FFA members are first in entomology
Members of the Marion/Florence FFA Chapter placed first during the South Central District FFA entomology contest Feb. 18 at Marion High School.
In the upperclassmen division, five MHS FFA members placed individually. Riley Ross placed second, Luke Bowers was fourth, Sarah Regier was sixth, and Cory Helmstead and Mark Vinduska tied for 10th.
In the B-team division, the team of Vinduska, Helmstead, John Whitwell, and Brady May placed first.
In the freshman division, Kyle Hett placed first, Clay Riggs was second, Chase Williams came in fourth, and Danielle Cope took fifth place.
The freshman team — consisting of Hett, Riggs, Williams, and Casey Baker — won the freshman division. Marion's other two freshman teams placed second and third.
Other entomology team members from MHS included Robyn Kukuk, Jeff Turk, Justin Anderson, John Barr III, Eric Williams, Casey Keazer, Desirae Depler, Zach Thompson, and Trent Radtke.
Contestants were required to take a comprehensive written test over insect control, habitat, growth cycles, characteristics, and effects on humans and agriculture.
They also had to identify 50 samples of common insects in Kansas.
