Monache High can again claim a state title in citrus judging.
Andrew Gutierrez won the individual title at the State Championships held on Saturday at Fresno State. Gutierrez added another state title for Monache as MHS has also won a state title as a team at the event.
And Gutierrez led another strong effort by the Monache FFA Citrus Judging teams as they placed second and third at state on Saturday. Monache's A team of Gutierrez, a junior, and Ashea Lucero, Jazmin Rocha and Molly Withrow placed second out of 24 teams while Monache's B team of sophomores Alyssa Billena, Meghan Lucero, Angela Lucero and Leilani Gomez took third out of 22 teams. Billena also placed third overall in the individual standings.
Citrus Judging is a competitive Career Development Event in which students evaluate different citrus based on their exterior and interior condition. They evaluate oranges, lemons, mandarins, grapefruit, and citrus nursery trees.
The students have 4 classes of non reasons where they put the fruit in order from best to worst. They also have 3 classes where they will put them in order, and defend their decisions with a 2 minute speech called “reasons” explaining to a judge why they placed the fruit or trees in that particular order.
The students at any contest must give a set of reasons on Oranges, Citrus Nursery Trees, and either Lemons or Mandarins. Students also must learn what damages and diseases citrus could contain and need to recognize the quality and saleability.
Citrus Judging prepares students for the citrus industry and can develop skills such as critical thinking, oral communication, and plant biology.
The Monache FFA Citrus Team competed in 4 contests before traveling to State Finals. They placed first in the Don Laux Memorial Citrus Judging Contest held at the Porterville Fairgrounds, second at the Tulare Citrus Contest, first in the Monache Citrus Contest and also competed at the Exeter Citrus Contest.
“I have gained confidence,” in my speaking skills and I learned all about an industry that is all around me that most high schoolers overlook,” said Withrow, a senior. “As I graduate this spring I will always keep these lessons and memories close to me.”
Rocha, another senior, said she was encouraged to participate in citrus judging by Ashea Lucero. While Rocha said she plans to study veterinary medicine in college to become a veterinarian but plans to continue to help in the citrus judging community.
Ashea Lucero, another senior, like Rocha doesn't plan to go into an agriculture-primary field as she plans to become a nurse, but added she benefited from citrus judging.
“I'm beyond proud to have been involved in both FFA and Citrus Judging all four years of high school,” Lucero said.
She said citrus judging “granted me various opportunities to grow and practice skills – especially my public speaking. Citrus judging became an outlet for me to succeed beyond academics.
“While citrus judging and Ag have no correlation to my aspiring career in nursing, involving myself has heightened my gratitude for agriculturalists and agriculture alike. I look forward to implementing my skills and life lessons in my future pursuits.”