FFA junior skills team claims state title

Contributed Photo First In State The El Campo High School FFA junior skills team claimed the state championship title after weekend competition in Huntsville at Sam Houston State University. Pictured (l-r) are Lee Drapela (assistant), Rory Johnson, Cody Seaman and Layton Ondrias. Standing behind the team is Craig Hardin, ag teacher and coach of the team.

Two El Campo High School FFA teams who dominated the Area 3 skills competition two weeks ago, competed Saturday, Dec. 1 at the state FFA contest held at Sam Houston State University in Huntsville.

Each of the 10 areas in the state sent their top two teams in each division to the state contest. Having placed first at the area contest, both the senior FFA skills and the junior FFA skills team traveled to the state contest Friday, Nov. 30 for preliminary competition. Both teams performed the next morning and by mid-day the results for the finals were announced.

The junior and senior teams both qualified for the finals, which meant they would perform again in the finals. The results were announced at the Sam Houston University student center that evening.

Contributed Photo In The Top Five Members of the El Campo High School FFA senior skills team competed at the state level last weekend, claiming third place. Pictured (l-r) are Meagan McClanahan, Phillip Quintero and Darcey Vesely. Standing behind the team is Craig Hardin, ag teacher and team coach.

The senior FFA skills team consisting of Phillip Quintero, Darcey Vesely and Meagan McClanahan placed third overall in the state. This is the second consecutive year this team has competed and placed in the top five at the state level.

The junior skills team consisting of Rory Johnson, Cody Seaman, Layton Ondrias and assistant Lee Drapela, are the 2007-08 junior skills state champions.

"I cant begin to tell you how proud we all are of both of these teams," said Craig Hardin, El Campo High School ag teacher and team coach.

"This honor did not come easy. Each of these teams has at least 150 practice hours in this, and time, as you all know, is very hard to come by these days.

"They have all worked so hard and sacrificed a lot. Success is derived from a combination of hard work, talent and dedication. Both of these teams have these attributes in truckloads, that is the key to their success."