Over 7,000 FFA members, advisors, and guests attended and participated in the 96th Nebraska FFA Convention, held April 3-5 in Lincoln. Students competed in various contests all school year to qualify for the state convention.
Those winning their Leadership Development Events, Career Development Events, and Agriscience Fair projects will go onto compete at the National FFA Convention against other states in their respective areas. Proficiency Area winners will also be judged at the national level and will know in August if they have advanced to the final round to be announced at the convention. The National FFA Convention will be held in Indianapolis, Indiana, October 23-26.
The following are results for area students:
LDE
In Cooperative Speaking, Emmett Carlson, of Mitchell, and Cassiana Gutierrez, of Minatare, received Bronze. Katelyn Shimic, of Gering took second place.
In Creed Speaking, Miranda Betson, of Crawford, and Autumn Henthorn, of Alliance, received Silver. Paige Vinton, of Hyannis, received Gold.
In Extemporaneous Speaking, Justine Wilkinson, of Morrill, received Bronze. Morgan Schommer, of Chadron, received Silver. Seth Meyring, of Alliance, received Gold.
In Employment Skills, Macy Brooks, of Alliance, and Jace Lien, of Chadron, received Bronze. Kaylee Henthorn, of Alliance, received Gold.
In Junior Public Speaking, Julia Russell, of Hay Springs, received Silver. Drew Kaufman, of Scottsbluff, received Gold.
In Natural Resources Speaking, George Schmell, of Scottsbluff, and Zach Araujo, of Bayard, received Bronze. Rebecca Reece, of Sioux County, took second place.
In Senior Public Speaking, Isaac Olsen, of Banner County, received Bronze. Jadyn Tidyman, of Chadron, received Silver.
In Agricultural Demonstration, Gering, and Sioux County received Bronze. Mitchell received Silver.
In Conduct of Chapter Meetings, Hay Springs received Bronze.
In Parliamentary Procedure, Gering and Bridgeport received Bronze.
Nebraska Career Development Events
Kaylee Henthorn, of Alliance, scored 132.4 points, placing 10th and earning a Blue Ribbon. Gabe Tidyman, of Chadron, scored 130 points, tying for 14th and earning a Blue Ribbon. Isaac Murphy, of Alliance, scored 126 points, tying for 20th and earning a Blue Ribbon. Mandie Ylander, of Alliance, scored 120 points, tying for 25th and earning a Red Ribbon. Makenna Quick of Alliance, scored 110 points, tying for 46th and earning a White Ribbon. Owen Wess, of Chadron, scored 106 points, tying for 55th. Cade Smith, of Chadron, scored 92 points, tying for 75th. With a team score of 858, Alliance took second place, earning a Purple Ribbon. With a team score of 767, Chadron placed 11th earning a White Ribbon.