Beaverhead FFA At Montana FFA State Convention

Thank you to Caleb Igo for providing us with this information.

The Beaverhead FFA capped off another successful year with an impressive showing at the 93rd Montana FFA State Convention held March 21st-25th in Great Falls. This was another record year for the convention, with over 1,800 attendees representing 100 FFA chapters from across Montana. Twenty-four BCHS FFA members attended this year's convention.

Contest and award results are as follows:

Ag Sales: 5th place team consisting of Ryleigh Plovanic, Savanna Freitas, Josi Ward, and Weston Hansen.

Ag Mechanics: 4th place team consisting of Trapper Doering (2nd individual), Cole Raymond, Ashton Knapp, and Will Ellis. Farm & Agribusiness Management: 5th place team consisting of Gavin Garrison (9th individual), Trapper Doering, Andy Egan, and Ryleigh Plovanic. Agronomy: 22nd place team consisting of Dillon Hansen, Faye Holland, Clancy Setzer, and Tel Holland. Forestry: 4th place team consisting of Trapper Doering, Andy Egan, Gavin Garrison, and Ryleigh Plovanic. Livestock Evaluation: 11th place team consisting of Gavin Garrison, Katie Johnson, Savanna Freitas, and Clinton Ford. Veterinary Science: 2nd place team consisting of Bree Sampson (2nd individual), Katie Johnson (3rd individual), Taylor Yecny (6th individual), and Maddy Broksle.

Junior Agricultural Mechanics (JAM) Show: New this year was the Ag Mechanics show, where students built and exhibited projects in categories such as Livestock Equipment, Outdoor Recreation, Agricultural Machinery, and a Trailer division. Trapper Doering, Ashton Knapp, and Cole Raymond planned, constructed, and exhibited two outstanding projects and each received a red ribbon for their efforts. This year there were over 60 projects from across Montana entered in the JAM show. State FFA Overall Team Sweepstakes: Calculated based on all cumulative state contest placings, the Beaverhead FFA placed 3rd in the overall state team sweepstakes.

State FFA Degrees: The State FFA Degree is the highest level of membership an FFA member can attain while still in high school. In total, 187 Montana FFA members earned their State FFA Degrees. This year 12 Beaverhead FFA members received this honor. Recipients were: Jackson Benzon, Trapper Doering, Patsea Farrow, Gavin Garrison, Dillon Hansen, Tel Holland, Kyle Jones, Ashton Knapp, Jon Peterson, Ryleigh Plovanic, Parker Rieber, and Josi Ward. Senator Steve Daines was the keynote speaker for the State FFA Degree ceremony.

State Star Farmer: Gavin Garrison was chosen as the 2023 Montana FFA State Star Farmer. Out of all 187 State FFA Degree recipients and three other finalists, Gavin was selected as the individual with the most outstanding agricultural production project and record book. This is an outstanding honor reserved for the best of the best, and Gavin is Beaverhead FFA's second State Star Farmer in the last 10 years.

State Proficiency Awards: This year three Beaverhead FFA members applied and were recognized for excellence in their FFA projects. Members receiving recognition were: Emily Matamoros - Beef Production - Bronze Award, Tel Holland - Swine Production - Bronze Award, and Katie Johnson - Sheep Production - Gold Award.

State Star Chapter Award: For an unprecedented sixth consecutive year, the Beaverhead FFA was named the 1st place Star FFA Chapter of Montana. This award takes into consideration all of an FFA chapter's activities throughout the year, and the top 10% of chapters from each state can apply for further recognition at the national level.

Many thanks to our dedicated bus driver and motivational speaker Mr. Robert Harrison for his expert driving and last-minute pep talks.

Thank you all for your continued support of the FFA and these great students!\