Red Ravens are NACTA National Champions 

The Coffeyville Community College (CCC) agriculture department took 22 students and four advisors to the North American Colleges and Teachers of Agriculture (NACTA) national championships in Stephenville, Tex. last week.  The students competed against 18 colleges from 8 states and came out on top.  In the end Coffeyville won the Sweepstakes award followed by Hutchinson Community College, Eastern Oklahoma State College and Blackhawk East Community College. 

“This is a huge step for our program,” said Livestock Judging Coach, Brian Anderson.  “We were able to take 22 of the best within our program and show that our students can compete at the very highest level with anyone.” 

The CCC team took first place overall in the NACTA quiz bowl and was the only undefeated team in the entire competition.  The quiz bowl team included Zach Robertson of Belle, Mo.; Gus Plumb of Sarcoxie, Mo.; Jake Gleason of Maple Hill, Kan. and Samantha Miller of Holton, Kan. 

Plumb also took first in poultry egg grading and first overall in poultry.  Trey Buffington of Arkansas City, Kan. took third in poultry placings and second overall and Stephanie Dunbar of Winfield, Kan. took second in placings.  Gleason rounded out the poultry team and the group took first place overall, first in egg grading and third in placings. 

Coffeyville Community College (CCC) Agriculture students are NACTA Champions!  (front l-r) Jerad Moody of Bristow, Okla.; Andy Boecker of Bentonville, Ark.; Jake Gleason of Maple Hill, Kan.; Curtis Williams of Clovis, New Mexico; Gus Plumb of Sarcoxie, Mo.; Trey Buffington of Arkansas City, Kan. and Caland Stotts of Coffeyville, Kan.  (middle l-r) Stephanie Pogue of Neosho, Mo.; Samantha Davis of Coffeyville, Kan.; Katie Fritter of Bois D’Arc, Mo.; Stephanie Dunbar of Winfield, Kan.; Carrie Blaes of Cherryvale, Kan.; Amanda Wessel of Holton, Kan.; Monica Beason of Edna, Kan.; Samantha Miller of Holton, Kan.; Lacey Meder of Yukon, Okla. and Casie Greenwood of Hermitage, Ark. (back l-r) Livestock Judging Coach, Cary Crow, Horticulture instructor, Derek Dick, Livestock Judging Coach, Brian Anderson, Nathan Bretz of Lucas, Kan.; Jim Gilpin of Parsons, Kan.; Seth Stroman of Williamsburg, Kan.; Zach Robertson of Belle, Mo.; Jeremy Sisco of Ozark, Mo.; Tate Corliss of Estancia, New Mexico and Meats Judging Coach, Tyler Hickman.  Not pictured, Reagan Kelly of Ft. Bullard, Tex.

In meats, Tate Corlis of Estancia, New Mexico took second in retail I.D. and third in questions while Caland Stotts of Coffeyville, Kan. took second in placings, Stephanie Pogue of Neosho, Mo. took third in placings and Jerad Moody of Bristow, Okla. took second in questions and third overall.  As a team, they took second overall, second in retail I.D., second in placings and first in questions.

The CCC horticulture team took first place overall, third in general knowledge, first in plant I.D. and fourth in landscape practicum.  As individuals, Miller took third in general knowledge, second in plant I.D. and third overall.  Carrie Blaes of Cherryvale, Kan. took second in landscape practicum.  Additional horticulture team members include Amanda Wessel of Holton, Kan. and Monica Beason of Edna, Kan. 

The CCC dairy team including Casie Greenwood of Hermitage, Ark.; Lacey Meder of Yukon, Okla.; Jeremy Sisco of Ozark, Mo. and Curtis Williams of Clovis, New Mexico took fifth place overall. 

In computer applications Robertson took first in written exam, third in Microsoft application, second in web design and second overall.  He joined teammates, Reagan Kelly of Ft. Bullard, Tex., Dunbar and Samantha Davis of Coffeyville, Kan. to take second place overall in computer applications.  

The CCC soils team took fourth place overall.  Jim Gilpin of Parsons, Kan. took first in site two evaluation and second in site four evaluation.  Gilpin’s teammates included Nathan Bretz of Lucas, Kan.; Andy Boecker of Bentonville, Ark. and Katie Fritter of Bois D’Arc, Mo.

The livestock team took sixth place overall and included Buffington, Seth Stroman of Williamsburg, Kan., Robertson and Meder. 

NACTA includes both two year and four year colleges and universities.  CCC competed in eight out of the 10 events. 

“It takes a combination of great instructors, great kids and phenomenal administrative support to do what we did,” said Anderson.  “A contest like this, which measures your knowledge and success in all aspects of agriculture is the best measuring took to compare yourself to other programs.  Our success is a true testament to the quality of student that we have assembled and the job that our instructors continue to do within the classroom. 

CCC agriculture advisors include Derek Dick, Tyler Hickman, Cary Crow and Brian Anderson.  Dick was elected president of the NACTA organization and CCC will host the National NACTA in 2012.