CRCS Returns From National Trips

By Joshua Walther

COBLESKILL - At the CRCS Board of Education meeting last week, students from both the FFA and the FBLA presented their yearly attendance of their respective national meetings.

The first to present was the FFA, led by their advisor Mr. Ferreira, who commented that despite attending national conferences for ten years, “It’s still a little different every year.”

The biggest change this time around was the conduct of the students, where he specified “This was the best group of students I’ve ever taken to the convention,” noting how involved they were in each activity.

After opening the presentation, Mr. Ferreira turned it over to his students, who talked at length about the details of their trip.

While on their way to the convention center in Indiana, they had the pleasure of visiting several landmark locations, such as Penn State University, Jungle Jim’s International Market for global foodstuffs, and the Cincinnati Zoo and Botanical Gardens.

In addition, they stopped at many businesses that were relevant to the education of the FFA, such as the Dickinson Cattle Company, Spendthrift Farm, Bluegrass Stockyards, and the Rood and Riddle Equine Hospital.

Upon arriving in Indianapolis, the students found much to pack their schedules with. Two highlights in particular were a live Ella Langley concert for all fifty two attending teams, and the various competitions, where CRCS earned two bronze recognitions, one silver, and one gold.

“By far and away, ag mechanics is one of the most complex contests,” said Mr. Ferreira, and he further complimented how the CRCS team performed.

Once the presentation drew to a close, Board President Bruce Tryon thanked them, stating “You guys did well out there, and the district and the community as a whole has always been very proud of the FFA, so well done.”

FBLA students took to the podium next to present their trip to the NFLC in Arizona, where the team had flown directly into the state rather than go on a roadtrip.

When they touched down at the convention center, they noted that their schedules were likewise packed, with one of the first things to attend being a motivational workshop with Frank C. Kitchen.

Other standout items included an FBLA murdery mystery and a resume course with an expert to know how to stand out in the future job market, providing both a bit of flair and education.

The students also noted how there were other optional specialized classes, such as how to use AI in business, that could further someone’s career path if they so chose.

Speaking on their time in Arizona as a whole, the students expressed gratitude over the trip itself, noting that it was very educational on how to run on a tight schedule and travel while also presenting an opportunity to see sights they couldn’t have imagined seeing before.

As their presentation concluded, they were likewise thanked by the Board as Superintendent Matthew Sickles said “To both groups, we know how much planning and fundraising go into this, so thank you for coming back and sharing your experiences.”