AREA STUDENTS WIN AT STATE FFA MEETING

Several area students and schools placed in competitions during the 1996 FFA Convention this month in Columbia.

Justin Jones of Oran was elected a regional vice president for the state.

Michael Johnson of Advance received awards for star area agribusiness, emerging agricultural technologies and an honorary state degree.

The Cape Girardeau Area Vocational Technical School FFA chapter won the award for the largest membership increase by percentage.

Joe Kirchdoerfer of Cape Girardeau was given an honorary state FFA degree. He is a dairy farmer in Cape Girardeau. The honorary degree is the highest award given to adult sponsors.

Kirchdoerfer has hosted district dairy judging contests and training sessions for more than 30 years.

Other chapter honors were given to Meadow Heights, East Prairie, Advance, Oran, Perryville and Kelly schools.

School teams that placed as district winners include Jackson and Farmington high schools for agriculture mechanics; East Prairie and Kelly high schools for agricultural sales; Advance and Jackson schools for dairy cattle; Dexter and Bloomfield for dairy foods; Kelly and Jackson schools for entomology; Perryville and Fredericktown for farm management; Kelly and Charleston schools for floriculture; Jackson and Doniphan schools for forestry; Jackson and Advance for meats; Cape Girardeau and Kelly schools for nursery and landscaping; Farmington and Oran for poultry; East Prairie and Kelly for soils; and Meadow Heights and East Prairie for FFA knowledge.

Brandi Hamm of Kelly school at Benton received first place in public speaking at the local contest held at Southeast Missouri State University.