DAVID CROCKETT - 2014 National Nursery Landscape CDE

DAVID CROCKETT FFA

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2014 National Nursery Landscape CDE

State-winning Nursery/Landscape Team:
NATIONAL FFA GOLD EMBLEM - 12TH PLACE IN THE NATION!

Abby Anderson, Kenzie Bastian, Jenna Fabozzi, and Molly Sayre of the David Crockett FFA Chapter represented Tennessee in the 2014 National FFA Nursery/Landscape CDE during the National FFA Convention in Louisville, KY on Oct 29-30, 2014.

The team placed 12th in the National Contest out of 40 states. They received a Gold Emblem award, which is awarded to the top tier teams. Out of 25 National Contests held at the convention, only 3 Tennessee teams won Gold. An 12th place finish in the Nation is a remarkable feat! Abby Anderson and Kenzie Bastian won Individual Gold Emblems for their performances (only 8 Tennesseans won Individual Gold out of 25 National Contests).

The contest consisted of plant identification of 116 plants, landscape estimating, general knowledge exam, propagation, a written exercise, a verbal exercise, a team presentation, and a team skills challenge. The contest was completed during a mentally and physically grilling 2 days as they competed against teams from California to Florida. As always, they represented the state well in courtesy, attitude, and character. They have gained upmost respect from fellow chapter members as well as other members from across the state and nation.

This marks the 4th State-winning FFA CDE Team in a row for David Crockett FFA and 5th in the last 8 years, with all 5 teams winning Gold Emblem awards.

David Crockett FFA is the 2014 State FFA Nursery/Landscape CDE Champions!

After winning the Regional FFA Nursery and Landscape CDE, the team qualified to compete in the state contest at Tennessee Tech University in Cookeville. They will now represent Tennessee in the national contest.

Team members are:

- Abby Anderson, Junior - 3rd high individual

- Jenna Fabozzi, Junior - 2nd high individual

- Molly Sayre, Sophomore - 7th high individual

- Cole Tipton, Sophomore - 1st high individual

Out of 1800 possible points, David Crockett FFA totaled 1307 points (73%), 163 points better than 2nd place Gallatin.

The contest is composed of 5 individual events and 1 team event: a general knowledge exam, identification of 116 plant species, landscape estimating, a written assistance exercise, and a nursery production exercise. The team activity involved a landscape drawing and presentation of the drawing to a panel. The written exercise included a hand-written business letter. The overall contest is quite extensive, pulling skills from mathematics in landscape estimation, English in written assistance, and biology in the general knowledge exam.

It's a tremendous accomplishment to win a state FFA contest. The team spent several hours preparing and training for the contest with practices, study, and hard work; they definitely earned the title of state champs. With over 13,000 FFA members in TN, there are plenty of people who go 'all out' to win.

This is the 4th year in a row that David Crockett FFA has had a State FFA Championship CDE Team, and the 2nd State Nursery and Landscape CDE win in 3 years. It's rare to win a State FFA contest; Abby, Molly, and Cole just accomplished something even more rare, which so few have ever done -- they won 2 state FFA contests.

Now comes the reward -- the opportunity to compete against the other 49 states in the National FFA Nursery and Landscape CDE during the National FFA Convention in Louisville in October. They will spend 2 days with state-winning nursery teams from Alaska to Florida. Before then, they will spend countless hours preparing.