Fourteen members of the Labette County FFA chapter recently competed in the Southeast District Entomology Career Development Event. Students were tested on their knowledge of entomology with a 50-question identification test in conjunction with a 50 question written test.
The identification portion of the contest prepares students to identify the 72 most prolific and destructive pest species as well as the most beneficial species within state borders. These insects all prove to be important to agriculture in an agronomic sense and may be presented to the students in various life stages. In addition to the identification test, the written exam assesses the students’ knowledge of integrated pest management strategies and cultural practices, pesticide formulations and toxicity ratings, chemical control measures and application recommendations, biological control, genetic modifications relative to pest management, as well as information specific to each species of beneficial or injurious insect including metamorphosis and feeding habits as well as control measures and threshold numbers.
Weeks of preparation paid off as the members of the Labette County FFA chapter aced the competition from the 26 other schools in the Southeast District of the Kansas FFA Association.
Results are as follows: Entomology “A” team, first place as a team. “A” team individual placers: Aubrey Boss, first; Kinsley Boss, second; Sierra Hill, third; Lily Wiley, ninth; Kaycee Reed, 10th.
Entomology “B” team, second place as a team. 2nd Place Team “B” team individual placers: Madisyn James, third; Addy Heflin, ninth.
“Additional” team individuals: Anna Cantrell, first; Tylee Trollope, second; Isabel Clevenger, third.
