Recently, on November 14, two East Knox FFA members competed in the State Animal Management Career Development Event held in the Kasich Building at the Ohio Exposition Center in Columbus where they placed 18th out of a group of teams from across Ohio. Team members were freshmen Ava Page and Miranda Fawcett. Individually, Page placed 18th, just four points out of the top ten, and Fawcett finished 20th out of 121 individuals. The top ten teams and individuals receive awards.

To qualify for the State finals the participants had to place in the top 150 scores in the online general knowledge test taken prior to the state event with questions over dogs, cats, rabbits, guinea pigs, chinchillas, ferrets, amphibians, reptiles, birds, hedgehogs, sugar gliders, and pocket pets. 867 students in the state completed the online examination.

At the finals members had to identify dog breeds, small and large varieties of birds, reptiles and amphibians, breeds of cats, rodents and miscellaneous animals, breeds of rabbits, bird feeds, dog and cat products and supplies, bird products and supplies, reptile and amphibian products and supplies, and small animal products and supplies. Additionally, each contestant performed four practicums. The practicums consisted of handling and sexing hamsters, selecting cages and accessories for rabbits, explaining and evaluating nutrition requirements of painted turtles, and recognizing and evaluating health requirements of canaries. The categories are the pocket pet practicum, the dog/cat/guinea pig/chinchilla/ferret/hedgehog/sugar glider practicum, the reptile and amphibian practicum, and the bird practicum.

The purpose of the Animal Management Career Development Event is to provide students the opportunity to demonstrate knowledge and skills associated with companion animals in the pet industry. This is the third time that East Knox FFA has had a team in the State Animal Management CDE finishing 18th all three times.