LOGANTON — The FFA students at Sugar Valley Rural Charter School have blown away the competition and are once again preparing to head to the National FFA Convention & Expo in Indianapolis, Ind.

Out of the three teams that competed at the FFA State Competition from SVRCS, two teams placed first and will be heading to Indianapolis this October.

The two first place teams consist of four students for each category.

The Forestry team is made up of Austin Duck, senior; Wyatt Conoway, junior; Thayne Jeffries, senior and Carson Sanders, sophomore.

The Environmental and Natural Resource Management team is made up of Olivia Clester, Parker Liddic, Nolan Bubb and Lincoln Breon, all seniors.

The competition is intensive — putting the students’ study skills and knowledge to the test.

“The Forestry team will do a lot of (identification). Tree, plant, equipment, disease and maybe even insect ID. Then they’ll take some type of general written test. After that they’ll have to measure trees, determine diameter and height. The Environmental and Natural Resource team will have aquatics and wildlife. They’ll take tests (on those topics). There will be a general knowledge test with identifying plants and animals,” said Robbie Weaver, Science/Environmental Studies Teacher and FFA Advisor.

All of the students involved are enthusiastic about the trip — excited to experience the event and have a great time doing it.

“I’m ready to get out there and experience it,” said Jeffries, who reiterated the steps they will have to take in the competition.

Sanders and Conoway were both excited to compete as well.

“We’re going to get out there and have fun, do the best we can,” said Conoway.

“We’re leaving Oct. 22. We’ll get there Wednesday and maybe be home Friday. If we win, we might stay out until Saturday,” said Sanders.

“I’m excited to go out and meet new people. Just being in Indianapolis — finding somewhere new to be. It should be fun,” said Bubb.

Liddic echoed Bubb’s statements, noting that he’d never been to Indianapolis before.

“I really enjoy this kind of stuff — trees, animals, fish. It’s fun to do while I’m in school,” said Liddic.

“I’m excited to go to a different state and see how things are set up over there — maybe there are different questions I haven’t heard. I can learn new things about (the topic),” said Breon, who was on a second place team for years in a row before finally qualifying for the national competition.

The advisors try to make the trip extra special for the students — taking them to see various sights in a new state.

“It’s going to be an experience. We go to the race track — I always enjoy that even though I’ve seen it twice now. We go to the FFA Headquarters and museum,” said Weaver.

“We bought a brick years ago and we take the students to see it. We always get to (at least) one convention. Some have two a day but we always get to one. It’s in the Lucas Oil Stadium where the Colts play — which is huge to me but a lot of these kids don’t know what sports are,” joked FFA Advisor and Agriculture Teacher Chuck Bechdel.

Duck, who is only in his second year of competing, was enthusiastic about the upcoming competition.

“I’m pretty excited for it. I wanted to go into a career involving wildlife. This is a good step in that direction. This school is really good for extracurriculars. All of this is possible because of (my advisors.) I wouldn’t be able to do anything without Mrs. (Jamie) Fox, or Mr. (Robbie) Weaver, or anyone else,” said Duck.

The trip to Indianapolis isn’t cheap, but it gives the students an opportunity to showcase their skillsets they developed through hard work and dedication.

“The community has been really good about sending funds to help us,” said Weaver, thanking everyone who has helped over the years.

Donations should be made out to SVRCS (FFS in memo) and can be sent to SVRCS FFA, c/o Charles Bechdel, 236 E. Main St., Loganton, PA 17747.