Banks County FFA Wildlife Teams Shine at State Competition

The Banks County High School FFA Wildlife Management Career Development Event (CDE) teams recently traveled to Perry to compete in the state competition held at the Georgia National Fairgrounds — and returned home with outstanding results.

The Banks County Junior Wildlife team captured the State Championship, earning 1st Place overall in Georgia, while the Senior team placed an impressive 4th overall among top programs from across the state.

The Wildlife Management CDE tests students’ knowledge of Georgia’s natural resources, including wildlife identification, habitat management, conservation practices, and ecological principles. Students must identify species, analyze habitats, and demonstrate practical outdoor skills — combining classroom learning with real-world environmental understanding.

Junior Team State Champions

The junior team led the way with several individual honors:

• Autumn Castonguay — State High Individual, Whitetail Deer

• Wayne Holcombe — State High Individual, Game Bird

• Trey Murphy — 2nd High Individual, General Identification

• Cate Gilbert — 2nd High Individual, Aquatic Identification

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Their performance secured the team’s 1st Place finish and the state title.

Senior Team Strong Finish

The senior team also performed exceptionally well, earning 4th place overall and multiple individual recognitions:

• Levi Ventrice — State High Individual, Whitetail Deer

• Lane Montgomery — 2nd High Individual, Game Bird

• Aubrey McClure — 3rd High Individual, General Identification

• Logan Ferguson — 2nd High Individual, Aquatic Identification

  
  

The Wildlife Management CDE is considered one of the most challenging FFA competitions, requiring students to identify plants, animals, and habitats while applying conservation and land-management practices used by wildlife professionals and environmental scientists.

The success of both teams highlights the strength of agricultural education and outdoor conservation training in Banks County. Through the FFA program, students gain hands-on experience and develop skills that can lead to careers in wildlife management, forestry, natural resources, and environmental science.

Banks County FFA advisors praised the dedication and preparation shown by the students throughout the season.

Congratulations to all competitors on an outstanding showing at the state level and for representing Banks County with excellence.