The Ninth Annual Texas FFA Senior Quiz Bowl contest took place Tuesday in the OMNI hotel to continue the action at the 98th annual Texas FFA Convention. 

“I think quiz bowl is a very interesting contest,” said Ira FFA member Keegan Bufkin. “It implements the knowledge of quiz, but also gives the activities and the fun that comes with games, such as Jeopardy, which is kind of what it feels like. There's a lot of fun [in it].”

The Quiz Bowl contest was introduced at the 2017 Texas FFA Convention after Ray Pieniazek, a Texas FFA Board of Directors member, proposed the contest. 

“A big portion of getting leadership positions and officer positions is taking tests, and so doing quiz bowl, you can have a more interactive and fun way to learn that knowledge and implement it,” said Bufkin. “I think it's a great way to either be a gateway into [office positions] or to really spark your love for that knowledge.” 

FFA members competing in the contest develop skills such as reasoning and critical-thinking abilities, personability, observation, expression, self-discipline and self-confidence, as well as project skills. 

“Quiz bowl is a really good way to gain a lot more knowledge about agriculture, because I feel like everyone has a basic understanding of agriculture, but really studying it allows you to get a more in-depth understanding of what you're actually doing,” said La Vernia FFA member Masyn Morrow. 

The contest is expected to only continue to grow. 

“My favorite part about Quiz Bowl is probably the super intense moments where the contest is like super tight or super close and you have a lightning round left to make up the points, or it's just like a really competitive round,” said Morrow. “It just makes it super high spirits, and I like it.”