Indianapolis, IN will soon play host to the National Future Farmers of America (FFA) Convention. John McComb, Wellington High School Class of 2010 and Kaitlin Vaughn, Class of 2009 will be there representing the Wellington FFA Chapter in the national spotlight.
McComb, son of Kellie and Mitch McComb, is a National Finalist for his Supervised Agriculture Experience (SAE), his project in Ag Mechanical Energy Systems has earned him a spot in the top three in the country.
Vaughn, daughter of Tim and Elizabeth Vaughn, is also being recognized for an SAE, she will receiving the American Degree from the FFA. Her project was centered around beef production, and as Wellington High School Agricultural Teacher and FFA Advisor Linda Chase pointed out, the American Degree is a rare achievement.
"Only about 1 percent of FFA members will receive their American Degree because of the record keeping they have to do," Chase explained. "Because of the requirements they have to fulfill in order to receive that degree." McComb still has some work to do to bring home the national title once in Indianapolis.
"He will actually be going through several interviews," Chase said. "...He will go through several days of nothing but interviews, dinners, luncheons..." All of that in an effort to sway the judges might leave one feeling a bit nervous.
"Not really, because in FFA that's all we do is talk in front of people," McComb said.
"I'm more nervous about the questions they'll ask me," McComb admitted. "I know I shouldn't be but what if it's a question that blows me out of the water on something I know nothing about." Both Wellington grads started their FFA projects their freshmen years of high school. As Vaughn pointed out, the project is an everyday commitment and she has learned a lot.
"I worked for my dad, and he taught a lot of things that went a long with the project such as giving vaccinations, how the feeding procedure works everyday," Vaugn said she also learned about working in the fields and growing hay. McComb also worked with his father, they were electrical contractors. During the ice storm of 2007 when power polls were brought down, they had a lot of work to do.
"Me and my dad would go out there and re-string the power lines," McComb recalled. He said he has also learned quite a bit from his project.
"I've actually learned a lot about electricity," the National Finalist said. "I'm learning terminology...different gauges of wire, different kinds of power polls." McComb is starting his freshmen year at Cowley County College majoring in Agra-Business. He has plans to transfer to Kansas State University and major in Ag-Economics and Farm Management.
Vaughn is already at K-State, starting her sophomore campaign, majoring in Agricultural Education. Her goal is to be an agricultural teacher at a high school some day, and an FFA advisor. And she knows something about achieving goals.
"I remember joining the FFA as a freshman and we learned about all the different memberships and the degrees- I made it my goal my freshmen year that I wanted to get my American Degree," Vaughn said. "The motovation came from what FFA had to offer, FFA means a lot to me and what I've gotten from it throughout the years." Vaughn said she spent around 30 hours a week on her project. The biggest challenges were weather and putting time in around school. McComb has also put in a mountain of hours for his project.
"I think we added up my hours to be around 250 maybe," he said. "We're out there if it's raining, snowing, or hailing," McComb can't wait to find out what the other national contestants projects are. The national convention is October 20 through 23, while the competition might not have him all that nervous, McComb said he's been thinking a lot about everyone that will be watching him.
"I get to go walk on stage in front of 55,000 people," McComb laughed. "I've got people from work telling me, 'don't trip' I was like don't start that with me."
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Indianapolis, IN will soon play host to the National Future Farmers of America (FFA) Convention. John McComb, Wellington High School Class of 2010 and Kaitlin Vaughn, Class of 2009 will be there representing the Wellington FFA Chapter in the national spotlight.
McComb, son of Kellie and Mitch McComb, is a National Finalist for his Supervised Agriculture Experience (SAE), his project in Ag Mechanical Energy Systems has earned him a spot in the top three in the country.
Vaughn, daughter of Tim and Elizabeth Vaughn, is also being recognized for an SAE, she will receiving the American Degree from the FFA. Her project was centered around beef production, and as Wellington High School Agricultural Teacher and FFA Advisor Linda Chase pointed out, the American Degree is a rare achievement.
"Only about 1 percent of FFA members will receive their American Degree because of the record keeping they have to do," Chase explained. "Because of the requirements they have to fulfill in order to receive that degree." McComb still has some work to do to bring home the national title once in Indianapolis.
"He will actually be going through several interviews," Chase said. "...He will go through several days of nothing but interviews, dinners, luncheons..." All of that in an effort to sway the judges might leave one feeling a bit nervous.
"Not really, because in FFA that's all we do is talk in front of people," McComb said.
"I'm more nervous about the questions they'll ask me," McComb admitted. "I know I shouldn't be but what if it's a question that blows me out of the water on something I know nothing about." Both Wellington grads started their FFA projects their freshmen years of high school. As Vaughn pointed out, the project is an everyday commitment and she has learned a lot.
"I worked for my dad, and he taught a lot of things that went a long with the project such as giving vaccinations, how the feeding procedure works everyday," Vaugn said she also learned about working in the fields and growing hay. McComb also worked with his father, they were electrical contractors. During the ice storm of 2007 when power polls were brought down, they had a lot of work to do.
"Me and my dad would go out there and re-string the power lines," McComb recalled. He said he has also learned quite a bit from his project.
"I've actually learned a lot about electricity," the National Finalist said. "I'm learning terminology...different gauges of wire, different kinds of power polls." McComb is starting his freshmen year at Cowley County College majoring in Agra-Business. He has plans to transfer to Kansas State University and major in Ag-Economics and Farm Management.
Vaughn is already at K-State, starting her sophomore campaign, majoring in Agricultural Education. Her goal is to be an agricultural teacher at a high school some day, and an FFA advisor. And she knows something about achieving goals.
"I remember joining the FFA as a freshman and we learned about all the different memberships and the degrees- I made it my goal my freshmen year that I wanted to get my American Degree," Vaughn said. "The motovation came from what FFA had to offer, FFA means a lot to me and what I've gotten from it throughout the years." Vaughn said she spent around 30 hours a week on her project. The biggest challenges were weather and putting time in around school. McComb has also put in a mountain of hours for his project.
"I think we added up my hours to be around 250 maybe," he said. "We're out there if it's raining, snowing, or hailing," McComb can't wait to find out what the other national contestants projects are. The national convention is October 20 through 23, while the competition might not have him all that nervous, McComb said he's been thinking a lot about everyone that will be watching him.
"I get to go walk on stage in front of 55,000 people," McComb laughed. "I've got people from work telling me, 'don't trip' I was like don't start that with me."
