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Trumbull Students Rake In Medals at Farming Convention

The students recently traveled to Indianapolis to compete at the National Future Farmers of America Convention.

Techno met farming at the the 84th National Future Farmers of America Convention, where three Trumbull High School students took a gold and silver medal and two bronze medals.

Students from all over the United States traveled to Indianapolis for the event, where pounding rock music, a laser light show, and glow sticks initiated the Opening Session with the theme, "I Believe."

National Officers offered reflections, and Dave Roever, a Vietnam veteran who suffered severe wounds after a sniper set off the grenade he was holding, inspired an audience of more than 15,000 at the Conseco Field House.  

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students joined 46,000 students, advisors, and guests at the FFA National Convention that focused on helping youth become future leaders in the agricultural industry. The FFA also continues to encourage the next generation to meet challenges of sustainable agriculture through education and the exploration of careers in the industry.

The seven participants from Trumbull High School, both current and former Trumbull High School students, competed in the National FFA Horse Evaluation Career Development Event (CDE), attended leadership workshops, and general sessions and had a chance to network with other students involved in the FFA. 

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The Horse Judging team consisted of: Dominique Martin, a senior at THS; Katie Dicine, a freshman at University of New Haven; and Ed Donini, a freshman at University of Hartford.  All three previously competed in the state and regional events as part of the THS team, and Katie Dicine and Ed Donini took a few days off from college classes to participate at the National level.  Other students in attendance included Sam Carley, Ellie Gilchrist, Danny Quinn, and Alyssa Zabin.

Kevin Carley, a chaperone on the trip and parent of Sam Carely, was amazed at the scope of the conference.

“You never stop to think about the number of students and people who are engaged in agricultural activities that feed our country. It was impressive to see 45,000 young people in this environment when so many others are disconnected from agriculture and an understanding of where their food comes from,” he said.

During the National FFA Horse Evaluation CDE, the three-person THS team faced 46 other teams from around the country. The event, a competitive activity, tests student’s ability to select and evaluate horses. Along with selecting horses, students give four sets of oral reasons defending their position. The THS team competed in both independent and team events where students were asked to independently judge horse confirmation and performance under saddle.

As a group, the team identified bits, hoof anatomy, the male horse reproduction system, skeletal anatomy, and feed, along with creating a presentation about a breeding farm.

Dominique Martin received a gold medal, ranking 31 of 183. Ed Donini and Katie Dicine received a silver and bronze metal respectively. The group received a bronze emblem for overall performance.

The winners of the Horse Evaluation CDE were announced during the banquet held for all competitors. Katie Dicine, one of the three Horse Evaluation team members said of the event, “It was a good learning experience. One you can only get at the National FFA conference.”

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