Wyoming FFA: Students earn honors at National FFA Convention
The top competitors from the Wyoming FFA State Convention traveled to Indianapolis, Ind. to compete against the top teams from high schools around the nation at the National FFA Convention, held Oct. 27-30.
Wyoming FFA Association Advisor Stacy Broda shared, “We are so proud of the individuals, teams and chapters who represented Wyoming in Indianapolis. Students competing at this high-caliber event have put in endless hours researching and studying their topics, and many competed virtually to qualify for the national contest.”
Speaking events
“Mastering public speaking allows for students to excel in their future careers, but also allows them to become our industry’s greatest voice,” says National FFA Organization’s Advocacy and Communications Manager Brian Leake.
In the Creed Speaking event, Jhett West placed fourth overall. West represented the John B. Kendrick FFA Chapter in Sheridan.
Jonah Zeimens placed in the top 16 in the National FFA Extemporaneous Speaking event, earning a silver emblem. Ziemens represented the Frontier FFA Chapter from Cheyenne.
In the Prepared Public Speaking event, Tess Palen of Glendo FFA secured a silver emblem, placing in the top 20 in the nation.
Leadership Development events
The team from the High Plains FFA Chapter in Cheyenne competing in the Conduct of Chapter Meetings event placed in the top 12 to earn a gold emblem. In this contest, seventh, eighth and ninth graders conduct an orderly and efficient meeting using parliamentary procedure, as well as complete a written exam.
In the Parliamentary Procedure event, another team from the High Plains FFA Chapter placed in the top 12. In this contest, students are evaluated on their general knowledge of parliamentary law, a demonstration of parliamentary procedure, oral questions and a team problem solving activity.
The team from the Shoshoni FFA Chapter competed to earn a place in the top 18 in the Marketing Plan event. Students developed and presented a marketing plan to promote a new agricultural product, supply or service, or improved the marketing of an existing product, supply or service within their state.
Career Development events
The team of Timothy Marcus, Jake Massar, Cache VanTassell and Wyatt Charlson, all of the Tongue River Valley FFA Chapter, placed eighth in the Agricultural Technology and Mechanical Systems contest. In the contest, students were expected to apply classroom knowledge and problem-solving skills when faced with problems in the following areas: environmental and natural resource systems, machinery and equipment systems, structural systems, energy systems and electrical systems.
Wheatland FFA Chapter’s Agronomy team placed 10th at the national contest. The team consisting of Caden Wade, Danielle Hershey, Hadley Paisley and Jayden McDaniel put their knowledge of agronomic science to the test to develop solutions of agronomic problems as well as identify seeds, insects, soil and crops.
The Livestock Evaluation team from the Snowy Range FFA Chapter in Laramie placed fifth. Team members include Kolton Lake, Kymber Stinson, Mayci Wade and Riley Miller, all of Laramie. Lake was the top placing individual in the nation, Stinson was the second high individual and Miller placed fifth individually. Team members placed eight evaluation classes of beef, sheep, swine and goats, gave oral placement reasons and completed a written exam on livestock production. In addition, the team activity expected students to utilize reproductive and marketing information.
The Farm and Agribusiness Management team representing Wyoming, also from the Wheatland FFA Chapter, placed seventh overall. Team members include Curtis Nickle, Chloe Palmer, Kaycee Hockley and Nolan Smialpk. Students apply economic principles and concepts to analyze farm and ranch business management decisions in the contest. Nickle was the sixth high individual in the contest.
Wyoming FFA’s horse evaluation team, from the Snowy Range FFA Chapter, placed third in the nation. The team consisted of Silja Alexander, Tanner Rogers, Micheal Krusynski and Megan Terrell, all of Laramie. Alexander was the top placing individual in the national contest. Team members placed four halter places and four performance classes, as well as gave four sets of oral reasons. In addition, students worked as a team to complete practical activities and prepare a team presentation.
The team from the Casper FFA Chapter competing in the National Meats Evaluation and Technology event placed fourth overall. Afton Stewart, Kassidy Brooks, Spencer Hansen and Nicholas Gutierrez, all of Casper, made up the team. The event tests students’ skills in beef carcass evaluation, identification of wholesale and retail cuts of beef, lamb and pork, meat merchandising and a meat formulation problem.
In the Environment and Natural Resources event, students concentrate on soil profiles, water quality, waste management and the use of global positioning units to solve problems. The team from the Snowy Range FFA Chapter placed in the top 18 nationally.
Snowy Range FFA Chapter’s poultry evaluation team earned a silver emblem in the national contest. Team members selected top-quality poultry and poultry products, as well as completed a written exam on poultry management, evaluated classes of live birds for egg and meat production and evaluated quality of eggs and poultry products.
Agriscience fair
Dawn Logan and Lilliana Hogan of the Chugwater FFA Chapter won their division in the Animal Systems portion of the National FFA Agriscience Fair.
Finalists from Wyoming in the National FFA Agriscience Fair include: Tymber Eckley, Austin Slagle and Lexi Overfield of the Thermoplis FFA; Megan Sagner of the Chugwater FFA; Sage Wright of the Casper FFA; and Carly Keller and Danielle Clapper from the Southeast FFA in Yoder.
American FFA Degree
The highest degree achievable in the National FFA Organization is the American FFA Degree. Students qualifying for the degree must have completed at least 540 hours of agricultural education, been an active FFA member for at least three years, have maintained records of at least $10,000 in earnings, with $7,500 of that productively invested, have a record of outstanding leadership abilities and completed at least 50 hours of community service.
Wyoming’s American Degree recipients include: Audrey Axtell of Thermopolis FFA; Ethan Cantlin, Hunter Gross, Ruger David Hewitt, Elizabeth Hurdsman, Jolee Lamoreaux and Broderick Thomas of the Jim Bridger FFA in Mountain View; Kylie Carson of Southeast FFA in Yoder; Kodi Christensen of Shoshoni FFA; Danielle Erickson of Star Valley FFA in Afton; Elsa Freise of the Buffalo FFA; Tyler Juma of the Torrington-Lingle FFA; Cameron Magee of the Casper FFA; Nicole Sagner of the Chugwater FFA; and Payton Timberman of the Whitcomb FFA in Moorcroft.
The Wyoming Livestock Roundup would like to extend a great congratulations to all of Wyoming FFA’s representation at the National FFA Convention.
Averi Hales is the editor of the Wyoming Livestock Roundup. Send comments on this article to roundup@wylr.net.
