Students to enter ag competitions

By Sam Waller

Two Albany FFA students are readying ag mechanics projects for entry in contests at the Fort Worth and San Angelo stock shows in the coming weeks.

Junior Ayden Balliew has constructed a high rack for hunting, while sophomore Jacob Hale built a deer blind on a trailer.

“These students spent their Christmas break building and finishing their projects,” Albany FFA adviser Chris Beard said. “Along with the finished project, each will have a record book that will include sketch drawings by the students, bill of material receipts, at least 24 pictures of the student working and constructing the project in each phase of completion, and final safety data sheets on all equipment used in the projects.”

That includes making sure Hale’s trailer is road legal, Beard said.

The duo will compete in the Fort Worth contest Saturday-Sunday, Jan. 14-15, and at San Angelo on Friday-Saturday, Feb. 3-4.

The projects will be judged for workmanship, the students’ knowledge of their projects, design and materials, degree of difficulty, finish, and plans, bill of materials and photographs. The categories are weighted differently depending on the show – Fort Worth awards up to 30 points for workmanship, while San Angelo offers 25 – with a maximum possible score of 100.

“Both projects will be judged at each show,” Beard said. “The judges will look at the record books and ask the students questions over their record books and the project.”