NEW VISIONS Students Bring Home the Gold from State Competition

The national career development event finalists to represent New York State were decided on Friday, May 7th at the State Convention of the New York State FFA Association held at the Tri-Valley Central School in Sullivan County.

Five New Visions students participated in the Job Interview and Floriculture competitions testing skills they learned inside the classroom in events designed to mirror real-world experiences. Bryan Curtis, a senior from Ithaca High School placed first in the job interview contest and Aurora Ulbing a senior from Newfield High School placed second. Both earned an opportunity to compete nationally. The Floriculture team members Jenna Lamb (Lansing), Aurora Ulbing (Newfield), Mary Marisa (Ithaca) and Dylan Marcus (Ithaca) earned a gold team award placing third out of eighteen teams. Jenna Lamb placed tenth overall.

In the Job Interview event, Bryan and Aurora prepared resumes, cover letters, completed a job application and a phone interview, sat for a formal committee interview and wrote a follow-up letter. Bryan and Aurora qualified for the state level competition by winning first at the district and then at the regional events. Both will compete nationally – Aurora at the Eastern States Exposition in September and Bryan at the National FFA Convention this October in Indianapolis, Indiana.

“This is what FFA is all about,” said State FFA Advisor Eric Larsen. “These are students who have been encouraged by their advisor to pursue excellence, and these are the results – FFA provides opportunities for teenagers to challenge themselves and accomplish something significant that is individualized and preparing them for their future.”

The FFA is a national youth leadership organization for students enrolled in agriculture classes in their middle and high schools. School districts with agricultural education programs are preparing their students for some of the most up-and-coming careers available to graduates today. Agricultural education is proven to improve student success, graduation rates and matriculation rates. Alternative and renewable energy, natural resource management, “Green” technologies and the production and transportation of an affordable and safe food supply are all career areas that are thriving and growing. One in every five Americans is employed in the agriculture industry.