West Springfield, MA – Recently the FFA Food Science and Technology Team from Miami East High School competed in the Big Eastern Exposition FFA competition in West Springfield, Massachusetts.
The team qualified after placing second in the state in 2017. During the event the individuals completed a sensory evaluation through the identified aromas and a triangle taste testing, completed a math and problem solving scenario, took a written test, and evaluated food safety and quality situations. As a team they completed and presented a team product development project on a ready-to-eat food.
The team placed second overall. Team members were Liza Bair, Kylie Blair, Jessica Gillum, and Emily Thimmes. Individually, Thimmes was second, Bair was fourth, Gillum was sixth, and Blair was ninth. After the competition the participants visited the fairgrounds and enjoyed learning about the diversity of agriculture throughout the northeastern United States.
There are 14 states represented at the Big E – Maine to Virginia and Rhode Island to Ohio. Ohio was the winner of the State Sweepstakes competition with the most teams placing first or second.
A special thank you goes to the Miami East FFA Alumni Chapter and the Miami Valley Career Technology Team for their financial support of the experience.
MVCTC works with our partner school districts to offer 23 satellite programs and serve over 4,000 students each year. Satellite locations include:
Photo caption: Big E participants in the FFA Food Science and Technology Event were (L to R) Liza Bair, Jessica Gillum, Emily Thimmes and Kylie Blair.