On March 18th, 2026, the Ag North building at the University of Kentucky was abuzz with high school students from across the region. It was the Capital City FFA Region’s Contest Day, where every speech, team presentation, and proficiency was awarded. 

30 WCHS students were in attendance, and they spent months preparing for these contests. From writing speeches to practicing Robert’s Rules of Order in their free time, students dedicate themselves to these projects, often presenting their skills through public speaking.

There are twenty speaking categories: fourteen themed areas, three auxiliary areas, and three national qualifiers. Woodford County FFA sent a student in every category of contest, and the results were extremely successful, as shown below.

Themed Areas

Makenzie Marshall – 1st place Crop Public Speaking 

Collins Connell – 1st place Floral Public Speaking

Kennedy Rudd – 1st place Poultry Public Speaking 

Cooper Probst – 1st place Swine Public Speaking 

Maddy Church – 1st place Turf & Lawn Public Speaking 

Annabel Lewis – 1st place Greenhouse Public Speaking 

Cole Ricketts – 2nd place Nursery & Landscape Public Speaking

Auxiliary 

Chloe Rabbeth – 2nd place Wildlife Public Speaking 

Wyatt Richards – 1st place Aquaculture Public Speaking 

National Qualifiers

Carolina Rhea – 1st place Prepared Public Speaking 

Sarah Bradley – 1st place Extemporaneous Public Speaking

Cruz Westlund-Gonzalez – Spanish FFA Creed

In addition to public speaking abilities, many students are expected to show an understanding of proper parliamentary procedure and debate-style thinking. The Conduct of Chapter Meetings LDE (Leadership Development Event) is a first-year member only contest, where a team of seven students is given a main motion and four “abilities” to accomplish. Those abilities range from calling “division” (a standing count of the vote) to “objecting to the consideration of the question” (opposing debate on the main motion). Students have to understand the proper way to dictate these abilities, vote accordingly, and also present two debates throughout their 10 minute time limit. While the team did not advance, the students were still extremely successful during the contest.

The Parliamentary Procedure LDE is the senior version of Conduct, and is the contest that any non-first year student can advance to. The event is largely the same, but the senior team deals with 24 abilities, more than Conduct’s 10 abilities. The “Parli Pro” team placed second in the region, and will advance to the first round of state finals in June. 

Most members on this team have been competing together in Parli since their freshman and sophomore years. There are 5 seniors on the team: Kathryn DeVore, Emma Roberts, Logan Rudd, Carolina Rhea, and Faith Davis.

Distinctions were also in the proficiency area, where students submit applications related to their Supervised Agricultural Experiences (SAEs). Woodford County students won in multiple areas, and every first place application will advance to state for continued judging.

Proficiencies

Hunter Sutherland – 1st place Ag Services Proficiency

Cole Ricketts – 1st place Goat Production Proficiency

Logan Rudd – 1st place Grain Production Proficiency, Star Farmer Finalist

Cooper Probst – 1st place Poultry Production Proficiency

Carson Probst – 1st place Swine Entrepreneurship Proficiency, 2nd place Forage Entrepreneurship Proficiency

Regional Contest Day also serves as the banquet for the Capital City Region, where they recognize previous competitions from the year. In December, Woodford County FFA’s Small Power Equipment and Agricultural Sales Teams both won the regional competition, and competed again at the State Convention and State Fair. Additionally, Robin Rhea and Carolina Rhea were both recognized for leadership positions from February’s Region Paperwork Day.

Small Power Equipment

Hunter Sutherland

Faith Davis

Logan Rudd

Wyatt Slugantz

Agricultural Sales

Emma Roberts

Harrison Grider

Nathan Ott 

Cooper Probst – Region High Individual

Capital City Region

Robin Rhea – Sworn in as Regional Treasurer

Carolina Rhea- Retired as Regional President, State Officer Candidate

These students were recognized again at the Woodford County FFA End of Year Banquet, which completed the 2025-2026 school year for the chapter. The night was full of celebration, food, and a strong sense of community- our FFA members showed out to support their classmates and friends!