The Manson Grange was the site of the 2011 District VII FFA Apple Career Development Event.  Fifteen teams representing eight chapters competed in the ten practicum areas.

Member completed a test based on the Private Pesticide Applicators handbook on reading a pesticide label, federal and state pesticide regulations, and pesticides and health concerns.  In the Fruit Maturity practicum members had to determine harvest date based on full bloom date and then test the internal pressure of apples. Members graded Red Delicious and Golden Delicious apples using Federal Grading Standards for Washington Extra Fancy, Fancy, and Cull grades.  They had to determine the blemishes present on fifty apples. They must determine the variety of twenty-five apples and pears.  In entomology, they must identify twenty insects or arachnids that are either beneficial or pests to the fruit industry.  In tray evaluation, members must rank four trays of Red Delicious and four trays of Golden Delicious apples. 

The team score was based on the top four scores out of the five member teams.  When all the scores were tallied, the Chelan Falls All Stars brought home the traveling trophy for the eighth time in the last ten years.  The Chelan FFA members on the team were James Blixt who placed first.  He earned a $500 scholarship from the Chelan FFA Alumni Affiliate. Other team members were Lupe Villasenor who was second, Jake Straub who placed third, Apolinar Blanco who placed fifth and Derek Ahl who placed sixth individually.

The Chelan Red team of Bobby Hanson who placed eighth individually, Ben Lorenz, Javier Rivera, Jesus Rodriguez, and German Guittierez placed fifth overall.  And, the Chelan Fuji team of Lindsey Brownfield who placed ninth individually, Levi Greenway, Clieder Guillen, and Alex Diaz placed eighth overall. 

The next stop for the Chelan FFA Apple CDE teams will be the Washington State FFA Apple CDE at the Washington State Horticulture Association Annual Meeting in Wenatchee on December 7^th.