As the clock ticked down during one of the most challenging District FFA Agriculture Mechanic Skills Competitions, Clayton McCann (Buckeye Valley High School), Brayden Hinkle (Delaware Hayes High School), Trace Settles (Big Walnut High School), and David Rosenberger (Delaware Hayes High School), competed head-to-head against students from five other schools. Relying on the hands-on skills they learned in the DACC’s Power Sports and Diesel Technology lab, the four DACC students placed first overall and are now advancing to the state competition.
The competition, held on Friday, March 14, at DACC, brought together six schools to test students in a rigorous, real-world skills challenge. Participants rotated through 12 timed stations, demonstrating expertise in electrical diagnostics, fluid identification, engine mechanics, and welding, among other technical skills.
“This was definitely one of the hardest competitions we’ve been to,” said McCann. “It felt like everything we’ve learned in this lab was put to the test in just one day.”
Hinkle added, “There was a lot of variety—one minute we were identifying tools, the next we were welding or working on electrical diagnostics. It challenged us to think on our feet and use a little bit of everything we’ve learned.”
When the final scores were tallied, the four DACC students had the highest combined score, earning first place overallsecuriing them a spot at the State FFA Competition.
“It was more fun than I thought it would be,” said Settles. “The kid I was paired with was from Benjamin Logan, and we actually found out we’re going to the same college. It was cool to connect over that.”
Rosenberger compared this competition to his past experiences, saying, “It felt a lot like last year’s competition. I even recognized one of the other competitors from before.”
DACC was proud to host this year’s event, which was organized by Mr. Steve Blankley, DACC Power Sports and Diesel Technology Instructor. The state competition will give these four students a chance to showcase their skills at an even higher level.
The team is preparing by practicing the skills they expect to see in the next round. “We have a general idea of what’s going to be there based on past competitions,” said Settles, “so we’re just practicing everything we think we’ll need to know.”
Beyond the competition itself, state-level success could mean scholarship opportunities for the students. “If we get that chance to win, I’d definitely put the scholarship money toward tuition,” said Rosenberger. Both seniors plan to attend the University of Northwestern Ohio (UNOH), where they will pursue associate degrees in High-Performance Motorsports.
Congratulations to Clayton, Brayden, Trace, and David on this outstanding achievement!