The Southside FFA Livestock Evaluation Team finished 1st by 13 points at the Annual Wild Hog Career Development Event on Feb 23. in Fayetteville Arkansas. The event is held at Pauline Whitaker Arena on the Campus of the University of Arkansas. The team won second at this event in 2012 behind Hermitage FFA and this year flip flopped with the legendary program. Wiley Phillips was top judger on the team with a second place individual finish out of 223 competitors. Cassie W. was 5th high individual and Nathan R. was 6th high individual. Nathan a senior, also finished 2nd in oral reasons. There were 52 teams in the contest this year. Additionally, the team also competed the night before the Wild Hog Competition at the annual Collegiate FFA Individual contest hosted by the U of A Judging Team. Cassie W. finished 2nd overall, only dropping 9 total points out of 300! The SS FFA Livestock team has enjoyed much success in the judging arena as they were state champs in 2011, finishing up 8th in the National Championship in the school’s first appearance. They were 2nd in state in 2012 and hope to regain the title and wrap up the school’s first national championship in the fall of 2013. Nathan R. has accepted a scholarship to attend Northeastern Oklahoma A&M in Miami OK to judge livestock and Jackson M. has been offered a scholarship to attend Eastern Oklahoma State College in Wilburton OK upon graduation. Former State Champion Blaine F. is currently under scholarship at Fort Scott Community College in Kansas where he is enjoying much success as a judger. His former teammate Trenton T. is currently attending ASU Newport at Marked Tree and will obtain a degree in animal science or agricultural education. He is also show cattle manager for Drum Sand and Cattle in Harrisburg Arkansas.

Team members include Morgan C., Pepper R., Sarah H., Tyler H., Hayden H., Ashton C, Cassie W., Wiley P., Alex W., and Nathan R.