Marion-Florence FFA placed first in all three divisions of the South Central District FFA Entomology Contest on Thursday at Marion High School.

Individuals placing in the A-team division were Nicholas Meyer, first; Caitlyn Maloney, second; and Alicia Maloney, fourth. Marion-Florence took nine of the top 10 places in the freshman division; Abbey Smith placed first; Jordan Laurin, second; Clint Kroupa, third; Amanda Stuchlik, fourth; Kelli Hess, fifth; Zac Lewman, seventh; Katey Ehrlich, eighth; Kaitlyn Frese, ninth; and Lauren McLinden, 10th.

Contestants took a written test on insect control, habitat, growth cycles, characteristics, and effects on humans and agriculture. They also had to identify 50 samples of common insects in Kansas.

Other Marion-Florence team members were Jessie Taylor, Corey Shields, Josh Hiebert, Cara Martin, KayCee Robinson, Lauren McLinden, Sean Buchanan, Devan Carr, Taylor Heidebrecht, James Jones, Timothy Knolla, and Dylan Seacat.

FFA adviser Mark Meyer credited the chapter’s success — especially the freshmen — in the entomology event to spending about three weeks in a freshman-level agri-science class on entomology. That is more than most schools spend on the subject, he said.

The chapter hosted the South Central District FFA Poultry Career Development contest Thursday in the Marion Middle School gymnasium. More than 100 students from 10 schools competed. Chris Rude, a poultry science graduate student at Kansas State University, coordinated and officiated the event.

Marion-Florence’s A team placed 10th in its division. Participants evaluated two classes of chickens, examined eggs for interior and exterior defects, identified various cuts of chicken, classified a carcass, graded eggs, took a written test, and completed a team problem-solving activity.