Big Sandy chapter attends FFA's 88th annual convention

More than 1,600 members and guests including the Big Sandy Chapter attended Montana FFA’s 88th Annual State Convention April 4th-7th in Billings, Montana.

The Montana FFA State Convention hosted 12 career development events, general sessions and workshops during the four-day event.

The winning teams earn the opportunity to compete at the National FFA Convention which will take place this fall in Indianapolis, Illinois. New State FFA Officers were selected and are as follows: Morgan Weidow — president from Corvallis, Nathan Wildeboer — first vice president from Missoula, Andrea Rutledge — second vice president from Big Sandy, Mamie Hertel — secretary from Moore, Jacob Martin — treasurer from Culbertson, Courtnee Clairmont — reporter from Mission Valley, Karli Blanchard — sentinel from Colestrip and Lainee Hill — parliamentarian from Broadwater.

The Beaverhead chapter from Dillon took home the title of Star Chapter. Joe Lackman of Forsyth was named Star Greenhand with Kolby Dietz, announced as the Star in Agribusiness. Montana’s Star in Agriculture Placement went to Cayden Rose of Gardiner, Nicole Stevenson of Joliet earned the title of Star Farmer and Elizabeth Brennan of Missoula earned the Star in Agriscience award.

Over 250 Day of Service participants teamed up with three locations in the Billings area to lend a helping hand. The combined work effort of these student volunteers totaled over 500 hours to improve the city of Billings, as well as community businesses and organizations.

Montana Business and Industry representatives sponsored the event as well as promoted their businesses during the two-day FFA Tradeshow. The Montana FFA makes a positive difference in the lives of students by developing their potential for premier leadership, personal growth and career success through agricultural education. For more information people can contact the Montana FFA Association for upcoming events and ways to get involved.

For contact information visit the Montana FFA website at http://www.montanaffa.org/.

Career Development Event Results are as follows:

Farm Business Management CDE:

Individual: The first place individual received a $1,000 scholarship sponsored by the Montana Farm Bureau Foundation.

• Anthony Tatarka – Belgrade

• Joe Tatarka – Belgrade

• Reann Shular – Electric City

• Dakota Terry – Big Sandy

• Zac Zimmerman - Missoula

• Jacob Rasmussen - Missoula

• Caroline Roeder - Choteau

• Max Andres – Missoula

• Mamie Hertel – Moore

• Reilly Allik – Judith Gap

Team:

• Missoula FFA

• Belgrade FFA

• Ruby Valley FFA

• Joliet FFA

• Big Sandy FFA

Agricultural Sales CDE:

Individual: First place received a $1,000 scholarship sponsored by Billings Farmhand.

• Joe Lackman – Forsyth

• Dalton Lemburg – Shepherd

• Caroline Roeder – Choteau

• Devon Solberg – Baker

• Ethan Turner – Missoula

• Lucas Oelkers – Culbertson

• Jacob Rasmussen – Missoula

• Mamie Hertel – Moore

• Abbie Motley – Stevensville

• Zac Zimmerman - Missoula

Team:

• Missoula FFA

• Park City FFA

• Cascade

• Shepherd

• Beaverhead

Agronomy CDE:

Individual: First place received a scholarship sponsored by Montana Seed Growers.

• Caroline Roeder - Choteau

• Amber Johnson - Choteau

• Kala Bertolino- Joliet

• Serenity Enders – Choteau

• Jacob Rasmussen – Missoula

• Maria Bay – Kalispell

• Russell Zentner – Clark’s Fork

• Kayla Hagan – Plentywood

• Katie Aisenbrey – Clark’s Fork

• Hunter Hastig - Baker

Team:

• Choteau FFA

• Missoula FFA

• Kalispell FFA

• Clark’s Fork FFA

• Belgrade FFA

Agricultural Technology and Mechanical Systems CDE (mechanics):

Individual: UTI Technical School offered a $3,000 to the third-place individual, $5,000 to the second-place individual, and $10,000 to the first-place individual. The first place individual also received a $1,000 scholarship from General Distributing.

• Tyler Haag – Ruby Valley

• Zac Zimmerman - Missoula

• Ethan Turner – Missoula

• Stephen Hamilton – Ruby Valley

• Noah Salo – Joliet

• Cordell Ellis – Miles City

• Max Andres - Missoula

• Kade McParland – Ruby Valley

• Joel Raisler – Miles City

• Kalten Hendrickson - Missoula

Team:

• Ruby Valley FFA

• Missoula FFA

• Miles City FFA

• Joliet FFA

• Huntley Project

Agriscience Fair:

Overall winners in each area:

• Animal Systems: Claire Stevenson - Hobson

• Power and Technology Systems: Hayley Nelson, Chris Ammes – Electric City

• Plant Systems: Emma Clark - Conrad

• Environmental Sciences and Natural Resources: Dustin Steele - Stevensville

• Social Systems: Morgan Zuidema, Megan Toplovich – Electric City

• Food Products and Processing Systems: Ben Kaul, Stephanie Rollins – Electric City

Creed Speaking CDE:

• Danika Soper - Hinsdale

• Miles Gravelley – Deer Lodge

• Colton Young – Stillwater Valley

• Jenna Paul – Plevna

Junior Creed Speaking CDE:

• Miya Ross – Gardiner

• Brighton Lane – Huntley Project

• Leah Veress – Gardiner

• Claire Stanley – Missoula

Extemporaneous Speaking CDE:

• Mary Brown – Electric City

• Michael McKay – Corvallis

• Kala Bertolino – Joliet

• Tyler Noyes - Broadwater

Livestock Judging CDE:

Individual: The first-place individual received a $1,000 scholarship sponsored by Westfeeds.

• Trenton Braaten - Broadwater

• Mckenna Quirk – Missoula

• Abby Leachman – Broadwater

• Abigail Stevenson – Hobson

• Dylan Laverell – Big Timber

• Courtnee Clairmont – Mission Valley

• Walker Anttila – Joliet

• Maddie Sutton – Kalispell

• Bailey Lake – Kalispell

• Lindsey Brence – Miles City

Team:

• Broadwater FFA

• Kalispell FFA

• Miles City FFA

• Hobson FFA

• Missoula FFA

Parliamentary Procedure CDE:

• Kalispell FFA

• Broadwater FFA

• Shepherd FFA

• Missoula FFA

Prepared Public Speaking CDE:

• Caroline Roeder – Choteau

• Gracie Smith – Victor

• McKenna Quirk – Missoula

• Emily Ekhardt – Fergus of Lewistown

Conduct of Meetings CDE:

• Shepherd

• Missoula

• Plevna

• Roundup