Heading to Nationals: Local FFA Members to Compete on Big Stage

Several members of the Diamond Mountain FFA Chapter are headed to Louisville, Kentucky Oct. 29 to Nov. 1 to compete at the National FFA Convention.

The five member Ag Issues team will represent Nevada with their presentation on cloning after taking first place at the State FFA Convention held this past March. Team members include Chad Fiorenzi, Megan Damele, Reba Skinner, Shania Jensen, and Sean Snegirev.

The team will present both sides of the cloning issue to a panel of judges as well as answer questions from that panel.

“We did a lot of research looking for a subject and when we came across cloning it sounded interesting,” said Jensen. “We all agreed it was something we wanted to personally learn as well as inform others about.”

Jensen, who plays the role of an animal activist, said she didn’t find this position difficult to portray.

“I could see the emotional side and personal side to cloning,” she said. “I found that trying to persuade others was easy.”

In addition to Jensen’s animal activist role, the team’s mock forum includes an ecologist, played by Fiorenzi, a biologist, by Snegirev, and a rural Nevada rancher, played by Damele.

“We tried to use data from the University of Utah and University of Nevada – Reno as we found that their research was accurate,” said Damele, regarding the research the team conducted.

The fifteen minute simulated debate is moderated by Skinner.

Also travelling East will be seven members of the Chapter Officer team. They will be receiving the National Chapter Award.

This award recognizes excellence in the Chapter at a national level, according to Diamond Mountain FFA President Crystal Hubbard. “Our officer team is very excited to receive this award,” said Hubbard. Officers also include Jensen, Vice President, Skinner, Secretary, Snegirev, Treasurer, Amanda Ketzenberg, Reporter, Heather Lacovara, Sentinel, and C.C. Brown, Historian.
The American Farmer Degree will also be awarded to three ECHS graduates: Ethan Marshall, Melissa Damele, and Celina Bailey.
Agricultural instructor Leslie Zimmerman is the Chapter Advisor.