AGRICULTURE EDUCATION
NJC student competes at National Collegiate Farm Bureau Competition Shelby Clark made it to Sweet 16 round of discussion meet
focusing on solving issues in agriculture. Five questions are presented at the beginning of the competition, and the student who does the best leading the discussion and forms the solution is the winner. Clark won first place By NJC Staff overall in the Colorado competition, which means she was the For Northeastern Junior Colonly student from Colorado comlege student Shelby Clark, public peting at the National Collegiate Farm Bureau Competition, and speaking is her passion and she one of only two freshmen who always knew she wanted to pursue that in college. Competing at completed, beating out juniors and seniors from the larger fourthe State Level Collegiate Farm year universities like Colorado Bureau was the highlight of her State University and Adams year, until now. State. Courtesy photo Clark, a freshman at NJC, parNortheastern Junior College's Shel- ticipated alongside many juniors The national competition began by Clark recently represented Colora- and seniors from across Colorado on Tuesday, March 9 virtually do at the National Collegiate Farm in a board meeting scenario that and Clark was thrilled to be the Bureau Competition. Colorado representative. is collaborative but competitive,
16 • MARCH 31, 2021 • SALUTE TO AGRICULTURE
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“You can only go to Nationals one time in your college career, so this is a great opportunity and honor,” said Clark. At the national competition, there were two rounds that everyone who qualified competed in, then they went on to the Sweet 16 on Thursday, March 11 and the winners of that round went on to the Final Four. Clark competed in the Sweet 16, the only freshman to make it that far, but unfortunately did not advance to the Final Four, though she held her own against many upper level students from around the nation. Northeastern is proud to have Clark represent the college at the national level. Andy Bartlett is the NJC Collegiate Farm Bureau Advisor and has been in that role for the past five years alongside his agronomy teaching load. Bartlett stated, “Shelby has a natural ability to convey messages and discuss complex topics with ease. Coupling this talent with her passion for agriculture allowed her to have great success as our club’s public relations officer as well as a competitor in the discussion meet.” Clark is originally from Wray, Colorado where she participated in competitions at Wray High School in FFA and forensics. She is a freshman at NJC this year, but will be graduating in May with her Associates Degree in Ag Communications after completing 32 concurrent enrollment credits in high school. She will be transferring to Red Rocks Community College to obtain her Professional Photography Certificate. Clark also owns her own photography/marketing business, Shelby K. Marketing Company, and she offers graphic design and publications for the agriculture industry and a wide variety of photography services.
