Cheney High School's Future Farmers of America took first at the tractor driving competition at the Spokane County Interstate Fair. From left to right: Cole Smith, Calvin Edwards, Kelci Scharff and James Bushnell.
It's only the fourth week of school and the Cheney High Future Farmers of America Club have already added a couple of plaques to their trophy case.
The club took first place in the FFA tractor driving competition at the Spokane County Interstate Fair, Sept. 16, and sixth in the horse judging competition at the Adams County Fair in Othello.
Club president Kelci Scharff, who was the highest point scorer, explained the competition was a combination of a knowledge test and a drive test where students had to maneuver a tractor with a trailer attached to it.
"Just doing the course forward and backwards is one thing but a trailer adds a little more difficulty," Scharff said.
Scharff is a third-year member of the club. She added that the tractor driving team did not practice prior to the county fair. They hope to get in some practice before state competition.
As for the horse judging competition, the students identified breeds and color of the horses. They also had to do the team activities, one being the practical application and the other being a team scenario where the group had to identify how they would help a horse farmer affected by the wildfires this summer.
The club is getting ready to practice FFA creed memorization, prepared and extemporaneous public speaking and clinical procedures competitions.
"Clinicals is the hardest and one of the most complicated competitions," Ally Douglas, the club's secretary, said. "Last year we waited four hours to do clinicals but it's also a fun competition after you find out how well you did."
They are currently practicing trap shooting, which starts in January. One of the new additions to the club this year is a floriculture team. Scharff said the students who competed in the horse judging competition will put together an agriculture issues team.
"We all worked well together," Scharff said. "We just need to try and get a topic, do research and practice."
Scharff said the club's membership has grown since last year. She credits the club's co-adviser Heather McLagan, who teaches floral design at the high school, for bringing in students from her classes.
"We had our first meeting last week and I've never seen so many freshmen," Scharff said.
The club is also participating in the Greenhand competition, which is for first-year members.
Al Stover can be reached at al@cheneyfreepress.com.
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