State FFA Convention here we come!

http://aged.sdstate.edu/SDFFA_home_files/Events%20&%20Announcements/StateConvention/2014/2014%20SC%20Program%20FINAL.pdf

SD State FFA Convention April 6-8^th

Sunday, April 6

2:30 pm-Meet at SBA

2:45-Leave SBA

4:45-Arrive in Brookings and register at the convention

5:30-Check into hotel

Supper-Pick up pizza and bring to the hotel

7:00-Session 1 at Frost Arena

Monday, April 7

8:00 am-Livestock Judging at the Animal Science Arena

9:30-Advisor meeting

11:30 am-12:30 am-Advisor Luncheon at the Campanile room in SDSU Student Union

Noon-Horse Judging at the Intramural Building, East Side

Lunch-Students on their own

2 pm-Business Session at the Frost Arena-Brian and Tricia

Tours of SDSU after horse judging and session?

Supper-Going out to eat

7:00-Session 3 at the Frost Arena

Tuesday, April 8

8:30am-Final Session in the Frost Arena

Tours of SDSU after session?

Lunch-Students on their own

**Be sure to check out the tradeshow and the workshops throughout the day on Monday!

We should arrive back to SBA by supper time on Tuesday.  Remember that official dress will be required any time you are at the convention or competing.  Check out the link at the top for other information on the convention!

Miller FFA CDE

judgingcard.com

We had a fun day in Miller today with our horse judging and livestock judging teams. The horse judging team took 6th out of 16 schools and the livestock juding team took 10th out of 17 schools. Congratulations! The teams will compete next at the State FFA convention. Results for the judging can be found at judgingcard.com under the March 18 Miller FFA CDE. We are team 0108.

Horse judging and livestock judging resources

Here are some good on-line resources for horse judging:
http://www.cowgirldiary.com/archives/1169

http://www.equisearch.com/horses_care/health/anatomy/quartertypeconf_030107

http://www.equisearch.com/horses_care/health/anatomy/geldingconformation_051906/

http://www.equisearch.com/horses_care/health/anatomy/mareconformation_061506/

**Horse and Rider Magazine has a great conformation clinic in each one of their issues!

Here are some good on-line resources for livestock judging:
http://www.judging101.com/

http://www.ans.iastate.edu/clubs/judging/livestock/Basicsppt.pdf

http://www.livestockjudging.com/free_livestock_judging_practice_classes.aspx

Springing into a break!

Spring break is almost here and it is a sprint to the finish line. Here are pictures from FFA students teaching farm and ranch safety to the upper elementary students. Trig taught the junior high students, but I forgot the camera for that one! We used a curriculum put together by the Farm Bureau which included a training video and worksheets. The video was well done and can be purchased by the Farm Bureau if you would be interested in that. The students did a great job teaching basic safety principles relating to potential farm safety emergencies and the younger students enjoyed seeing them in their classroom.

We have been studying equine science the last couple of weeks and looked at horse breeds, basic horse conformation, and horse anatomy. Rather than stand around in a cold barn, we brought our horse Dally to the heated shop at school and did a hands on lesson where the students identified the different parts of the horse using labels. Unfortunately I forgot to take pictures while we were doing the activity, but here is the crew at the end of the class!

After spring break, things get very busy with FFA activities. Starting off on Tuesday, March 18th, we will be headed to Miller for a Career Development Event where the students will be competing in livestock and horse judging. There is a possibility for students to also compete Monday, March 24th in Bowdle at an event that will prepare them for the state competition in April. Speaking of state competition, the FFA State Convention will be April 6-8 in Brookings. I hope to post a detailed schedule soon of those days, but know that we will meet at SBA on Sunday, April 6th and then be back at SBA the evening of April 8th. Please let me know if you have any other questions!