On Saturday, December 9th, a team consisting of Alyssa Brown, Adriana Josephson, Hannah Hummel and Addison Dilger set out to tackle a state-level entomology competition. They represented Mt. Vernon High School’s FFA chapter. Earlier in the year, they placed fifth in the area-level entomology contest. The entomology competition at Purdue’s Stewart Center consisted of the identification and classification of fifty different insect specimens and a twenty-five question multiple choice test.
Adriana Josephson scored third in the state overall with a score of 228 points. Alyssa Brown placed seventh with a score of 223. Hannah Hummel placed 12th with a score of 219 points. Addison Dilger placed 135th with 137 points.
Overall, the team placed first in the state out of forty-five teams with a score of 670 points.
Each of the Mt. Vernon FFA entomology team members answered a few questions.
Q: How do you feel about your number one ranking?
Alyssa Brown: “I was really happy about our win. I am so proud of our team and all their hard work. We could not have done it without every one of the members.”
Addison Dilger: “I feel excited and I’m really proud of my teammates and how hard they worked.”
Hannah Hummel: “I’m so happy we got first. Placing first in the state is one of my proudest moments.”
Q: Did you enjoy being on the entomology team this year? Why or why not?
Alyssa Brown: “I loved entomology this year. We had so much fun and everyone worked so hard. I’m so happy about the progress that this group has made.”
Addison Dilger: “I did. My teammates are super nice and we had a lot of fun competing.”
Hannah Hummel: “I loved the entomology team. Everyone was so nice.”
Q: What is your favorite bug?
Alyssa Brown: “My favorite bug is the Colorado potato beetle.”
Addison Dilger: “My favorite bug is the viceroy butterfly.”
Hannah Hummel: “My favorite bug is the water strider because they have such cute, derpy faces.”
The team will be recognized at this year’s state FFA convention and will get a plaque and a banner for the school’s FFA display case to recognize their hard work.