At the beginning of summer, the three returning members of the Chelan FFA Horse CDE team made the decision that when the dust settled at the end of the Adams County Fair that they would be the last team standing.  They were joined by two talented and willing young incoming freshmen and throughout the summer they worked on their terminology, oral reasons, and teamwork skills.  All their hardwork and effort was rewarded on Friday, September 14^th, when they raised the State Champion Plaque high over their heads at the completion of the Washington State FFA Horse Evaluation Career Development Event held in Othello at the Adams County Fair. 

The team had to judge 4 halter classes, 2 performance classes,  give a set of oral reasons, complete a 4 part team problem solving and oral presentation, and 2 individual identification practicums.  When it all had been scored and tabulated, Selah Valencia brought home the second placed individual plaque,  Pashiya Sandum earned the fourth place plaque, with Mikaila Harrison placing 11^th and Shanna McGinty placing 12^th overall. Melissa LaHaye rounded out the team placing 19^th in the 78 judge field.   The team will now train for and compete in the National FFA Horse CDE held in Indianapolis, IN on the 23^rd and 24^th of October. 

At the National Horse CDE, members will evaluate four halter classes from Quarter Horses, Paints, Appaloosa, American Saddlebred, Morgan, Arab, or conformation hunters.  They will evaluate four performance classes from Western Pleasure, Western Riding, English Pleasure (Saddle Seat), Hunt Seat Equitation, Hunter under Saddle, Hunter Hack,  Trail or Reining.  They will give four sets of oral reasons (2 halter and 2 performance).  They will give a team problem solving presentation and 4 practical application scenarios, and two individual identification practicums on tack, equipment, anatomy, feed, breeds, markings, or colors.