Hunterdon County Commissioners recognize FFA students for their outstanding performance in the 2024 Fall Career Development Competition

HUNTERDON COUNTY, NJ – The Hunterdon County Commissioners recently recognized the recent achievements of twenty-eight students within the Environmental Sustainability and Engineering Academy and the Animal Science Program, from Hunterdon County Polytech Career and Technical High School.

These students were honored with individual proclamations for their outstanding performance at the 2024 Fall Regional Career Development Competition.

Commissioner and Hunterdon County Vocational School liaison Zach Rich shared, “The outstanding performance of these students at the 2024 Regional Career Development Competition reflects the quality of the agricultural education programs that our County Vocational School offers.

We are proud of the outstanding education students receive through the dedication and expertise of the Polytech administration, teachers and mentors – they are a key factor in fostering an environment where young students can thrive and reach their full potential.”

The competition event included entries for teams from across the state of New Jersey, and Hunterdon County placed within the top 10 competitors, successfully showcasing their skills, knowledge, and dedication to agricultural education and leadership.

Listed below are the categories and individual student winners from the 2024 Fall Regional FFA Career Development Competition:

• Animal Science Fruits and Vegetables Identification and Judging Team placed 2^nd overall with a tying score for first. Individual results: Myla Cardoso (2^nd Place), Ayla Bankenbush (4^th Place), Elaina Koursaris (23^rd Place), Tatiana Bulluck (27^th Place).
• Environmental Sustainability and Engineering Academy Fruits and Vegetables Identification and Judging Team placed 4^th Individual results: Claire Fly (3^rd Place), Sahara Monteiro (13^th Place), Mackenzie Stanley (25^th Place), Rowdy Meys (42^nd Place).
• Environmental Sustainability and Engineering Academy Forestry Team placed 4^th Individual results: Clara Loenser (8^th Place), Carey Padmos (13^th Place), Alysia Garcia (15^th Place), Autumn Grumbridge (30^th Place).
• Environmental Sustainability and Engineering Academy Land Judging Team placed 4^th Individual results: Natalie Hoffman (4^th Place), Pearce Lowdon (12^th Place), Juliana Cardoso (16^th Place), Luciano Colao (55^th Place).
• Animal Science Milk Quality and Products Team placed 7^th Individual results: Logan Zappa (7^th Place), Mehak Cidambi (15^th Place), Sawyer Botsford (43^rd Place), Tuyet-Mai Le (62^nd Place).
• Environmental Sustainability and Engineering Academy Milk Quality and Products Team placed 6^th Individual results: William Morgan (14^th Place), Owen Poehnelt (18^th Place), Giavanna Cantagallo-Rohm (21^st Place), Kaylee Connors (48^th Place).
• Environmental Sustainability and Engineering Academy Turf Management Team placed 7^th Individual results: Emma Wuerthner (10^th Place), Juliann Bonomi (18^th Place), Ryland DeStasio (30^th Place), Camila Reyes (38^th Place).

“On behalf of the entire Commissioner Board, I would like to again congratulate each of these students for their hard work, dedication, and passion for learning. Their accomplishments serve as an inspiration to their peers, and we look forward to hearing more about their continued scholastic success in the future,” Rich said.