Buckingham County Middle School (BCMS) Future Farmers of America (FFA) was very excited to have 49 students attend the State Fair of Virginia. The Educational Exposition at the fair is designed to educate youth about all the commonwealth has to offer in a setting unlike any other. “Virginia’s Largest Outdoor Classroom” provides students an opportunity to experience agriculture, history, technology, and natural resources first-hand.

In addition to all the exhibits at the fair, students in Career and Technical Education (CTE) classes also had the chance to showcase what they have learned by competing with other schools through the SkillsUSA program. SkillsUSA is a partnership of students, teachers and industry representatives working together to ensure America has a skilled workforce. Seven BCMS students were a part of the competition at the recent State Fair. These agriculture students competed in Forestry Field Day. The team events included two-man crosscut saw, water accuracy, pulpwood log toss, log-rolling and cutting a log with a bow saw. The team placed sixth overall. Team members included Hunter Tyson, Lane Branch, Grant Martin, Francisco Palacios, Tyler Jones and Andrew Dragovich.

BCMS also participated in the Junior Foresters event held at the fair. The Junior Foresters team included members, Andrew Dragovich, Lane Branch, Eliza Ragland, and Timothy Smith. The event, run by the Virginia Department of Forestry, tests students’ knowledge and skills in a variety of activities. Participants had to identify trees from leaf samples, identify disease and insect problems, and identify tools used in the forest industry, as well as measuring trees to determine lumber volume and estimating land area.