The campus was alive with activity today as high school students participated in the annual 91福利导航-Platteville FFA Career Development Events. It serves as a precursor for teams hoping to qualify for the state FFA competitions. The university welcomed nearly 100 FFA chapters from across the state, ranging from local school districts to those from Milwaukee, Green Bay, Wausau and La Crosse.
"This is an incredible event," said Dr. Wayne Weber, dean of the College of Business, Industry, Life Sciences and Agriculture. "With 2,000 participants here, they鈥檙e actively engaging in agriculture skills tests. It鈥檚 a fantastic opportunity for students to learn about UW-Platteville and the exceptional faculty and staff who are here to support their education."
There are several categories, including Floriculture, where 15-year-old Isabel is excited to compete alongside her teammates.
"I want to learn more about horticulture and flowers because this is my first year, and I鈥檝e never done this before," said Isabel. "I hope to improve and continue to grow and learn. I love that events like this exist. Everything I鈥檝e experienced in FFA has been incredible."
The Floriculture competition provides a platform for agriculture students to showcase their skills, with events focusing on general knowledge, plant identification and practical floral design experience. Other categories include Dairy Cattle Management and Evaluation, Milk Quality and Products, Veterinary Science and Wildlife Management.
16-year-old Colt and his team placed second last year in the Agricultural Sales competition and they are hoping to take home the top spot this year. The competition emphasizes sales skills in the agribusiness industry, which is crucial for marketing agricultural products and driving profitability in today鈥檚 competitive economy.
"I鈥檝e learned many leadership and life skills鈥攕kills I can take with me into the real world," said Colt. "I鈥檝e met a lot of people and gained valuable resources that will help me in the future."
His goal is to become a cattle hauler and eventually own his own business.
"This event is no small undertaking and requires a lot of organizing and support," said Dr. Tammy Evetovich, chancellor of UW-Platteville. "I want to express my appreciation to those who made today possible. A heartfelt thank you to our School of Agriculture staff and faculty who are volunteering at each contest and assisting with registration, as well as the 100 student volunteers who are making this event a success."