For the fourteenth consecutive year, the Blanco FFA will be competing in a State FFA Career Development Event, as three teams qualified to travel to Stephenville in April to judge in the State Land and Range Contests, while the Range Plant I.D. team will compete in the State Range Plant I.D. event in Hamilton. Overall, the start of the 2008-2009 school year has proven to be very successful for the Blanco FFA, as the land, range, and plant I.D. teams won 8 contests, while placing second in four others.

Blanco’s Range Judging Team consists of Taylor McCormick, Katie Baker, Tucker Edmondson, Grayson Elrod, Kaleigh Anderson, Keaton Dodd, Austin Smith, Daniel Romero, Claire Klepac, and Corey Dowlearn. The range team took top honors at the Blanco Invitational, while finishing second at the Comal-Guadalupe and Hill District Contests. However, the range team would finish first at the Area VII range competition and qualify for state.

The Blanco FFA Range Plant I.D. team of Mindy Dechert, Kylie Leachman, Ecce Bradfute, Taylor Hartmann, Grady Childress, and Payton Duvall would finish their fall contest schedule having won all for of their competitions. In addition, by winning the area contest, these students qualified for the state competition in Hamilton next spring.

Finally, Blanco’s land judging team, which consists of Lauren Graham, Austin Deshane, Victoria Jones, Brennan Ayers, David Hostetler, Quaid Haack, John Pepper, Brooks Wyatt, Lacee Hunter, Lauren Winn, Tanner Reddout, Kelcee Hunter, Shelby Moore, Tauna Luke, and Lindsey Winn, placed first at the Blanco and Hill District Contests, in addition to taking second place at the Comal-Guadalupe and Area VII contests. The land team also qualified for state with their second place finish at area.

In addition to their many team successes, the Blanco FFA had several members win top individual awards at each of the four contests. By qualifying for the state contests in April, these teams will also compete at events hosted by Tarleton State University and Texas State University, in addition to the state qualifiers contests in Hamilton. All of these contests will be in preparation for the state contests.

Advisors for the Blanco FFA are Jason and Felice Marek.