FFA Field Day Draws Students from 22 Schools
By Ruth Lepper

Katie Varley, from Warner Springs FFA, gets last-minute tips from Artie Thomsen, of Ramona, before starting the five-minute tractor-driving test. Thomsen was one of the judges for the competition.

Warner Springs High School was overrun with students on March 10, all showing up on a sunny Saturday with a common goal: to do their best in demonstrating their skills at the FFA Field Day.

This is the eighth year Warner Springs has hosted the event, drawing more than 300 students from 22 area high schools from as far away as Riverside and San Bernardino counties. Locally, Ramona and Julian chapters competed, as well as from Warner Springs.

Members of Future Farmers of America chapters took part in competitions that included judging livestock, vegetables and plants, along with testing their skills and knowledge in record-keeping, small engines, farm equipment and tool identifications.

Working on an overall points system for the sweepstakes, Fallbrook High School's FFA chapter walked away with top honors. Rubidoux came in second, followed by Norco, Warner Springs and El Capitan.

Ryan Kamalii, from Martin Luther King FFA chapter in Riverside, judges a rabbit on its size and market quality.

One of the specialty categories was designed for first-year FFA members, called "Best Informed Greenhand." Freshmen Kaitlyn Miller, 14, and Stephanie Rice, 15, traveled from Hemet to participate in that category. The girls agreed they both "did pretty good" in the event.

"You read the FFA manual and take a test on it," Kaitlyn explained. "You see how much you know. You try to be the best informed."

Chelsea Keane, 18, is president of the 72-member Warner Springs FFA chapter. She competed in farm power, taking a turn on the tractors with a time limit of five minutes to maneuver the heavy equipment back and forth.

"I haven't practiced enough," said the senior.

Katie Varley, another senior at Warner Springs High School, also competed in farm power. She came close to finishing within the allotted time.

"It was fine. I just struggled a little bit," she said. "I try to go for the written test on tractor knowledge and safety."

Ramona FFA member Joe Wier makes an oral presentation to judge Scott Duffin, of Fallbrook, in the rabbit competition.

Joe Wier, 17, a junior at Ramona High School, participated in rabbit judging. He made a presentation to judge Scott Duffin of Fallbrook, explaining the rabbit's various classifications, including how the animal felt and how he determined its meat quality.

Sherri Freeman is the FFA adviser and agriculture teacher at Warner Springs High School. She has been on staff at the school since it opened in 1995.

"This is the largest field day we've had," she said. "My high school kids asked me if we could do this (eight years ago). It's all student-motivated."

The agriculture program at Warner Springs meets the requirements for the school's science curriculum. All of the students at the school are enrolled in agriculture classes and all are members of the FFA chapter.

"It's very unique in that we had to consolidate our science program last year," Freeman said. "This is the only school I'm aware of that teaches all of its science requirements through its agriculture program."

Warner Springs district Superintendent Rich Swanson handled barbecuing chores for the field day, cooking up enough pork chops to feed the crowd during a break from the daylong activities.

"We have more kids out for this day than we have in the whole district," Swanson said.

Photos by Ruth Lepper