Chief Washakie FFA has proficient champions

WORLAND — Last week at the 90th Wyoming State FFA Convention, Chief Washakie FFA members showed just how proficient they are by winning 13 state championships in proficiency areas and 17 members who were state runners-up in their respective proficiency areas.

According to advisor Grace Godfrey, applications were due and judged by agriculture teachers/FFA advisors from around the state as well as business and community leaders from the Torrington area on March 19 in Torrington.

Proficiency applications can be in one of the following categories: placement (the student works for someone), entrepreneur (they work for themselves or own their own animal or business), research (agriscience fair project or research driven area), exploratory (similar to trying to find a career path they are interested in). Within those categories there are 46 different award areas that their SAE (supervised agricultural experience) may fit in to. Often times it may fit in to more than one area. An important factor to keep in mind is that while members may submit more than one proficiency they may only win in one category.

Winning applications will be edited and submitted to the National FFA where they will be judged by a panel of experts this summer and ranked in bronze, silver or gold areas. The top four will then be invited back to via for the National Champion in their given area. Winning applications earn $250 while second place is $100 and third is $50. All of the money goes directly back to the members to spend as they wish or reinvest in their project.

This year Chief Washakie FFA members earned $5,700 for their efforts.

Chief Washakie FFA members submitted a total of 74 proficiency applications, had 13 state champions, 17 state runners up and a total of 45 in the Top 3. The next closest chapter in submission was 23, so Chief Washakie FFA had almost twice as many Top 3 finishers as the next chapter had applications. This speaks volumes to the hard work and dedication that these members have.

We had 26 members submit at least one application and they are lengthy.

Proficiency application require nine paragraphs:

How their SAE relates to the area, how their roles and responsibilities relate, the greatest challenge within the project, three accomplishments or findings, and three experiences or opportunities that will impact their future.

In addition they must include six pictures of them working with their project and a letter of recommendation as well as record keeping of hours spent on the project or money spent and earned.

State champions are:

Olivia Scheuerman:

State champion turf grass management proficiency

State runner up: forage proficiency

State runner up: grain production proficiency

State runner up: specialty crop proficiency

State runner up: landscape management proficiency

State runner up: nursery management proficiency

3rd diversified crop proficiency

3rd ag services placement proficiency

3rd landscape management proficiency

3rd ag services entrepreneur proficiency

3rd ag sales placement proficiency

Elizabeth Martinez:

State champion ag processing proficiency

State runner up: ag sales proficiency

State runner up: ag communications proficiency

State runner up: ENR proficiency

Makayla Fulfer:

3rd Equine Placement Proficiency

Vance Curtis:

State runner up: ag processing proficiency

Rudy Sanford:

State runner up: agriscience research plant proficiency

Pudge Hoffman:

State champion: ag mechanics fabrication proficiency

State runner up: home and community development proficiency

Meg DeBolt:

State champion: agriscience research animal proficiency

Buck Butterfield:

State champion: ENR proficiency

Brady Rasmussen:

State champion: forage production proficiency

Hunter Elliott:

State champion: ag services proficiency

State runner up: wildlife management proficiency

3rd ENR proficiency

JT Klinghagen:

State champion: agriscience research plant proficiency

Ivan Perez:

State champion: grain production proficiency

State runner up: diversified crop proficiency

State runner up: vegetable production proficiency

3rd beef production placement proficiency

Colt Rishel:

State champion: ag mechanics repair and maintenance proficiency

State runner up: ag mechanics fabrication proficiency

Cameron Michel:

State runner up: food services proficiency

Dani Warner:

3rd vet science proficiency

Elizabeth Voss:

3rd place agriscience research animal proficiency

Tyler Schrage:

State champion: food science proficiency

3rd ag processing proficiency

Breann Swing:

State champion ag sales placement proficiency

State runner up: ag service placement proficiency

3rd ag mechanics repair and design proficiency

Gabe Scheuerman:

3rd agriscience research plant proficiency

Siobhan Myers:

State champion small animal care and production proficiency

3rd ag sales entrepreneur proficiency

3rd equine entrepreneur proficiency