The Hometown Treasure November 2013 | Page 45

Westview FFA Wins Soils Competition After a one-year hiatus with the county title in the hands of Prairie Heights, Westview High School has re-captured the annual 4-H/FFA Soil Evaluation competition that pits 4-H and FFA teams from Westview, Lakeland and Prairie Heights. This year’s competition was conducted Thursday, September 26 on a Farm near David Rogers Park in Springfield Township. Soils judging competition is one of several Career Development Events offered to participants in 4-H and FFA programs, and tests a student’s ability to determine soil types, land formations, moisture, texture, and soil’s capability for use in housing sites as well as its agricultural potential. Led by defending champion Reed Oesch, Westview took individual and team honors. Coached by agriculture instructor Paul Baker, the Westview FFA winning team consisted of Reed Oesch, Colton Feller, Damon Herschberger and Maddie Jones. A second Westview team, led in scoring by Nic Yoder, took third. Westview dominated the Junior Division, taking the first eighteen team places. Its winning squad accumulated 962 points to actually finish first in the overall competition of both divisions. Matthew Frey led the Warriors with his fellow teammates Matt Schwartzentruber, Dale Yoder and Jason Bontrager. The second place team consisted of Michael Bontrager, Kevin Schlabach, Dorene Miller and Erik Yoder. 4-H/FFA Soils Competition Winners: (Left to right): Reed Oesch, Colton Feller, Maddie Jones and. Damon Herschberger. Photo Submitted November ‘13 · The Hometown Treasure 45