Sonoraville High School students competed at the Northwest Georgia Nursery landscape career development event, competing against more than 250 students at Chattahoochee Technical College, and sponsored by the Environmental Horticulture Department.

Sonoraville FFA, coached by Agriculture Education Teacher Sara Clark, placed first in the Senior and Junior Division. Oksana Daniel and Layson West were the highest individuals for their divisions.

From Sonoraville High School, on the 9th grade Junior Team is Oksana Daniels, Sarah Chance, Rebecca Townsend, and Madison Smith. On the Senior Team are Layson West, Jared Bunch, Taylor Fain, and Noah Henson. Other FFA members attending are Zeke Townsend, Ben Gibson, Hunter Pruitt, and Debra Beavers.

The winning team and runner up not only were crowned with the area title, but also have earned their place to compete in the state career development event.

The FFA Nursery Landscape competition consisted of a written exam, identification of plants, disorders and equipment and hands on skills in problem solving and landscape design.

The competition is based on the educational objectives of the Georgia Agriculture Education horticulture curriculum and standard practices in the horticulture industry.

The purpose of the career development event is to connect students from what is taught in the classroom to practices utilized in the nursery and landscape industry. Moreover, the competition promotes academic achievement and skill competence for students who seek a future horticulture program of study and career.

This event is one of the many educational activities in which the FFA members apply classroom knowledge to real-life situations.

The Georgia FFA Association has the third largest FFA membership in the nation with over 32,000 members. FFA strives to make a positive difference in the lives of students by developing their potential for premier leadership, personal growth, and career success through agricultural education.