Over 1,600 members and guests attended Montana FFA’s 86th Annual State Convention March 30th – April 1st in Bozeman, Montana. The Montana FFA State Convention hosted 10 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, IN. New State FFA Officers were selected and are as follows: Albert Koenig – President from Belgrade, CJ Stevenson – 1st VP from Moore, Jon Andres – 2nd VP from Missoula, Ashley Koenig – Secretary from Belgrade, Josh Meyer – Treasurer from Great Falls, Kacie Cummings -Reporter from Cascade, Brock Reiner – Sentinel from Flathead (Kalispell), and Jake Michels – Parliamentarian from Shepherd.
Missoula FFA took home the Team Sweepstakes award, while the Flathead FFA earned the title of Star Chapter for the second year in a row. Caroline Roeder of Choteau was named the Star Greenhand with Livia Jackola from Kalispell, announced as the Star in Agribusiness. Montana’s Star in Agriculture Placement went to Chloe Williams of Great Falls and Kacey Bertolino of Joliet earned the title of Star Farmer.
[EasyDNNGallery|3965|Width|350|Height|350|position||resizecrop|False|lightbox|False|title|False|description|True|redirection|False|LinkText||]Over 250 Day of Service participants teamed up with 14 locations in the Gallatin Valley to lend a helping hand. Locations where members volunteered included Eagle Mount, Heart of the Valley, the History Museum, and several Bozeman parks. The combined work effort of these student volunteers totaled over 500 hours to improve the city of Bozeman, as well as community businesses and organizations.
Montana Business and Industry representatives from around the state were in attendance as sponsors for the event as well as promoting their organization 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 please contact the Montana FFA Association for upcoming events and ways to get involved.
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For contact information visit the Montana FFA website at montanaffa.org
Career Development Event Results are as follows:
Agricultural Sales CDE:
Individual: First place received a $1,000 scholarship sponsored by Billings Farmhand.
1. Albert Koenig – Belgrade
2. Joe Lackman – Forsyth
3. Ashley Koenig – Belgrade
4. Brett Robertus – Laurel
5. Walker Heckman – Fairfield
6. Natalie Arnott – Missoula
7. Kyla Andres – Missoula
7. Nathan Wildeboer – Missoula
9. Jessica Horan – Moore
10. Shane Milton – Joliet
Team:
1. Missoula FFA
2. Belgrade FFA
3. Laurel FFA
4. Shepherd FFA
5. Flathead FFA
Agronomy CDE:
Individual: First place received a scholarship sponsored by Montana Seed Growers.
1. Dustin Pape – Stevensville
2. Kacey Bertolino – Joliet
3. Anthony Songstad – Joliet
4. Caroline Roeder – Choteau
5. Caitlyn Corso – Big Timber
6. Russell Zentner – Clark’s Fork
7. John Power – Wheatland
8. Noelle Senner – Flathead
9. Cara White – Clark’s Fork
10. Dylan Sander – Plevna
Team:
1. Joliet FFA
2. Stevensville FFA
3. Missoula FFA
4. Clark’s Fork FFA
5. Plevna 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.
1. Albert Koenig – Belgrade
2. Cotton Myers – Joliet
3. Grant Panion – Missoula
4. Ben Roeder – Choteau
5. Traven Olson – Miles City
6. Ben Hallford – Stevensville
7. Brandon Ross – Bainville
8. Hazen Fink – Lambert
9. Luke Henke – Shelby
10. Tanner Crawford – Fergus of Lewistown
Team:
1. Missoula FFA
2. Belgrade FFA
3. Big Sandy FFA
4. Choteau FFA
5. Laurel FFA
Agriscience Fair:
Overall winners in each area:
Animal Systems: Elizabeth Brennen and Zac Zimmerman – Missoula
Power and Technology Systems: Allie Blain and Morgan Harris – Joliet
Plant Systems: Brandon Bergum – Moore
Environmental Sciences and Natural Resources: Kate Inderland – Big Timber
Social Systems: Silke Adams – Park City
Food Science: Jessie Duffy and Natalie Arnott – Missoula
Creed Speaking CDE:
1. Anna Slivka – Winifred
2. Megan Brewer – Melstone
3. Mattie Tucek – Grass Range
4. Trenton Braaten – Townsend
Extemporaneous Speaking CDE:
1. Ashley Koenig – Belgrade
2. McKade Mahlen – Culbertson
3. Kala Bertolino – Joliet
4. Jon Andres – Missoula
Farm Business Management CDE:
Individual: The first place individual received a $1,000 scholarship sponsored by the Montana Farm Bureau Foundation.
1. Albert Koenig – Belgrade
2. Sam Curry – Big Timber
3. John Tatarka – Belgrade
4. Nathan Wildeboer – Missoula
5. Gray Gordon – Flathead
6. Ben Roeder – Choteau
7. Karly Hanson – Flathead
8. Jon Andres – Missoula
9. Brett McRae – Colstrip
10. Ashley Koenig – Belgrade
Team:
1. Belgrade FFA
2. Missoula FFA
3. Flathead FFA
4. Big Timber FFA
5. Choteau FFA
Livestock Judging CDE:
Individual: The first place individual received a $1,000 scholarship sponsored by Westfeeds.
1. Jess Moody – Big Timber
2. Hannah Kraft – Laurel
3. Courtnee Clairmont – Mission Valley
4. Jon Andres – Missoula
5. Claire Ruckman – Fairfield
6. Livia Jackola – Flathead
7. Albert Koenig – Belgrade
8. Kelsey Kraft – Laurel
9. Krista Callantine – Belgrade
10. Hazen Fink – Lambert
Team:
1. Laurel FFA
2. Flathead FFA
3. Broadwater FFA
4. Missoula FFA
5. Big Timber FFA
Parliamentary Procedure CDE:
1. Shepherd FFA
2. Flathead FFA
3. Joliet FFA
4. Fergus of Lewistown FFA
Prepared Public Speaking CDE:
1. CJ Stevenson – Moore
2. Tyler Noyse – Townsend
3. Katie Koterba – Electric City
4. Rachel Prevost – Lambert