Mendota FFA placed second in district sales competition

The Agricultural Sales Career Development Event consists of activities closely related to the entire sales process.

Participants are tested on their verbal, written and interactive communication skills. They must demonstrate product knowledge, including features and benefits of a product, potential customer objections to a product and proper product use. Participants are asked to exhibit skills in the sales process, such as identifying prospective customers, introducing a product to a customer, planning and conducting a sales call, and closing a sale. In addition, participants are evaluated on maintaining customers and handling customer complaints.

The Section 7 qualifying event was Oct. 20 at Serena High School.

Participants were given Merck Animal Health products to sell this year as a part of the state series. They had to familiarize themselves with several products used to treat cattle and horses for worms and other parasites.

The Mendota FFA Ag Sales team consisted of Elizabeth Schillinger, Wayde Collins, Avery Pierce, Karly Reel and alternate Samuel Sondgeroth. As a team they placed second at the Section 7 event with a score of 762 points. They will advance to District 2 competition with Somonauk Leland Sandwich FFA, which won the contest with a score of 769 points. All four Mendota FFA member placed in the Top 10 individuals; Schillinger placed second (169 points); Reel placed fourth (166); Pierce placed sixth (153); and Collins placed 10th (137).

District 2 is composed of all the high school and middle school agriculture programs in Northeastern Illinois (Sections 6-10). The District 2 Agricultural Sales CDE will be Wednesday, Nov. 3, at the Joliet Junior College Weitendorf Agricultural Education Center by appointment. The top three teams in each of the five districts throughout Illinois will advance to the state finals Saturday, Nov. 20, at Lincoln Land Community College in Springfield.

Seneca FFA Advisor Jeff Maierhofer coordinated the Section 7 event; Serena FFA Advisor Chad Mahler for provided the facilities and refreshments; and a number of judges evaluated the team preparation; the team questions; and the individual sales calls. Also deserving recognition are Mendota FFA Alumni & Supporters members Dawn Dieter, Megan Faber and Sarah Landers for their help in preparing the team for competition.