Page 7 - Dinuba Sentinel 11-29-18 E-edition

The Dinuba Sentinel
Dinuba
In recent state competition DHS FFA's A Team places 6th, while B Team nishes in 5th place
Community Thursday, November 29, 2018 | A7 FFA Cotton Teams among best in state
By Karen Cabellos
DHS FFA Chapter Reporter
On November 3rd, The Dinuba FFA Cotton Judging teams competed at their State Finals at Fresno State. Throughout the season, members of this team traveled all across the Central Valley competing and bring home numerous accomplishments and awards.
Students also had the opportunity for work-based learning by meeting with a local cotton grower to tour his farm and learn about cotton growing right in the field. Moving full circle, students were able to tour a cotton gin to see how cotton is taken from a raw bale from a field to a processed bale ready for use.
Cotton judging is a competitive career development event in which competitors are challenged with ranking cotton samples, including cotton lint, cotton bolls, cotton seeds, and cotton plants from the best to worst. In addition, students must then prepare an oral set of reasons they recite in front of a judge justifying why their placement is ideal.
Along with critically evaluating cotton samples and a competitive public speaking aspect, students are challenged by taking a general knowledge exam that tests their knowledge production practices, plant physiology, common pests, diseases, grading, harvesting practices, processing techniques, and current industry pricings.
Photo contributed
Representing Dinuba High School's Future Farmers of America at a recent cotton judging competition held at Fresno State were (left to right) Steven Jimenez, Jose Flores, Nathan Martin, Jesus Gutierrez, Brandon Avilez, Marlen Perez and Dafne Pamplona.
Competitors have to have a strong foundation in not only evaluation skills, but industry information as well.
For the cotton contest, there are two contests: B contest and A (advanced). The Dinuba FFA cotton judging teams have spent countless hours practicing, preparing, and testing and
touring to prepare for state finals. Bi-weekly practices with coach, Mrs. Nicole Borba, started in August, once school began, and they have been competing ever since. Dinuba FFA’s A Team, advanced division, ranked 6th highest overall team in the entire state- narrowly missing top 5! Junior,
Dafne Pamplona, earned 9th overall individual in the state with this being her first year competing! Other awards included 5th High Team on General Knowledge Test and 4th overall in plants. Members of the A team were Dafne Pamplona, Jose Flores, Nathan Martin, and Steven Jimenez.
In B contest, there was no shortage of accomplishments. The Dinuba FFA B team placed 5th high overall in the state, while also bringing home 3rd high team in seeds and 5th overall in plants. Sophomore Jesus Gutierrez earned 5th high overall individual in cotton bolls. Members of this top 5 team
are Jesus Gutierrez, Marlen Perez, Brandon Avilez and Jocelyn Ochoa. Dinuba is very proud of the accomplishments the members achieved and conquered this season. We look forward to another successful season to see how well these outstanding individuals do next year.
Dinuba Sentinel
17th Annual Christmas Cookie
Contest*
*Has to be considered a cookie, excludes any type of bars.
Mid-Valley Publishing’s annual cookie contest is near! Interested contestants should bring a dozen of their home- made Christmas cookies and the recipe
to Dinuba Sentinel of ce (145 S. L Street) THE
by 3 p.m. on Thursday, December 13, 2018.
So...get out those measuring cups and let’s get started!
The newspaper staff will judge the entries and select the three winning entries.
1st Place ................................ $75 2nd Place............................... $50 3rd Place................................ $25
DEADLINE IS 3 P.M. THURSDAY, DECEMBER 13, 2018
The winning recipes will be published in Dinuba Sentinel December 2018
Gift certi cate will be awarded
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