Franklin County Technical School students recently showed off their horse sense by competing in Equine Showmanship and Horse Evaluation classes at the Future Farmers of America Equine Career Development Event at Briggs Stable in Hanover.
For Equine Showmanship, participants were assigned a random horse to work with and were then judged on their handling skills, according to a Franklin Tech press release. Seven Franklin Tech students competed: Mattie-Lee Newcomb, Rylee Ares, Britney Zager, Anna Morrissey, Bella Johnson, Hannah Mackie and Abby Shaw.
In Division A, Zager placed first and Morrissey placed second, the release states. In Division B, Ares placed first and Newcomb placed third.
For Horse Evaluation, students worked in teams to gain new insights into equine science by evaluating and ranking horses based on breed characteristics, conformation and performance. According to the release, participants defend their decisions through oral presentations in front of a panel of judges.
In Division A, with Newcomb, Ares, Zager and Morrissey competing, Franklin Tech earned a third-place overall team finish. Individually, Morrissey received third overall and Newcomb earned a bronze medal, according to the release. The Division B team did not place.
“It’s always special to see our students taking what they learn here at Franklin County Tech and showcasing it in real-world events and competitions,” Superintendent Richard Martin said in the press release. “These students performed well and had a very strong showing in terms of their placements. They also served as terrific ambassadors for our school, and we are proud of their accomplishments.”
Veterinary science teachers Regina Grover-Parsons and Kimberly Barry served as coaches at the event.
Career Development Events such as this one create a connection between classroom instruction and real-life employment opportunities, the release explains. Building upon classroom knowledge, the events prepare students for careers in agriculture. The Massachusetts Future Farmers of America Association offers a variety of these events throughout the school year at various host sites.