Savannah High School Meats Science Team places Top 10 at nationals
SAVANNAH, Mo. (KQTV) -- The Savannah High School Meats Science Team placed fourth in the National Future Farmers of America (FFA) Convention in Indianapolis, Indiana.
This comes after the team won first place at the State FFA Career Development Events (CDE). The team consists of four girls, Mackenzie Schmutzler, Reagan Rodgers, Addison Neiderhouse and Kaylea Farrell.
FFA Advisor and Savannah High School Teacher, Jeff Baumann, said going into the week of nationals, the objective was for the girls to prepare while also enjoying their time.
"We spent almost our...I would say, our entire time, our job was to have fun, enjoy the week, enjoy the...Enjoy the opportunity to represent their state as the as their state meats winning team," he said. "But this team, they wanted to be as prepared as possible."
Baumann said the girls woke up in high spirits on competition day.
"They weren't nervous. They, you know, they were prepared, they were ready to go, and they had a good mindset. So we knew going into it that there was definitely an opportunity to succeed," he said.
Baumann expressed how he felt about the girl winning nationals.
"I was excited for the girls. I was extremely happy and, you know, just proud to be a part of that, proud to be a part of that event for those girls in their lifetime, something that they will never forget and that I won't either," he said.
Rodgers spoke about the team's overall experience at nationals.
"It was definitely exciting and nerve-wracking all at the same time. We went up a couple of days before and got to work out at the University of Illinois, so that was really helpful," Rodgers said.
Rodgers said it was even nerve-racking as they headed to the stage for the award ceremony.
"As it went on, it was just like grateful that we had the ability to do what we did. I think that was most of it," Rodgers said. "I think it's like just not knowing what to expect and all that to a challenge."
Schmutzler said the team wasn't aware they would place top four before going on stage.
"We didn't know what place we got. Same with individual (awards). We didn't know what place you got out of those. So we were all so excited. I liked how they did that. So like, we still had anticipation when we got on stage," Schmutzler said.
Rodgers expressed gratitude for being on the team.
"Just like our team, this year has been so great. Being a freshman, I was really grateful for, like, the level of commitment of my teammates, but I couldn't think of a better way to start my high school career than with the team," she said.
Baumann said the girls have done great service for the Savannah FFA chapter.
"They've represented our community at a national level, which I think is awesome for them," said Baumann. "They are super proud to do that...They are again, they are a team that has school pride and school spirit, so they're happy to do it only for themselves, but for their for their own other FFA students, for their advisors, for their for their name on the back of the jacket."
