Buckingham County Middle School (BCMS) Future Farmers of America (FFA) members earned the right to compete in a Southeast Area career development event by earning first place in the Piedmont Federation Junior Forestry contest held in early October at Appomattox Community Park in Appomattox. The area event was also held in October at Staunton River Battlefield State Park in Randolph. The team consisted of Timothy Smith, Lane Branch, Eliza Ragland and Andrew Dragovich. These FFA members spent the afternoon determining the diameter of trees; deciding the number of saw logs a tree can produce; identifying forestry equipment and common trees of Virginia; calculating the value of standing timber; and proving their knowledge of topographical maps. The BCMS team placed third overall in this event and Timothy Smith placed eighth individually. The team consisted of, in front, Eliza Ragland, from left, back, Andrew Dragovich, Lane Branch and Timothy Smith.