Stanwood ag mechanics team tops in national FFA contest

STANWOOD — As the best Future Farmers of America program in Snohomish County and one of the top five in the state, the Stanwood High School chapter also is one of the best in the country.

Stanwood’s Agriculture Mechanics Team picked up a first place at the 85th annual national FFA contest and convention in late October in Indianapolis.

The team of Patrick Sawnson, Leif Small, Ashley Rich, Curtis Flake and Stephanie Hampton placed first out of 46 ag mechanics groups from across the country. The challenge was to build a water pumping system and then answer questions related to that system and water production calculations.

It wasn’t the only win at nationals for Stanwood.

Swanson and other Stanwood FFA members Brandon Reynolds and Brandi Sansaver picked up individual first place awards.

In addition, the Natural Resources Team of Reynolds, Sarah Flake, Lindsey Martin and Nathan Thompson came in a very close second in the environmental and natural resources competition.

The Agriculture Sales Team, including Brandi Sansaver, Austin Oneill, Olivia Schatz and Marissa Hansen, brought home a ninth place out of 36 teams who were assigned to develop sales strategies for individual customers.

The Nursery Landscape Team of Sven Alskog, Chelsee Roberts, Mikel Levi and Glode MacConnell placed 15th in a competition that included identification of 50 plants as well as plant disorders, tools, chainsaw operation and programming of an irrigation system.

Stanwood FFA advisers who accompanied their teams to nationals were Margaret Olson, Ryan Ovenell and Darryl Main.

Gale Fiege: 425-339-3427; gfiege@heraldnet.com.

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