The 'Eagle Times' Student Newspaper

FFA's first-place finish makes history

By Katie Childs

April 22, 2005

The Silver Lake FFA made history on April 6 when they traveled to the Northeast Poultry contest in Hiawatha and placed first as a team. Ryan Reser, junior; Kate Taylor, junior; Cody Conaway, junior; Katie Childs, junior; and Ericson Willett, senior, competed.

The top three scores contributed to Silver Lake’s first ever first place finish. Willett scored a 595, taking first place; Conaway scored a 588, clinching third place; and Taylor scored a 545, earning ninth place.

Willett’s first-place finish is the best any Eagle competitor has boasted at this competition.

Willett described Rick Blush, the Silver Lake FFA coach, as inspiring.

“Mr. Blush has taught me that winning isn’t everything, as long as you give it your best effort,” Willett explained.

Conaway felt confident about the team’s win and thought they deserved it.

“I felt good because I knew our team gave it our all and deserved winning,” said Conaway.

The poultry team will travel to Manhattan during the first week of May for the state contest. There will be 60 teams at the contest.

Blush was very excited about the win; it was his first.

“This is the first time in my 16 years at Silver Lake that we have won a district contest in the A-team division. It sounds easy to do, but it’s not. These students are excellent problem solvers and decision makers. These are the qualities which will stay with these students a lifetime,” commented Blush.