LaFayette High School’s Future Farmers of America chapter is the winner of the state Wildlife Management competition. From left are Kyle Ludy, James Russell, Samantha Sweatmon, Devin Clark, Senora Winkles and Carter Woods. “We have a lot of kids interested in fishing, hunting and forestry and [FFA] ties into our new pathway, the Forestry Natural Resources pathway,” said FFA advisor/ag instructor Michael Gardner.LaFayette High School’s Future Farmers of America club recently achieved something it never has before: It won the state Wildlife Management competition – claiming not one, but three state titles.
“The Wildlife Career Development Event is one of the most competitive events within the FFA as each of the six areas in Georgia have around 20 teams competing just to advance to state competition,” LHS FFA advisor/ag instructor Brandon Ray said of the uphill battle to even make it to the state competition, where 13 total teams competed.
The area which includes LHS covers 42 schools, said fellow FFA advisor/ag instructor Michael Gardner. Students must be first or second in the Wildlife CDE to advance. Out of 26 events, LHS advanced to state in 14 areas, he said.
The Wildlife Management CDE is a competition based on management principles and practices in the areas of game bird biology, whitetail deer management, aquatic management and general wildlife identification. Teams are comprised of four people, each member specializing in one of those areas and presenting in related events. The team members also work together on a written test based on wildlife management, conservation and regulations.
Ray said the students have to know the laws and regulations and history of wildlife management for the competition questions.
LHS’ nine students swept the state competition, which was held at the Warnell School of Forestry at the University of Georgia in Athens.
“They win scholarships and prize money,” said Ray. “In the end there is an incentive to do well to go to nationals.”
Both LHS’ Junior and Senior Wildlife Teams competed. From the school’s Junior Wildlife Team, Kyle Ludy placed first in aquatic management, Devin Clark took second in whitetail deer management, Rileigh Muncy came in third in general wildlife identification, and Señora Winkles placed third in game bird biology.
The Senior Wildlife Team placed first overall by a 10-point margin in a 500-point contest, Ray said. Team member Carter Woods placed first in general wildlife identification, while James ‘Kobe’ Russell and Jess Aldridge took third in game bird biology and whitetail deer management, respectively, and Samantha Sweatmon placed fifth in aquatic management.
Annie Carter of the Senior Wildlife Team won the state Agriculture Education Career Development Event.
“Rarely does a school win both Junior and Senior divisions, and in the time I have been training teams for this event I have never seen a team work harder than this one, nor have I ever had one win,” Ray said. “State [FFA] Director Chip Bridges praised the students and Walker County for the example they are setting for the county and even took time to take a ‘selfie’ with the students.”
His students did well last year, he said, coming in second by four points. Ray said that fueled the returning members to work harder. The competition was close again this year: The senior team was tied with another school, but beat the other team on a test.
Scholarship opportunities aren’t the only benefits to such FFA competitions. Gardner said students develop people skills and communication skills and all events display leadership ability.
“Annie Carter performed a 10- to 12-minute lesson,” said Ray. “She had to answer questions. Annie was very shy at the start of FFA. Now she teaches a lesson. She made the lesson come to life.”