Before the City Council got down to the business items on Monday night’s agenda, Nov. 14, it recognized Miss Merry Christmas and the Christmas Belles and the NCHS Agronomy Team.

Miss Merry Christmas and the Belles got to visit with Judy Sluppick, the City’s first Miss Merry Christmas, after they performed a Christmas song and received awards from Mayor Lee Posey. Miss Merry Christmas is Adriana Walker. The Christmas Belles are Elizabeth Long, Riley Page, Madelyn Peluso, Bailey Thompson and Mary Elizabeth Whitehead.

Four members of the Natchitoches Central FFA Chapter accomplished what no team from Louisiana has ever done: finish first in a National FFA Career Development Event. They placed first overall at the National FFA Agronomy contest at the 89th National FFA Convention Oct. 19-22 in Indianapolis, Ind.

Students competing in the Agronomy contest must identify over 100 plant and seed samples, 75 pieces of equipment, 35 insects and how to diagnose plant diseases. They must become proficient in grain grading, seed analysis, soil fertility recommendations, plant diagnostics, commodity evaluation and must be able to answer any question about crop production on a written exam. The Agronomy contest is the most comprehensive agricultural competition offered by the National FFA Organization.

Posey presented awards to Preston Tibbett, Bradley Scott, Dylan Daniels and Brooklyn Hampton. He also presented an award to their advisor, Aaron Beaubouef, who is an Agriscience teacher and FFA Advisor at NCHS.

“I’m incredibly proud of what they’ve done,” said Beaubouef.