The Cedar Key FFA Aquaculture team placed second in the state contest recently
in Gainesville. Teams from all over Florida met at the UF Aquatic Research
Center to compete for the state title. This was the first year that the FFA
Aquaculture Career Development Event (CDE) has been offered. East Bay FFA
chapter earned top honors in this year`s pilot event. Cedar Key`s team members are Kira Telgen, Stephanie Hathcox, Taryn Epperson all
sixth graders, and eighth grader Meikala Hunter. Kira Telgen eared third place
honors individually in the state competition, followed closely by Taryn and
Stephanie who place fourth and fifth respectively. The FFA Aquaculture contest is very diverse. Students take a written exam about
general knowledge of aquaculture, then identify tropical plants, tropical fish
and aquatic food species by both common and scientific names. Then in the chem.
lab, students solve a water quality problem using proper lab techniques and
solutions. Anatomy and physiology knowledge is tested by identification and
function of fish and shellfish body parts. The final event in the contest is a
team activity. The four team members work cooperatively to make a presentation
to a panel of judges. This year`s scenario required the team to convince a mock
school board to offer aquaculture classes at their school; the team is given
thirty minutes to prepare their presentation. The team worked very hard preparing for this contest. Practices were held after
school and evenings, including one pizza-party-practice. Pizza helps with
concentration according to the team. The team was trained by their FFA advisor
Mr. Voyles who teaches agriculture, science and social studies here at Cedar Key
Middle School. The team members will receive their state award plaque at the state FFA
convention June 10 in Orlando. The purpose of the FFA Aquaculture Career Development Event is to stimulate
interest in the Aquaculture industry and aquaculture instruction in the
agriculture education curriculum, and to provide recognition for those who have
demonstrated skills and competencies in the area of aquaculture management. | 
