Jackson County Schools’ FFA students won the Upper Cumberland Agriculture Mechanics Contest at Tennessee Tech.
Jackson County High School agriculture teacher Brandon Chaffin said students competed in 11 events, including board fitting, land leveling, and plumbing. Eight students earned first-place finishes, while two placed second and one finished third.
“This year we have got two seniors, four juniors, and seven sophomores, and ten of those kids are totally new, their first year competing in this contest, so I think having that many new kids doing well in it, I think that was good for us,” Chaffin said.
Chaffin said the contest helps students develop practical, real-world skills that extend beyond competition. He added that the program plays an important role in helping students identify potential career paths before graduating.
“Any of this is either gonna be a practical use that they can take with them in their life or carry it forward into a post-secondary opportunity,” Chaffin said.
Chaffin said the students earned the chance to compete in the regional contest at Tennessee Tech next Wednesday. He added that qualifying for the regional competition reflects the program’s long-standing record of success.
“We want to be known for AG mechanics,” Chaffin said. “You know, we have had a good run the last 20 years, and that is kind of what we want ot be known for. I just think it is important skills for people to learn, especially with the need in the industry right now to fill these spots.”
Jackson County will compete against 13 other school districts at regionals, with the top two teams advancing to the state contest in April. Chaffin said his students are continuing to work hard to prepare for the next level of competition.