Etowah High School freshman Kaitlyn Stewart won second place in the Junior Division of the FFA Northwest Georgia Floral Design Career Development Event regional competition held in October at Chattahoochee Technical College in Acworth.  She now advances to the State competition to be held in December at Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College in Tifton.  Her coach is Etowah High School agriculture education teacher Ashley Rivers. 

The competition consists of a written exam, identification of florist plants and equipment and a hands-on skills test in creation of a given floral design. The competition is based on the educational objectives of the Georgia Agriculture Education horticulture curriculum and standard practices in the horticulture industry.  The Georgia Florist Association is the educational sponsor for the competition.  Serving as judges this year were industry representatives including Lisa Kaye Kinsler from Woodstock Florist and Gifts.

The purpose of Career Development Events is to connect students with what is taught in the classroom to practices utilized in the industry.  Additionally, the competitions promote academic achievement and competence for students who seek a future in agriculture.

Other Cherokee County School District FFA students who placed at the competition are: of Cherokee HS, Mildred Dominguez, seventh place, Junior Division; and Krisanne Kissinger, ninth place, Senior Division; and of Etowah HS, Logan Gantt, 11^th place, Senior Division.