Santa Fe High FFA Team Wins State, Heads to Nationals

ALACHUA – A blend of science, teamwork and long hours of preparation has propelled a group of Santa Fe High School students onto the national stage, where they will represent Florida in one of the Future Farmers of America’s most competitive academic events.

The school’s FFA Food Science Team earned a first-place finish at the Florida Food Science and Technology Career Development Event, securing a spot at the National FFA Convention and Expo this fall. For the four-member team, the win marks both a milestone achievement and the next step in an intensive process of refining skills that extend far beyond the classroom.

The team, consisting of seniors Sam Nichol, Taylor Batten and Jerick King, along with junior Naomi Cooper, competed against top students from across the state in a contest that tests knowledge of food safety, product development and quality control. According to the FFA, the competition “focuses on developing skills needed in the food science and technology industry through various individual and team activities.”

At the state level, the Santa Fe students were tasked with creating and presenting an original food product, completing hands-on safety and quality evaluations and demonstrating their understanding of food science principles. Their concept, called Rip+Run, featured a package of four individually wrapped trail mixes designed for convenience and nutrition.

The team presented the product to a panel of judges from the University of Florida’s Department of Food Science and Human Nutrition, gaining real-world experience in pitching ideas to industry professionals.

Individually, the team also stood out. Cooper placed second overall in the competition, Batten finished third and King placed sixth, meaning three of the state’s top six competitors came from Santa Fe High School.

All four students are part of the school’s Academy of Veterinary Assisting, a career and technical education program that integrates hands-on learning with industry-focused coursework. Their success highlights how those programs can translate classroom lessons into practical skills applicable to fields like food science, agriculture and public health.

In the months leading up to nationals, the students will continue refining their product and presentation. That preparation includes ongoing practice sessions and collaboration with local food scientist Molly Sims, who is helping guide the team as they prepare for a higher level of competition.

“This type of success doesn’t just happen,” said Brian Skipper, director of the Academy of Veterinary Assisting and the school’s FFA advisor. “Students work countless hours to make this happen under the direction and advising of talented ag teachers who go above and beyond the call of duty to prepare their students.”

Even as some team members prepare to graduate, the group is continuing its work together, focused on strengthening its performance at the national level.

For Santa Fe High School, the achievement reflects both individual dedication and the strength of its agricultural education programs. For the students, it offers an opportunity to showcase their work on a national stage and to test their ideas in a field where science, innovation and real-world application intersect.

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