*By Laura Lombardi, Wellington Daily News
The Wellington High School FFA team traveled south to Fort Worth, Texas, last week to compete in the 2026 National Turfgrass Science Invitational — and returned home as National Champions.
WHS team members Ava Bales, Boston Lawrence, Lily Morningstar, and Rogan Wetta, accompanied by WHS agriculture instructor and FFA advisor Linda Chase, earned first place out of 70 students competing on 18 teams representing 15 states.
Junior Boston Lawrence, who finished 17th overall in last year’s competition, reached the top of the podium this year by earning the highest overall individual score. His teammates followed closely behind, with Wetta finishing second, Morningstar placing third, and Bales capturing fourth place.
This year’s FFA Endoresed Activity was held in conjunction with the Sports Field Management Association (SFMA) and focused on football, baseball, and soccer field conditions. Last year’s competition centered on golf course studies, with the Wellington FFA Chapter finishing fifth out of 16 teams.
“I couldn’t be more proud of them,” said Chase. “They put in the work, trusted each other, and represented Wellington with excellence.”
The competition included an individual 100-question knowledge exam focused on sports field management, including the identification of turfgrasses, weeds, pests, and diseases commonly found in turfgrass systems. As a result of their scores, the students also earned entry-level field manager certificates from the SFMA. Only seven students at the competition achieved this certification, and all four members of the Wellington team scored 80% or higher.
Team events included case studies requiring students to identify best management practices related to water management and playing surface renovation. Discussions also addressed operational challenges such as crew management, communication with outside vendors and organizations, and event scheduling.
Divided into two-person teams, participants then tackled real-world turf management challenges on the TCU football field. One task required students to demonstrate the safe, efficient, and accurate application of a logo on a game field. Other practicums measured field firmness, turf repair techniques, construction of a swing joint assembly for irrigation applications, and the accurate calibration and setup of a boom sprayer.
“This is exactly what agricultural education is about,” said Chase. “These students didn’t just study turf science — they learned how to think critically, solve real-world problems, and work as a team. Seeing them succeed on a national stage is incredibly rewarding.”
The National Turfgrass Science Invitational is designed to stimulate student interest in pursuing careers within the turfgrass industry while recognizing those who demonstrate advanced skills and competencies through agricultural education.
This event is a National FFA Endorsed Activity, which is an activity vetted by National FFA and hosted by a partner organization. These events were created to meet the goal of providing opportunities for every FFA member to participate in National FFA programs that fit their needs and interests. Learn more about endorsed activities at https://www.ffa.org/designated-events-and-endorsed-activities/