Lakeview FFA had a great showing at the 87th Louisiana FFA State Convention, held in June. The SAE is a required component of a total agricultural education program and intended for every student.

Through their involvement in the SAE program, students consider multiple careers and occupations, learn expected workplace behavior, develop specific skills within an industry, and apply academic and occupational skills in the workplace or a simulated workplace environment. Through these strategies, students learn how to apply what they are learning in the classroom as they prepare to transition into the world of college and career opportunities. The best SAEs are submitted to state for placement through FFA’s proficiency program.

Fourth place poultry production:
Hunter Layfield, a junior. Hunter, with his mother, run a small quail farm where they managed them for egg production. In addition to quail, they also raise chickens, guinea, and rabbits.

4th place agricultural education:
Posey Hemperley, a recent graduate. Through her project Josey taught agricultural lessons, led workshops and coached students to be public speakers. Josey is now pursuing a degree in ministry from Oral Roberts University in Tulsa, Okla.

State Champion Vegetable Production:
Bali Quick, a senior. She keeps a vegetable garden with her father. They also hold farmers’ markets in the Ashland community. As the state champion in Vegetable Production, Bayli submitted her project to National FFA to represent Louisiana this fall at the 89th National FFA Convention.

Career Development Events (CDEs) help FFA members develop the abilities to think critically, communicate clearly, and perform effectively in a competitive job market. At the state convention, the following teams and individuals placed at the state level:

Third place marketing plan: Morgan Ragan, Emily Johnson and Josey Hemperley
Students construct a custom marketing plan for a local agricultural business and present this plan to a panel of judges. Their plan outlined ways that Eric Smith’s farm could be more profitable.

State runner up: Beaux Teach Ag:
Baileigh McTire, a senior. This competition helps students learn how to be an agriculture teacher. They plan a lesson, write a lesson plan, and teach a 15 minute lesson. Baileigh’s lesson was on career opportunities in agriculture. In January she competed at an area competition at Florien High School and placed second, which earned her a spot at state competition.

State Runner-Up Gulf of Mexico Speaking:
Bali Quick, a senior. She researched a subject pertaining to the Gulf of Mexico, wrote a 6-8 minute speech, and presented it to a panel of judges. Bayli competed at an area competition in January at Florien High School and earned a spot at the state competition. Bayli was state runner up with her speech on the brown pelican and the fluctuations in their population.

State Champion Gulf of Mexico Speaking:
Kelsey Shoemaker, a senior. She researched a subject pertaining to the Gulf of Mexico, wrote a 6-8 minute speech, and presented it to a panel of judges. In January, Kelsey won the area competition held at Florien High School, earning her a spot at the state competition. Kelsey was crowned the state champion with her recitation of her speech on the Asian Tiger Shrimp.

Retiring State Reporter:
State convention is conducted by the Louisiana FFA state officer team. Lakeview High School valedictorian and Natchitoches parish 12th grade student of the year, Josey Hemperley, served as the FFA state reporter for the 2015-2016 school year.

Elected state Vice President:
New state officer candidates are nominated and elected to the new state officer team for the 2016-2017 school year. Bayli Quick was appointed as State Vice President by the nominating committee. Bayli is the 8th Louisiana FFA state officer from Lakeview and the first Vice President since Keith Gates in 2000-2001. Bali has led camps and workshops, will represent the state as a voting delegate at the National Convention in October, and will tour the state as a voice for FFA and agricultural education.

National Chapter Award: Superior Chapter
In addition to star students, the Lakeview FFA chapter was awarded the title of Superior Chapter for the 2015-2016 school year through FFA’s National Chapter Award Program. This program highlights chapters who have outstanding programs in student, chapter and community development.