KC Ag. Club wins big at State Convention

Texas Junior College Agriculture Association "Students of the Year" are from left: Lucy Smith, first runner-up, Kilgore College; Grant Moore, Blinn College, Outstanding Student Award; and Dayla Ragsdale, second runner-up, Kilgore College. At right is Ralph Ward Jr., president of The highly ambitious Kilgore College Agriculture Club went into their Texas Junior College Agriculture Association (TJCAA) annual convention on the Abilene Christian University campus hoping to duplicate last year's enormous success. They did that and much more.

After a full day of public speaking, personal interviewing, quiz taking, scrapbook judging, and officer elections, plus the evaluation of their 22- page Outstanding Chapter Award application containing 27 major events and over 500 entries, the Kilgore College Agriculture Club was selected the TJCAA "Outstanding Chapter" for 2006-07. This marks the 13th year in the past 16 years that Kilgore has attained the state's top honor.

Kilgore also placed second in the Sweepstakes Competition, which includes all events held during the convention. Eight community colleges across Texas competed.

In the "Outstanding Student" competition, two Kilgore College

students---Lucy Smith, Henderson sophomore, and Dayla Ragsdale, Sulphur Bluff sophomore---were named first and second runners-up, respectively. They will receive $2,000 and $1,000 scholarships, respectively, for their efforts.

Smith and Ragsdale placed

second and third, respectively, in the Job Interview Competition.

Kilgore captured first place in the Scrapbook Competition; sophomore Ricky Martin of Carlisle handcrafted a beautiful case to house the massive yearlong Koch, Henderson freshman, won the Prepared Speaking Contest with Rusk freshman Jennifer Hill placing fourth. Both ladies landed spots on the 2007- record of photos, a c t i v i t i e s , and community service events.

Ke n d a l l 08 TJCAA state officer team. Koch is second vice-president and Hill will be reporter.

In the subject matter quizzes that were prepared by the Abi- lene Christian University agricultural faculty, Kilgore College students placed as follows: Dayla Ragsdale, fifth, and Lucy Smith, seventh, in Agronomy; Jennifer Hill, sixth, and Dayla Ragsdale, ninth, in Animal Science; Kendall Koch, third, and Lucy Smith, fourth, in Horticulture; Ricky Martin, third, and Jennifer Hill, seventh, in Wildlife; Ricky Martin, third, and Clayton Hicks, fifth, in Agricultural Mechanics; and Jennifer Hill, third, and Ricky Martin, sixth, in Agricultural Economics.

Bob Young, Kilgore College agriculture instructor and club advisor, said his students were very focused and missionoriented throughout the year and especially during the convention.

"These students worked very hard all year, completing more community service events than the prior year," he noted. "Then, during the convention they were dedicated, rising above the competition to accomplish their goals with professionalism. I am extremely proud of their individual and collective accomplishments. Although we will be losing some excellent students, our program will have a solid foundation to build with for next year."

The Texas A&M University College of Agriculture and Life Sciences will host the 2007-08 TJCAA convention.