FFA ag-mech teams focus on pest management

Knowledge and skills related to pest management are the focus of this year’s FFA ag mechanics competition. Team members study and practice shop skills to develop knowledge and the ability to develop and operate a pest management system.

Garfield/Palouse FFAers topped the Southeast District competition March 1 at Walla Walla Community College. The Viking chapter won at Walla Walla after topping a county event at Tekoa and Garfield/Palouse shops Feb. 23.

Garfield/Palouse advisor Buddy Carter said the chapter actually conducts tryouts for the team and students practice and study for the competition.

“They really have to go above and beyond to do this,” he explained.

This year’s pest management theme requires a variety of skills. The competition includes everything from identification of insects and weeds to operation of small engines and spray equipment. Competitors are also required to demonstrate welding, electrical and plumbing skills which are normally requires to operate a management system on a farm.

This year’s skill package even requires knowledge about concrete pours, a skill which could be required for spill containment of pesticides.

Competition rounds normally take about four hours. Carter said the event is divided into separate skill segments of about 30 minutes each. Team members are required to show their knowledge during the 30-minute segments and then move on to the next part of the competition

For example, they could be asked to demonstrate two or three kinds of welds which are required in a problem solving format.

The Feb. 23 competition started at the Tekoa shop where each competitor took a general knowledge test and answered questions about pesticides. They were required to identify small engine and parts of sprayers, pump and related plumbing parts.

The competition moved to the Palouse shop were teams were required to complete an arc weld, wire a 12-volt circuit, identify plants and insects and complete a team activity. Each of the eight events was scored up to 50 points with another 150 for the team activity score.

The top three individual scores are used to compile the team score. The Garfield Palouse chapter scored 1097. Colton placed second at 950 and Colfax was third at 946.

In the SE district event at Walla Walla Community College the Vikings won with a 499. Other team scores were Pomeroy 484, Colfax 325, St. John/Endicott 318, and Tekoa 390.

State competition has been booked in April back at WWCC with each of nine districts in the state sending top teams. Each district can send three teams and Carter expects 25 to 27 teams to be in the competition.

Winners will advance to the finals at the National FFA convention next fall.