PRACTICING BROTHERHOOD

Powell Shoshone FFA spends their week competeing in various actvities during Wyoming state convention

Emma Brence, Prowl Reporter|May 4, 2023

Photo Courtesy of: Wyoming FFA Association

Powell-Shoshone FFA members join 2022-2023 State President Sarah Turner on stage after being recognized as 3rd high in Agronomy.

For 96 years, Wyoming FFA has congregated together as one of America’s largest youth organizations. The Wyoming State FFA Convention has celebrated students’ hard work in the agriculture industry for almost a century, and local chapters are still making their mark in Cheyenne, WY.

On April 19-22, the Powell Shoshone FFA gathered with 56 other chapters from around the state to award successes, compete in events and gather as one association.

“State convention has shown me what it’s like to be a leader and how important it is to work hard,” President and senior Katie Beavers said. “I think it is amazing seeing everyone cheer even when it’s not for their teammate. That showed me how everyone can come together and have good sportsmanship” 

For FFA members Convention is an opportunity to reconnect with friends across the state and build new relationships with other advisers and members.

“State convention over my highschool career has introduced me to so many new and diverse people from all around the state that I wouldn’t have connected with otherwise,” senior Lilly Morrison said.

This year all of Powell-Shoshone’s Career development event team got the chance to compete for State recognition. Juniors Weston Reynolds, Victoria Beaudry, sophomore Robert Gonzalez and senior Garret Tharp represented the chapter in the Agriculture mechanics competition.

“I am so proud of my ag mechanics team,” Beaudry said. “They are amazing and showed me that they care about the competition this year which means a lot.”

The Ag. Mech team placed eighth overall and Weston Reynolds was fifth highest individual in the competition. Gonzalez was the top individual in the ENR portion and Tharp was the top individual in structure systems.

“I am excited to see what next year brings,” Beaudry said. “We have been a team for three years now, and I feel that we have made so much progress from the first year.” Beaudry said.

Juniors Baylee Brence, Kathryn Brence, Emma Brence and Aramonie Bri

nkerhoff demonstrated their knowledge of plant science in the Agronomy Contest. The team placed third overall and Baylee Brence placed tenth overall.

“[The girls competing] did awesome,” Agronomy Coach Trent Reed said. “I’m very proud of how these girls did, to the moon next year.”

Farm Business Management(FBM) is a competition based on business skills and economic knowledge in the agriculture industry. Members included seniors Lilly Morrison, Katie Beavers, Abby Wambeke and junior Wyatt Blackmore.

“I think our team did really well overall,” Beavers said.  “I think we worked together very well and all of our hard work paid off.” 

The FBM team placed fifth overall, and Morrison was the team’s top individual placing nineteenth.

“We cut our placing from last year in half,” Morrison said “ Our team didn’t place last year so it was really exciting to go up on stage.”

Juniors Charlee Brence, Shelby Carter, Brooke Bessler and Virginia Lohr competed in the Environmental and Natural Resources (ENR) competition. The team was sixth overall and the Brence placed fifth overall individually.

“Our ENR team worked really hard this year and it paid off,” Bessler said. “We definitely could not do it without Mrs. Smith, and we are so excited that our team will be able to compete again next year.”

Wendy Smith has been a huge asset to the chapter over the last few years. Smith coaches wool judging and ENR. At the State Convention she was honored with her Honorary State Degree.

“Mrs. Smith has such an impact on our Chapter,” Bessler said. “We are so excited that she is progressing and touching lives in our association.”

The Powell-Shoshone’s Horse, poultry and Livestock Judging did not make a complete team however they still competed for individual titles.The Chapter’s Horse judging contestants were freshman Tori Black, Josie Werner and Weston Tompson.

“I think my team did okay,” Werner said. “ I feel that we just need more experience and practice.” 

The poultry team consisted of freshman Curtis Muecke, Alyssa Ely and Rieta Clark, and Competing in livestock evaluation was senior Allison Morrison, sophomore Katie Morrison and freshman Hadley Cooper.

“[The poultry judging team] gave it their best and were brave for trying something new,” Agriculture teacher and adviser Shannon Darrough said. 

Each year Chapters around the State are recognized for their outstanding work throughout the year. Chapters can be awarded as a Silver Star Chapter or a gold star chapter. These awards are based on the chapter’s involvement in activities and community. This year the Powell-Shoshone FFA earned a silver chapter award.

“Our chapter tries so hard to build up our turnout and membership,” Blackmore said “ It really shows that we care about our members.”

Apart from being a silver chapter, the Powell-Shoshone FFA received an Outstanding Chapter in Growing Leaders, for the chapter’s Chore night.

“Our Chore night is something we do annually,” Charlee Brence said. “ It was a big shock and accomplishment to be recognized for an activity we do every year.”

Wrapping up convention, Powell-Shoshone FFA had some individual accomplishments by members in the chapter. Junior Brooke Bessler, and seniors Garrett Tharp, Lilly Morrison and Katie Beavers received their State Degrees.

Blackmore was awarded a Silver Proficiency award for his Supervised Agriculture Experience in feed mill operations. Proficiency Awards are based on the skills and knowledge members have developed through their SAE’s.

“I was told by an Ag. teacher that they thought my SAE was really strong and they thought I should apply,” Blackmore said. “I’m glad I chose to further my experience through this program.”

The Powell-Shoshone FFA will wrap up their year at the End- of the year Banquet on May 2nd.