Ten teams of students from FFA clubs competed in a 3-hour Beebe Martin Memorial FFA Competition Sept. 28 at the Natchitoches Parish Fairgrounds.The students are from Natchitoches Central High School, Lakeview High School, Ebarb High School and Dodson High School. They represented Natchitoches, Sabine and Winn Parishes. Wood for the competition was donated by a local wood company and a local supply company  donated a 5-gallon bucket of supplies to each school.  Students built porch swings from a set of plans provided and four area contractors judged their work. The students were judged on the following criteria:

workspace cleanliness
safety
teamwork
quality of finished product
following plans

While each team has a woodworking shop at their school, the competition gives them an opportunity to work under pressure with a time limit and quality requirements. LSU AgCenter Assistant Extension Agent Randall Mallette helped organize the event and the Natchitoches Parish Fair Board provided the students with lunch.