The following is a press Release for the Chelan High School Agriculture Education Department and the Chelan FFA. We would appreciate any and all coverage of our events and student successes. For more information, contact our Chapter Advisor, Rod Cool, or Chapter Reporter, Chelsea Gocke at (509) 682-4061 ext 129 during school hours.

Thank you for your time and consideration and for your continued support of the Chelan FFA and high school agriculture education.

Chelan High School

Agriculture Education Deparment/Chelan FFA

News Release

20 Mar 08

For Immediate Release –The Chelan FFA Chapter was on the road again at the District VII Ag Sales, Ag Issues, Marketing Plan and Job Interview Career Development Event held at Okanogan High School on March 19^th. The members were trying to follow up on a strong performance at the Sub-District Leadership CDE in Wenatchee.

In the Job Interview CDE, members have to prepare a cover letter, resume, job description, gather three reference letters prior to the CDE. At the event, participants must complete a written job application, complete an interview with a panel of judges, and write a follow up letter. Kacie Rahm, Mitch Guimond, Dia Galvan, and Tucker Cool competed for Chelan. Tucker Cool was the District VII Champion for the second year in a row.

In the Agriculture Issues CDE, participants compete on teams of 3 to 7 members. They are required to select an issue, research the issues, and prepare a 15 minute presentation to present both sides of the issue and possible solutions. The Chelan Ag Issues team was Chelsea Gocke, Keanu Allen, and Tucker Cool (filling in for Eduardo Moran). The issue that they presented was the impact of forest fires on Lake Chelan Drainage as a watershed, health of local residents, and the economy of the valley. They earned a third place banner and punched their ticket to State Competition. Now they will have to complete five public forums of their issues presentation prior to May 1^st.

The Agriculture Sales CDE requires members to develop a product or service and prepare a 7-15 minute sales call presentation to perform before judges. They also take an objective test on the sales process. They are then required to complete one of three practicum areas—Order Taking, Prospecting New Customers, or Customer Relations. Then as a team they are given a product and sales scenario and then prepare a sales strategy for the product and present it to judges. The Chelan team consisted of Ross Young, Breanne Hanson, Kacie Rahm, and Tia Kimsey. The earned a third place banner and a trip to State competition. Breanne placed 9^th individually and Kacie was 7^th.

The next competition for the Chelan FFA will be the Sub-District Creed CDE in Manson on Tuesday March 25^th and the District VII Leadership CDE in Chelan on April 9^th.