February 5, 2018 — FFA student members, juniors and seniors in the Landscape and Greenhouse Management program, recently competed at the FFA Nursery and Landscape State Competition at the Columbus Convention Center.

The Nursery and Landscape Career Development Event tests students' skills in maintaining landscape plants and related products, evaluating equipment and services, as well as landscape design.

Mercedes Murphy, senior Landscape and Greenhouse Management student from Amherst, competed at the state competition and explained some of the portions of the competition. "For the identification portion of the event we had to identify 120 plants and supplies, as well as irrigation systems and supplies, and also read a landscape blueprint and answer questions about it."

Murphy placed 1st in the district and at the state competition she finished 17th individually out of 130 contestants. Don Sabella, senior from Amherst, placed 2nd in the district and finished 25th individually.

The students' individual scores were compiled for an overall team score and the JVS team, consisting of Murphy, Sabella, Sydney Collier, junior from Clearview, and Noah Hammond, senior from Firelands, finished 8th out of 22 teams.

The National FFA Organization is an intracurricular student organization for those interested in agriculture and leadership.