The Lafayette Middle School Forestry team finished as district runner-up. Team members include Tori Lyons, Cason Driver, Jack Peterson, Lane Brock and Seth Chandler (not pictured).

MAYO — The Lafayette FFA Middle and High School Forestry teams competed in the 2017 Florida FFA District III Forestry Career Development Event at Gateway Community College in Lake City on Oct. 10.

The LHS team won the district for the first time since 1992 and advances to the Florid FFA State Forestry CDE final Nov. 8-9 in Perry. The middle school team placed second. 

The purpose of the Forestry CDE is to stimulate interest in forestry, to promote forestry instruction in the agricultural education curriculum and to provide recognition for those who have demonstrated skill and competency as a result of forestry instruction.

The CDE consisted of individual practicums that included a general knowledge exam, tree identification (dendrology), equipment identification, forest disorders, timber cruising and map interpretation. 

Competing for Lafayette’s high school team were Ainsley Peterson, first individual in General Knowledge, Dendrology, Disorders, Equipment and Timber Cruising; Landen Brock, second in General Knowledge and Equipment; Jackson Powers, third in Map Interpretation; Hailey Peterson, third in Dendrology; and Mackenzie Greaves, alternate.

Fort White finished second with Suwannee third.

Fort White won the middle school contest with Williston third. Competing for the second-place Lafayette team were Seth Chandler, second in Map Interpretation; Cason Driver, second in Disorders, third in Equipment and Map Interpretation; Lane Brock, second in Equipment and third in General Knowledge; and Jack Peterson.

Lafayette’s Middle School B Team included Cooper Nemcovic, Evan Murray and Seth Greaves.