeast Texas Community College hosted approximately 300 high school Area VI FFA members for a judging contest on April 7.

Students had the opportunity to participate in forage, land or woodland competitions which included significant involvement of area Natural Resource Conservation Service (NRCS) offices and their personnel. The forage and land contests were held on the NTCC campus and farm, and the woodland contest was held at the Hudson Old farm off FM 1735 south of the College.

FFA Area VI schools that participated included Atlanta, Avery, Avinger, Beckville, Canton, Carthage, Chapel Hill, Como-Pickton, Daingerfield, Dekalb, Detroit, Gilmer, Harmony, Jefferson, Linden-Kildare, Marshall, McLeod, Mount Pleasant, Mount Vernon, New Boston, New Diana, Ore City, Paris, Queen City, Quitman, Redwater, Rivercrest, Sabine, Simms, Texas, Van, Waskom, Winona.

In the forage competition, Harmony took first place while DeKalb finished second and Avery third. Individual winners (first through third) were Kaylann Wood (Harmony), James Rogers (Avery) and Amber Anderson (Harmony). In the land competition, Harmony earned the top spot while Avery came in second and Mt. Vernon finished third. Individual winners (first through third) were Josh Grable (Simms), Taylor Duvall (Harmony) and Holly Mitchell (Avery). In the woodland event, Avery took first, Simms won second and Linden-Kildare claimed third. Individual winners (first through third) were Hunter Westbrook (Avery), Aerriel Collins (Simms) and Clint Tevebaugh (Gilmer). Harmony won the sweepstakes plaque.

NTCC would like to thank the area NRCS offices, Mr. Hudson Old for opening his farm up for the woodland contest, and AEP Swepco for providing gift bags, snacks, and bottled water for contestants.

To learn about agricultural opportunities available through NTCC, please visit www.ntcc.edu/ag or contact Dr. Charlie Apter at 903-434-8267.