Hillsdale's nursery and landscaping team placed in the top five in the regional competition in September.
The Career Development Event (CDE) team traveled to West Springfield, Massachusetts to attend The Big E.
The participating FFA members were: Reed Twining (Senior), Hunter Hickey (Senior), Josh Burson (Junior) and Jacob Schwendeman (Sophomore). As a team they placed 3rd overall, Twining individually 7th, Hickey 13th, Schwendeman 14th and Burson 20th.
What is the big E?
The Big E is the Eastern States Exposition, which brings together all the eastern states into one large trade fair. States included include Massachusetts, Maine, Connecticut, New Hampshire, Virginia, Vermont, New York, Rhode Island, Pennsylvania and Ohio. To qualify for the Big E FFA competition in Ohio, you must place second in your career development event.
The Nursery and Landscaping CDE, a career development event, is a judging competition
A team dedicated to fostering career interest, encouraging skills development and recognizing excellence among participants. The event covers all areas of the industry concerned with the cultivation, marketing, use and care of landscape plants (including woody and herbaceous species and turf grasses), as well as related products, tools, equipment and services, including landscaping.
Thank you to Hillsdale FFA Alumni member Tom Kaufman for the many hours he put into coaching the team and for traveling with the team to the Big E. We are proud of their achievements and the progress this team has made this season.
Congratulations to the nursery and landscaping team!