Over 65,000 students, chaperones, and supporters were in attendance this
week enjoying workshops, sessions, tradeshow and college exhibits at
the National FFA Convention and Expo. Of this bunch, only 2,500 students
from across the nation were competitors on the National level. Every
state can only send one team per contest and Corvallis FFA was honored
to have qualified a record breaking three teams (more then any other
chapter in Montana)!
Our Environmental Natural Resources team placed 9th in the Nation! Team
members Audrey Erbaugh (33rd individually) and Keller Brothers (46th
individually) received gold medals (meaning that their scores were in
the top 1/3rd of all competitors). Team members Casie Stornetta (52th)
and Owen Dunn (92nd) received silver medals. With the goal to prepare
kids for careers in Natural Resources, this contest includes using a GPS
to calculate perimeter, wildlife species ID, soil data analysis, water
sampling and soil sampling. This is the best Corvallis FFA has ever
placed at the National level.
Our Agricultural Communications team placed in the Silver Division (21st
overall team). Corbin Kirkland placed 12th individually and received a
gold medal. Team members Emily Jones (61st), Kenzie Weis (85th), and
Gia Bumgarner (86th) each received Silver medals. This contest sets
students up to work in careers related to Agricultural Broadcasting and
media. After participating in an editing test and communications quiz
they presented a media plan for a local non profit. Additionally, they
each listen to a press release and report on that information through
either website design, a 90 second commercial, a news article or a
feature article.
Our Agricultural Issues team placed Bronze overall. Team members Gabby
Krueger, Celia Bohrman, Emelia Schairer, Sydney Wolsky, and Rachel
Lowitt worked hard to deliver a stellar presentation all about Senator
Daines' Wildfire Emergency Act of 2021. When preparing for the contest
they even presented to Senator Daines himself via zoom last spring.
Corvallis FFA has won this competition at the state level 3 of the last 4
years.
Corvallis Seniors Emily Barcus and Julia Huls also attended as senior
delegates. After competing, all students attended workshops on topics
ranging from managing stress levels to how to graduate debt free.
Between Agricultural industry tours and keynote sessions students also
attended rodeos, private concerts and the FFA mall. The students and I
would like to thank Corvallis FFA Alumni, Corvallis CTE Perkins funding,
and the Rapp Family Foundation for help in financially supporting this
trip.
It was the trip of a lifetime and such an honor to represent our little valley at the national level- thank you!
If you are interested in getting more involved with Corvallis FFA we are
always looking for corporate sponsors for our upcoming Alumni
fundraiser "FFA goes Urban Cowboy" on January 27th!