Future Farmers of America chapters representing Southside High School and Northside High School participated in the 2011 North Carolina FFA State Dairy Evaluation Career Development Event last month in Rowan County.

Southside team members included Mallory Beddard, Luke Meyers, Craig Nobles and Austin Woolard. Their FFA adviser is Joshua Singleton.

Northside team members included Taren Sundeen, Garrett Boyd, Phillip Waters and Caleb Coltrain. Their FFA adviser is Ashley Yopp.

At the state event, participants are scored based on how well they apply dairy-cattle evaluation skills learned in the classroom. Each team evaluates six classes of dairy cattle and defends the reasoning behind its evaluations to a panel of judges. Participants also complete a written test and work collaboratively to select appropriate herd composition. Completing these activities successfully requires a good understanding of both animal science and herd management skills.

The highest scoring team in the state event is eligible to compete in the national FFA event at the national FFA convention in 2012. The top three teams and high-scoring individual will be recognized during the 84th North Carolina FFA State Convention in Raleigh in June 2012.