The Tate High School FFA Chapter won first place in the Florida Turfgrass Science Invitational Student Competition held at Candler Hills Golf Course in Ocala, Florida. This victory qualifies the team for the upcoming National Turfgrass Science Invitational.
The winning team members are Baylor Touchstone, Addyson Smallwood, Allison Wynne, and Cade McNair, coached by FFA Advisor Melissa Gibbs. During the competition, participants were evaluated on their technical knowledge and practical skills related to the turfgrass and green industries.
Students faced multiple challenges, including individual written exams, problem-solving case studies, turfgrass species identification, integrated pest management (IPM), athletic and golf playing-surface setup, and commercial equipment operation.
The competition reflects the significance of turfgrass science as a critical sector within Florida’s green industry, which includes environmental horticulture, nursery production, commercial landscaping, and turf management. The green industry contributes approximately $42 billion to the state’s economy and supports over 279,000 jobs, providing extensive career opportunities for students in agricultural sciences.
The Tate FFA team will represent Florida at the national competition, where they will compete against top teams from around the country.
