First-Ever Perdido River Farms Invitational Livestock Contest Debuts
The South District FFA proudly hosted its annual Fall Contest for Land Evaluation and Forestry at Perdido River Farms, bringing together more than 350 FFA students and advisors from across the region for a full day of competition, agricultural education, and historic milestones.
This year marked an especially significant moment for the district as the event debuted the officially named Perdido River Farms Invitational Livestock Contest, honoring the Poarch Creek Indians and recognizing their continued partnership and support of agricultural education in Alabama. After three consecutive years of strong participation in livestock evaluation, the contest achieved the scale needed to become a formally recognized invitational event.
Honoring Excellence in Forestry, Land Evaluation, and Livestock
Students competed across three divisions—Forestry, Land, and Livestock—demonstrating their technical skills, environmental understanding, and agricultural knowledge at one of the district’s most anticipated fall gatherings.
A highlight of the day was the newly named Perdido River Farms Invitational, which recognized the impact and heritage of the Poarch Creek Indians and celebrated the growth of livestock evaluation participation in the South District.
Livestock Results — Perdido River Farms Invitational:
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1st Place: Robertsdale
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2nd Place: Hartford
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3rd Place: Kinston
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4th Place: Fairhope
A Growing Tradition
Event organizers highlighted the importance of the contest’s expansion and the new recognition of the livestock event. “This is an exciting milestone for our district,” said Rebecca Balkcom, South District Advisor, Alabama State Department of Education. “Having over 350 students and advisors on site shows the strength and passion of agricultural education in our region. The official naming of the Perdido River Farms Invitational reflects both the growth of this competition and our appreciation for the Poarch Creek Indians, whose support helps make events like this possible.”
The South District FFA Fall Contest continues to serve as a vital platform for developing the next generation of agricultural leaders through hands-on learning, teamwork, and community partnership.
