East Knox FFA members Hailey Frazee and Ariel Atkinson competed in the District 7 FFA Job Interview Career Development Event at Licking Valley High School on Nov. 2. 

Each sub-district has its first- and second-place students compete in each grade-level category as well as a first-year junior or senior FFA member division. Each division is conducted as an individual contest. 

East Knox FFA had competitors in two of the five categories. Freshman Ariel Atkinson finished eighth in Division 1, and senior Hailey Frazee finished seventh in Division 4. The first-place competitor in each division advanced to the State Preliminary contest on Zoom on Nov. 19, with the winners going to the State Finals on Dec. 3 at Ohio State University.

In the contest, each participant completed a resume and cover letter, filled out a job application, went through a mock interview from one of 10 specific jobs and wrote a follow-up letter. All of these items were scored to come up with the final placing.

Atkinson applied for the position of animal shelter volunteer from the animal science pathway, and Frazee interviewed for the job of an after-school tutor from the agricultural business pathway.

The Job Interview Career Development Event was developed as a practical method for students to demonstrate competency in the skills necessary for obtaining a job.

Picture (L to R) - Hailey Frazee and Ariel Atkinson at the District 7 FFA Job Interview Career Development Event competition at Licking Valley High School.