MEET THE BISHOP FFA MEMBERS — Pictured are front row, from left to right, Bianca Alvarez, Celina Pecos, Toni Lira, Taylor Medrano, Meaghan Vassaur, Andria Ramirez, and Lauren Morales; middle row- Ryon Becker, Cole Buckalew, Dylan Horner, Briana Ruiz, Christina Wilborn, April Rodriguez, Morgan Vassaur, Toni Rivera, Daniel Hinojosa, Justin Lira, Devon Zuniga, and Mr. Farias. Back row- Justin Pawlik, Cole Wilborn, Brianne Vincent, and Joey Olvera. A group of Bishop FFA members are advancing to state after recently competing in the Coastal Bend District and Wintergarden Invitational Land/Plant ID/ Range Career Development events on Oct. 1 and area competition on Oct. 7.

Members of land evaluation teams judge sites based on characteristics of the soil and observations of landscape conditions, then recommend land treatments considering factors such as soil characteristics, vegetative conditions and planned use for the site.

CHAPTER FARMER LAND — Pictured from left to right are Celina Pecos, Dylan Horner, Briana Ruiz, Toni Lira, Joey Olvera, Morgan Vassaur, and Daniel Hinojosa. Plant ID contestants identify samples of grasses, forbs, legumes, and woody plants and for each indicate length of life, season of growth, origin, and the economic values of the species on wildlife and grazing.

In Range judging an actual pasture is evaluated on the basis of characteristics of the soil exposed and observations of landscape conditions - slope, gullies, etc.

Team members make pasture management recommendations using information provided on a “pasture condition sheet” and by observing landscape and vegetative features. The range evaluation portion of the competition requires members to record the degree of utilization, kind of site, range condition and the predominant decreaser, increaser, and invader plant species while also recommending range management practices.

CHAPTER FARMER PLANT I.D. — Pictred from left to right are Christina Wilborn, Taylor Medrano, and April Rodriguez. Members of the teams are seperated according to their experience in the program.

“Greenhands are first year students and Chapter Farmers are students with more than one year experience,” AST/ FFA Advisor Bobby Farias said.

The results of the Oct. 1 District Invitational are as follows:

Greenhand Land - 1st Invitational / 1st place district team members were: Lauren Morales earning High Point Individual of contest, Justin Lira, Andria Ramirez, Toni Rivera. Alternates were Devon Zuniga and Bianca Alvarez.

Chapter Farmer Land - 1st Inviational/1st district team members were: Joey Olvera earning 2nd High Point Individual, Toni Lira, Brianna Ruiz, and Daniel Hinojosa

GREEN HAND PLANT I.D. — Pictured from left to right are Cole Buckalew, Ryon Becker, and Justin Pawlik Chapter Farmer Land Team #2 - 10th place – members were Celina Pecos, Morgan Vassaur, Mikel Romero, and Dylan Horner

Greenhand Plant ID - 5th place Invitational/1st place district team members were Cole Buckalew 1st High Point Individual, Justin Pawlik, and Ryan Becker

Chapter Farmer Plant ID - 3rd place district. Team members were Christina Wilborn, Taylor Medrano, and April Rodriguez

Chapter Farmer Range - 6th place Inviational/2nd place district team members were Cole Wilborn, Brianne Vincent, and Meaghan Vassaur.

All teams advanced to Area, which was held Oct. 7.

The results are as follows:

Greenhand Plant ID - 2nd place team members were Ryan Becker 7th High Point Individual, Justin Pawlik, and Cole Buckalew.

GREEN HAND LAND — Pictured from left to right are Lauren Morales, Bianca Alvarez, Toni Rivera, Andria Ramirez, Justin Lira, and Devon Zuniga. Chapter Farmer Plant ID - 15th place team members were April Rodriguez, Christina Wilborn, and Taylor Medrano.

Chapter Farmer Range - 6th place team members were Cole Wilborn, Morgan Vassaur, and Brianne Vincent.

Greenhand Land 1st place - team members were Andria Ramirez 5th High Point Individual, Justin Lira 7th High Point Individual, Lauren Morales, and Toni Rivera. Alternates were Devon Zuniga 3rd High Point Individual and Bianca Alvarez 2nd High Point Individual.

The team advancing to state posted the following results:

Chapter Farmer Land 1st place - team members were Toni Lira 4th High Point Individual, Joey Olvera 6th High Point Individual, Celina Pecos 10th High Point Individual, and Brianna Ruiz. Alternates were Daniel Hinojosa, Morgan Vassaur, and Dylan Horner.

CHAPTER FARMER RANGE — Pictured from left to right are Brianne Vincent, Meaghan Vassaur, and Cole Wilborn. The state competition will be held on April 23, 2010, at Tarleton State University in Stephenville.

“We were four points away from winning sweeptakes. This means so much since I am a single teacher from a 2A school and we were competing against 3A, 4A, and 5A schools with multiple agriculture teachers,” said Farias.

“I am so proud of EVERY student that participated,” Farias said. “Thank you so much to all the people that have and do support us.”
BISHOP FFA DISTRICT WINNERS — Pictured are front row, from left to right, Lauren Morales, Bianca Alvarez, Toni Rivera, Andria Ramirez, Morgan Vassaur, Taylor Medrano, Meaghan Vassaur, Toni Lira, Devon Zuniga, Briana Ruiz, and Cole Buckalew; second row, Celina Pecos, Daniel Hinojosa, and April Rodriguez; third row, Justin Pawlik, Justin Lira, Brianne Vincent, and Dylan Horner; fourth row, Christina Wilborn, Ryon Becker, and Mikel Romero; back row, Cole Wilborn and Joey Olvera.