National FFA Convention: Wyoming FFA members earn honors on national stage
The 98th National FFA Convention and Expo broke an attendance record in 2025, drawing more than 73,000 members and guests to Indianapolis from Oct. 30 to Nov 1.
Students representing a host of Wyoming FFA chapters were competitive at the national event, taking home top honors across several categories.
“Wyoming FFA members continue to show that our programs prepare students to compete and succeed at the highest levels,” says Wyoming FFA State Advisor Stacy Broda in a Nov. 5 press release. “Their results at the National FFA Convention reflect years of work in local classrooms, support from dedicated advisors and a commitment to learning which goes far beyond the blue jacket.”
“Wyoming chapters may come from small schools and rural communities, but they continue to make a big impact nationally,” Broda continues. “These results show what’s possible when students are given opportunities to learn by doing and when communities stand behind them every step of the way.”
American FFA Degree recipients
The American FFA Degree recognizes members who have demonstrated exceptional agricultural and leadership achievement.
Thirty-eight Wyoming students earned the highest degree achievable in the National FFA Organization this year and were recognized during the national convention.
Recipients include Riley Banker, Brooke Bessler, Wyatt Blackmore, Connor Booth, Emma Brence, Shelby Carter, Shelby Clark, Deblin Cole, Hailey Cooper, Cashley Criswell, Jonathan Danford, Shyann Garbutt, Bailee Gooding, Spencer Hansen, Ahnya Ivie-Moody, Casey Ledoux, Jerome Lipp, Payten Martineau, Peyton Munroe, Wyatt Nebeker, Ivory Neher, Autumn Paustian, Emma Pehringer, Amy Peldo, Mackenzie Priest, Spencer Rabou, Jayden Riddle, Chayse Schierkolk. Jaxon Sweep, Curtis Taylor, Jaden Thomas, Lauryn Vollman, Joslyn Von Olnhausen, Sage Wells, Jhett West, Larkin Williams, Brooke Wright and Ann-Marie Young.
Additionally, Damein Christen, agriculture education instructor and FFA advisor in Shoshoni, received the Honorary American FFA Degree in recognition of outstanding service to agricultural education and FFA members.
CDE and LDE honors
In the Career Development Event (CDE) and Leadership Development Event (LDE) categories, several Wyoming teams and individuals earned honors on the national stage.
From Casper FFA, a team composed of Garrett Burkett, Teagan Campbell, Nathan Danford and Lorelai Wolf earned gold emblem honors in Meats Evaluation and Technology.
Also from Casper FFA, Trever Campbell, Carter Cox, Cooper Cox, Jillian Lopez, Landyn Markwardt and Kason Weber brought home gold emblem honors in Parliamentary Procedure.
In the Veterinary Science competition, a Casper FFA team composed of Megan Hedges, Emerson Hornecker, Kadin Pollock and Samantha Toombs earned bronze emblem honors.
Representing Cheyenne Frontier FFA in the Agricultural Issues Forum were Regan Allen, Brody Medina, Danielle Mehtala, Alexandra Micheli, Cooper Miller, Hannah Schick and Brendan Nagy, who earned gold emblem honors and the title of Reserve National Champions.
Also earning gold emblem honors for Cheyenne Frontier FFA in the Horse Evaluation competition were Charlotte Ehlman, Abbygail Morrow, Callie Rosner and Katalyna Wolski.
Additionally, a Cheyenne Frontier FFA team composed of Gage Broda, Cooper Huck, Colton Schick and Colby Thompson earned bronze emblem honors in the Environment and Natural Resources competition.
From Douglas FFA, Haylee Gibbs, Raelea Taylor, Megan Stoltenberg and Elza Moffatt earned bronze emblem honors in Agricultural Sales, while a Paintrock FFA team composed of Guadalupe Jimenez, Maycee McKim, Nicholas Olmstead and Brendan Powell secured silver emblem honors in the Farm and Agribusiness Management competition.
Snowy Range FFA had five teams earn top CDE and LDE honors.
In Agricultural Technology and Mechanical Systems, James Coxbill, Mason Kern, David Parker and James Vasek earned gold emblems. Additionally, Shea Churches, Charlie Coxbill, Taylor Kimzey, Bryce Kunkel, Lainey Scasta, Ashlyn Wheat and Adelaide Vasek earned gold emblem honors in Livestock Evaluation.
Earning silver emblems for Snowy Range FFA were Jadyn Lake, Riley Lake, Caden Miller and Shanna Stinson in Conduct of Chapter Meetings; Chayne Webb, Piper Henschel and Cele Montgomery in Marketing Plan and Dax Evertson, Emma Johnson, Audrey Roaque and Wyatt Strain in Poultry Evaluation.
Representing Torrington-Lingle FFA in the Agronomy competition, team members Kaleb Booth, Wittni Bugher, Conner Correll and Carter Groene earned silver emblems.
In individual events, Makayla Curless of Burns FFA earned a silver emblem in Creed Speaking; Dani Santee of Riverton FFA earned a silver emblem in Employment Skills; Callie Christensen of Saddle and Sirloin Newcastle FFA earned a silver emblem in Extemporaneous Public Speaking and Emma Hill of Riverton FFA earned a silver emblem in Prepared Public Speaking.
Agriscience fair
In the Agriscience Fair, two national champions hailed from Wyoming.
Hayden Hubbard of Burns FFA won Social Systems Division Five, while Regan Allen and Brody Medina of Cheyenne Frontier FFA earned first in Social Systems Division Six.
Representing Upton FFA was Joslyn Pischke, who earned third place in Animal Systems Division Three. Kaydance Kummer and Heidi Shade of Lander FFA were also competitive, earning fourth place in Animal Systems Division Six.
From Thermopolis Big Springs Middle School FFA, Apollo Jenks and Cameron Martinez earned fifth place in Plant Systems Division Two.
Jaydon Spring and Jayson Spring represented Chug Creek FFA in the Power, Structural and Technical Systems Division Two, earning 10th place, while Dash Hart and Kyston Rollema of Chief Washakie FFA took ninth in the Power, Structural and Technical Systems Division Six.
Additionally, Kaylynn Weber of Shoshoni FFA earned ninth in Social Systems Division One.
Chapter awards and additional honors
Finally, six Wyoming FFA chapters were recognized in the national chapter award program.
Burns FFA, Chief Washakie FFA, Shoshoni FFA, Thermopolis Big Springs Middle School FFA and Upton FFA were all recognized as National Three-Star Chapters.
Green River FFA was also a National Three-Star Chapter, in addition to being recognized as a Premier Chapters Growing Leaders national finalist.
Additionally, June Gentle of Wheatland FFA was selected to represent Wyoming in the National FFA Band, while Mckashyn Salsbury of Jim Bridger FFA and Hannah Corkery of Windy City FFA participated in the National FFA Choir.
Band members Layne Jordan, Liam Jordan, Matthew Blutt and Nicholas Blutt also represented Ten Sleep FFA in the National FFA Talent Program.
Grace Skavdahl is the editor of the Wyoming Livestock Roundup. Send comments on this article to roundup@wylr.net.
