Wildlife, Conservation and Forestry students help plant the Battle Elementary Kindness Tree

   

Students from Meridith Haley's Wildlife, Conservation and Forestry class at Battle High School together with Scott Keith of MU Landscape Division assisted in the planting of the Battle Elementary Kindness Tree. The Kindness Tree program was started to bring awareness and commitment to  children's mental, emotional and physical health.

Columbia Area Career Center and their partner in education,  MU Operations, joined forces to assist in the various elements of the project. The wildlife students planted the Butterfly Magnolia, the official tree of the Kindness Tree project and  CACC Graphic Design students, Michelle Algya and Rebecca Stannard designed the program and invitation. This is the second Kindness Tree event they have collaborated on.

At the dedication ceremony on November 20, Columbia Mayor, Bob Mc David recounted the history and the purpose of the Kindness Tree initiative; CACC Director Randy Gooch commented on the partnership between CACC and MU Operations; the 3rd, 4th and 5th choir performed a song about peace; Principal Jeri Petri remarked how the students observed Kindness as the character trait of the month in preparation for the dedication of the Kindness Tree. Muriel Battle Browder, daughter of Eliot Battle, offered her thoughts on the dedication of the Kindness Tree at the elementary school that bears her father's name.The program finished up with members of the student council reading poems about Kindness.

Scott Keith from MU Landscaping instructs students in tree planting

Students back fill the Butterfly Magnolia Tree

Students water the Butterfly Magnolia tree

Scott Keith and Meridith Haley's Wildlife class pose with the Kindness Tree

Mayor McDavid speaks to the crowd

Career Center director Randy Gooch

Battle Elementary Choir

The unveiling of the Kindness Tree plaque

"A single act of kindness can change a life forever"

FFA Poultry and Meats teams compete in Louisville

Congratulations to the 2015 Poultry  and Meat Evaluation  Teams  and their advisor, Kevin Duncan from Columbia Area Career Center for finishing 2nd and 6th respectively in their Career Development Events at the 88th National FFA Convention in Louisville, Kentucky October 29-30, 2015.

The National FFA Poultry Evaluation CDE is a competitive event that tests the participant's ability to select top quality poultry and poultry products needed for successful production and marketing. Event participants must complete a written exam on poultry management, evaluate classes of live birds for egg and meat production, evaluate quality of eggs, and evaluate and identify parts and products. Each team competed at local and state levels for the privilege of representing their state at the National FFA Convention & Expo.

The top ten individuals and the national winning team members received cash awards to recognize their success in the event. The cash awards and the poultry evaluation event are sponsored by Newly Weds Foods, Tyson Foods, Inc and U.S. Poultry & Egg Association as a special project of the National FFA Foundation and the National FFA Organization.

This event was held at the Kentucky Exposition Center in Louisville, Ky.

Representing Columbia Area Career Center's 2nd place national team were:

• Katie Weir-4th place individual
• Andrew Cunningham-5th place individual
• Mariah Murphy-8th place individual
• Asa Linneman 

Kevin Duncan, Mariah Murphy, Katie Weir, Asa Linneman and Andrew Cunningham

The National FFA Meats Evaluation and Technology CDE is a competitive event that test students' skills and competencies in evaluating and identifying meat carcasses and products. Event components include a general knowledge exam; beef carcass evaluation; identification of wholesale and retail cuts of beef, lamb and pork; quality and yield grading of beef carcasses; a team meat merchandising event; and solving of a meat formulation problem. Each team has competed on the local and state levels to earn the privilege of representing their state at the National FFA Convention & Expo.

The top ten individuals and the national winning team members received cash awards to recognize their success in the event. The cash awards and the event are sponsored by Cargill Meat Solutions, Hormel Foods Corporation, Kraft Heinz Company-Oscar Mayer Division and Tyson Foods, Inc as a special project of the National FFA Foundation and the National FFA Organization. 

The event was held at the University of Kentucky in Lexington, KY.

Representing Columbia Area Career Center's 6th place national team were:

• Austin Dehaven-7th place individual
• Robert Schmidt-8th place individual
• Rory James
• Kassie Rankin

Kevin Duncan, Rory James, Kassie Rankin, Robert Schmidt and Austin Dehaven