Photo provided The Jefferson County Joint Vocational School FFA Veterinary Science Team gained fourth place at the national FFA contest in Springfield, Mass., on Sept. 15-17. Pictured are, from left, FFA Adviser Emily Moore with members Trinity McGilton, Mekenzie Everhart, Alexis Smith and Madison Brown.

BLOOMINGDALE — Jefferson County Joint Vocational School students are celebrating a fourth-place win following a national Future Farmers of America competition.

The school’s FFA Veterinary Science Team earned honors at the 2023 FFA Days event in Springfield, Massachusetts, on Sept. 15-17, where they competed against 18 other states at the Massachusetts State Fair known as “The Big E.” Adviser Emily Moore joined members Mekenzie Everhart, Madison Brown and Alexis Smith at the regular JVS Board of Education meeting on Tuesday to share the good news while fellow teammate Trinity McGilton was not in attendance.

It was the team’s first foray to the nationals after gaining second place at the Ohio FFA Veterinary Science Competition this spring in Columbus. Moore, who also instructs the animal science management program at JVS, said the team joined other second-place winners from across the nation in individual and team contests on such topics as equipment and breed identification, skills demonstration and written and math exams. The scores were then combined to determine overall totals.

“I took four girls and they competed in the veterinary science competition, and they did very well,” Moore told officials. “We all had a really great experience.”

Everhart, Brown and Smith highlighted activities and said they were excited to not only attend but also earn a top spot.

“We started with a math exam,” said Everhart. “We moved on to parasites, breeds and veterinary equipment identification and then a team activity (on) horse wellness. Then there was a written exam and we had to answer 50 questions in 30 minutes.”

“On Saturday, we went to the awards and found out we got fourth out of 18 states,” added Smith.

“We went to the fair and competed, and we also got to see the Budweiser Clydesdales, go to shops and view animals,” commented Brown.

The teammates even spent time in town and said it was the first time most of them rode in an airplane. Board members congratulated Moore and the team and praised them for their accomplishments. The students also noted that Everhart, Smith and McGilton, who respectively attend Edison, Toronto and Catholic Central, plan to be vet techs while Brown, who also attends Edison, is looking to become a dog groomer.

“We’re really proud of you,” board Vice President Ron Smyth told Moore. “Each year, the doors are bulging with people wanting to get into the program, and that’s a testament to you.”

Moore replied that other than being a veterinary technician, she has thoroughly enjoyed being a teacher and working with her remarkable students.

“I really enjoy my job. There are great teaching moments and mine is teaching these kids,” she said. “They practiced over the summer and gave up their time to prepare. They were the only team from Ohio” to attend.

JVS Supervisor/Principal Andy Long, who also attended the competition, was pleased to see the team receive honors.

“I’m truly proud of their accomplishment and they represented the school very well,” he said.

Among other matters:

— Superintendent Todd Phillipson noted that enrollment is holding steady at about 380 students with 202 juniors and 178 seniors; Long said he liked the numbers but hoped to increase them and was looking for ideas to generate interest;

— The board learned that renovations were still underway with mirrors to be installed in the cosmetology program’s salon and windows for the culinary arts’ Crestview Inn Restaurant while an espresso/cappuccino machine and other equipment were approved for the latter;

— Phillipson planned to contact a company to discuss further drawings for the Breezewood Subdivision housing development and set a meeting with the Jefferson County Regional Planning Commission to begin taking steps in building more homes;

— Long said Catherine Bosley and National Alliance for the Mentally Ill representatives recently spoke to students about social media dangers and mental health, which spurred an uptick in students seeking mental health resources and counseling at the school;

— Officials accepted the resignation of building cleaner Anthony Council and hired Tina Wells as part-time cleaner for the current school year;

— The board appointed James Mills to the Local Professional Development Committee to replace teacher Tamela Marshall;

— Leaders added Ken Herron to the substitute teachers list;

— The board adopted permanent appropriations for $14,931,550.59;

— The board approved a contract with the Jefferson County Juvenile Court for school liaison services from Sept. 1, 2023, to Aug. 31, 2024;

— Officials approved the installation of security window film from Clearview Tinting for $22,857 and electric service to a new sign by TS Electric for $3,928;

— Leaders approved a field trip for 34 students to the SkillsUSA Fall Leadership Conference in Columbus on Nov. 9-10;

— The board learned that terms were expiring on Dec. 31 for members Ruth Anne Bruzzese, William Hendricks and Kim Mark and the Steubenville and Indian Creek school boards would be notified to make appointments/reappointments to the respective posts.