FFA chapters do not only show livestock in the local county fair, but they also travel across the state and county to take part in Career Development Events (CDE) and Leadership Development Events (LDE). CDE and LDE competitions are a big part of the organization and draw many kids into participating. 

On March 25 and 26, the Powell Shoshone FFA Chapter stayed on the home field to compete at the Northwest College Contest. Sophomore Brooke Bessler, senior Taylor Dye, freshman Katie Morrison and junior Allison Morrison competed in livestock judging, and sophomores Charlee Brence, Virginia Lohr, Shelby Carter and senior Jace Nordeen represented the Chapter in Environmental and Natural Resources. 

“These contests help [students] by giving [them] in-person experience. They expose the students to new things,” advisor and agriculture teacher Mrs. Shannon Darrough said.

The livestock judging team placed first in the competition with Katie Morrison placing first individually. Allison Morrison placed sixth behind Katie. The ENR team placed ninth overall.  Nordeen was the team’s high-scoring individual.

“I think that this was a very good competition for us,” Bessler said. “And, the more [competitions] we do, we can only get better.”

The livestock judging team had an additional opportunity to compete on March 26 at the Casper College contest. The team took sixth overall, and Kaitie Morrison was the highest-scoring individual for the team.

“We did better than we have in previous competitions,” Mrs. Darrough said. “It gave them new materials and things to practice rather than using what we had already learned.”

Additionally, the Vet Science team also traveled to Casper with the livestock team. Sophomores Cassidy Reimer, Baylee Brence and Kathryn Brence competed in the Veterinary Science competition. The Powell-Shoshone FFA Vet Science team placed eighth overall, and Baylee Brence was the high point individual for the team.

“It [the Casper College Contest] gave us practice for the state competition,” Reimer said. “I think the team performed well.”

A couple weeks later, both the Vet Science team and Wool Judging team competed in Torrington at the State Vet Science competition. Bessler, Katie Morrison, and sophomore Emma Brence competed in a 4-H and FFA Wool Judging competition. In the Senior FFA category, the Powell-Shoshone FFA Chapter took Reserve Champion. Katie Morrison took first in grading and fourth overall. Emma Brence took third overall.

“I think this contest was a good practice for everyone,” Bessler said. “Every competition is different, and we are ready to use what we learn at each competition.”

The Powell-Shoshone FFA Chapter looks forward to the State FFA Convention which takes place April 5-9.