Over spring break middle and high school students from across the state competed in the FFA Floriculture Career Development Event at the Florida FFA Leadership Training Center in Haines City.
OCPS Agriculture Education excelled, once again. West Orange High School FFA won the high school State Championship and team member Kaley Henderson earned the highest overall individual scorer (third from left in photo). Ocoee High School FFA placed fifth in the state high school division, Glenridge Middle School FFA placed third in the state middle school division and Avalon Middle School FFA placed fifth in the state middle school division. These teams will receive their awards on stage at the Florida FFA Convention in June. West Orange HS will compete at the National Convention and Expo in the fall.
To prepare for the state level event, the Career and Technical Education department held an Orange County FFA Federation Floriculture CDE a few weeks ago.
“I believe it’s safe to say that this ‘preparing with precision’ opportunity made a big difference in the preparation of our students. Thanks again to all those advisors who participated in our local floriculture career development event and participated at the state level,” Danny Garner, district coordinator, said.
The Florida FFA Floriculture CDE stimulates interest in learning activities related to the floriculture/flower industry, including the identification of plants, pests, industry sales and marketing, store display, job interviews and worker safety. The teams must also complete “hands-on” practicums which included creating a boutonnière and a kokedama. The Florida Nursery Growers & Landscape Association sponsored the state event.