By: Emily Windham
Lakeview FFA traveled to Indianapolis, Ind., to compete at the 90th FFA National Convention during the week of Oct. 23-27. Having won the state competition for Nursery/Landscape in March, the team of four students traveled to compete against the best high school horticulture students in the country.
The National Nursery/Landscape Competition is a two day competition that includes: general knowledge of plant identification, tool identification, physiological problems, beneficial and harmful insects, diseases, verbal and written customer assistance, landscape architecture and design, and practical skills (including pre operation, operation, and post operation of chain saws and string trimmers, land surveying, PVC pipe and irrigation repair, sod installation and more).
Bayli Quick, Kelsey Shoemaker, Tyler Sullivan and Emily Windham, with coaching from their advisor, Ryan Riley, studied for almost seven months to fully prepare themselves to compete. Each student individually placed Gold emblem, meaning they were in the top third of all students in the event.
As a team, they finished seventh among 37 states represented. The seventh place finish is the highest Louisiana has placed in Nursery/Landscape in recent history.
