Maryland places second in Big E competition
Seniors Kaycee Oland, Alyssa Mattison, Sara Combs, Kasey Carns, and FFA advisor Thomas Hawthorne in front of the FFA sign at the Big E.
September 28, 2015
On Saturday, September 19, seniors Sara Combs, Kaycee Oland, Alyssa Mattison, and Kasey Carns competed in a Future Farmers of America (FFA) competition in Springfield, Massachusetts. Maryland placed second in the Big E competition in floriculture. Combs placed fifth in the individual placings in floriculture, and Kasey Carns placed ninth out of 22 participants.
“In both competitions, the state and the national level, I didn’t think I would place; however, I ended up doing really well in both competitions, which allowed me to have a better experience and more fun than I would have had by just competing,” says Combs, who participated in the states competition.
During the floriculture competition, students had to identify flowers and plant diseases, complete a 60- question multiple choice test, complete a team challenge, sell a flower arrangement, complete a job interview, settle a customer complaint, create a corsage, and create a floral arrangement. Students had only four hours to complete these tasks, giving them about 30 minutes per station.
“It was really fun to study for something you’re good at and enjoy and then find out that your team is second place in the Northeast,” says Oland.
Linganore’s floriculture team placed the highest of all Maryland teams that competed in the Big E competition in 2015. Two previous teams from Linganore won first place awards.
“I think it went really well. The students did a really good job and gave it their best. I couldn’t have asked for a better group,” says Thomas Hawthorne, Horticulture teacher and FFA adviser.
