The James River High School FFA captured its fifth state championship in the past three years on April 19.

James River sent five FFA members to the State FFA Poultry Judging Career Development Event in Rockingham County.

While participating in the contest, students had to show knowledge of the poultry industry by taking an exam and use practical industry skills to grade eggs, grade chicken carcasses, place classes of laying hens and broilers, give professional judging oral reasons to judges, and identify cuts of poultry.

The senior team from the James River FFA competed strong at the event, obtaining another state championship for the program.

Team members are Maddie Cummings, Davis Fenster, Bailey Marshall and Mason Sowers.

Individually, Sowers placed first, Cummings placed fourth, Fenster placed 10th, and Marshall placed 16th.

The team will now represent the Virginia FFA Association at the national contest this fall during the National FFA Convention and Expo in Indianapolis, Ind.

In addition to the senior team’s success, freshman Jared Campbell placed 12th overall in the junior division.

Their FFA advisor is Zach Wakeman.

To learn more about the James River FFA Chapter, visit the chapter’s website at jrffa.theaet.com or follow the program on Facebook or Instagram. Additional information about the FFA organization can be found at www.vaffa.org or www.ffa.org.