Wyoming FFA State Convention: Youth leaders in agriculture convene in Cheyenne
The 97th Wyoming FFA State Convention was held in Cheyenne April 10-13. More than 1,500 FFA members, agriculture advisors and guests participated in general sessions, competitive events, educational tours, leadership workshops and more during the convention.
Wyoming FFA Association State Advisor Stacy Broda shared, “State FFA Convention is an exciting week for FFA students from across the state who come to compete and learn. The hard work and dedication of Wyoming FFA members culminates at this event, and we are proud to recognize the up and coming leaders in agriculture.”
The convention hosted several special guests, including Gov. Mark Gordon and First Lady Jennie Gordon, Wyoming Department of Education’s Megan Degenfelder and Dicky Shanor, Laramie County Commissioner Gunnar Malm and Wyoming State Fair General Manager Courtny Conkle.
Students also heard keynotes from National FFA Western Region Vice President Emily Gosset and Utah Bareback Rider Braxton Nielsen.
Outstanding chapters
During the convention, students and chapters are also recognized for their accomplishments throughout the year. Based on their program of activities, chapters can be awarded for their work in community service, leadership at the chapter level and promoting the agricultural industry.
The Outstanding Chapter in Building Communities was the Casper FFA. This year, the Casper FFA took part in the Platte River Revival, a restoration effort to clean up the North Platte River and increase biodiversity.
Members and Advisor Timi Reynolds worked together to clean up litter and uproot invasive species, such as Russian olive trees, along a three-mile stretch of the river on National Public Lands Day in September 2023.
Upton FFA was the Outstanding Chapter in Growing Leaders. Members of Upton FFA took it upon themselves to recognize the importance of the well-being of their community and organized a day full of workshops for mental and physical health.
Stations included intentional kindness, strengthening communication skills, healthy food to fuel bodies and a dancing workshop. Upton FFA was also recognized as the Wyoming FFA Chapter of the Year.
The Outstanding Chapter in Strengthening Agriculture was the John B. Kendrick FFA in Sheridan. As the town of Sheridan grows, many FFA members have seen a shift from the town’s rural roots to a more urbanized community.
Members decided to share the agricultural history of Sheridan, as well as today’s agriculture in the area, by teaming up with Sheridan Media to start a podcast all about agriculture.
Casper’s middle school FFA chapter, CY FFA, was the recipient of the Middle School Models of Innovation Award.
After their chapter suffered a loss due to texting and driving, the chapter organized an activity to effectively demonstrate the dangers of texting behind the wheel, which served as a reminder for the next generation of drivers to stay focused on the road.
In the fall of 2023, the Chug Creek FFA Chapter in Chugwater was chartered at the Prairie View Community School, which focuses on project-based learning. Advisor Tyler Lay and 16 of the chartering members proudly represented their new, and Wyoming’s 62nd, FFA chapter in Cheyenne.
The 2024 Wyoming FFA Champion Ag Teacher was crowned during the convention.
Ashley Spatz, advisor of the Paintrock FFA Chapter in Basin, has led the chapter to many successes. Spatz has taught at Riverside High School for seven years, and her students share she encourages them to be involved in competitions, delegate business and to always strive for excellence.
Sweepstakes winners
Wyoming FFA recognizes the chapters dominating each area of competition – agriscience, proficiency, leadership development and career development.
The Chief Washakie FFA Chapter was the winner of the 2024 Agriscience Sweepstakes and the Proficiency Sweepstakes. Members of the Worland-based chapter, advised by Grace Godfrey, completed a total of 36 agriscience fair projects and 93 proficiency applications for their supervised agriculture experience.
More than $5,000 was awarded to students from Chief Washakie FFA for their successes.
The Leadership Development Sweepstakes includes speaking events, events based in parliamentary procedure and employment skills. This year’s Leadership Development Sweepstakes winner was the Cheyenne High Plains FFA advised by Tommy Cress.
The Wheatland FFA, advised by Bill Dalles, was the champion chapter in the Career Development Sweepstakes.
Stars in agriculture
Senior FFA members have been hard at work with incredible accomplishments in community service, career and leadership development and their supervised agriculture experience for their entire FFA career.
In 2024, 221 Wyoming FFA members received their State FFA Degree. Of these, several members exceeded their expectations to become star award candidates in the areas of agriscience, agribusiness, agriculture placement and star farmers.
The State Star in Agriscience from Region Two was Sydnee Roady from the Chief Washakie FFA Chapter. She conducted different agriscience projects in the animal, plant and food systems divisions during her FFA career.
Candidates for the State Star in Agribusiness were Emma Winn from the Lander FFA, Tucker Lake from the Thermopolis FFA and Joslyn Von Olnhausen from the Whitcomb FFA.
The 2024 Star in Agribusiness was Joslyn Von Olnhausen with her business producing goat milk products. Von Olnhausen sources milk from her own dairy goats and produces all of her inventory herself.
Agriculture Placement Stars may be employed on a farm, ranch or any agribusiness or agriculture-related firm. Candidates included Bodey Fraughton from the Jim Bridger FFA, Owen Lungren of the Chief Washakie FFA, Pate Tavegie from the Saddle and Sirloin FFA and Spencer Rabou of the Pine Bluffs FFA.
The State Star in Agriculture Placement was Spencer Rabou, who has worked on his family’s six-generation farm outside of Albin.
Star Farmer candidates have traditional production-based projects.
Finalists included Haven Laird of the Lander FFA, Reaghan Foss of the Chief Washakie FFA, Jhett West of the John B. Kendrick FFA, Mackenzie Priest of the Bow River FFA and Connor Booth of the Torrington/Lingle FFA.
The 2024 State Star Farmer was awarded to Connor Booth who started his own registered Angus herd at just five years old and has worked to breed quality genetics into his herd over the years.
2024-25 State Officer Team
Throughout the week, the state’s top youth leaders in agriculture who aspired to serve as a member of the Wyoming FFA State Officer Team completed interviews, all while competing in speaking contests, career development events and leadership workshops.
On April 13, the newest team of student officers was selected to lead the organization.
The 2024-25 Wyoming FFA State Officer Team includes President Ahnya Ivie-Moody of the Devils Tower FFA, Vice President Shawn Basart of the Cheyenne High Plains FFA, Second Vice President Wyatt Blackmore of the Powell-Shoshone FFA, Third Vice President Shelby Clark of the Burns FFA, Secretary Emma Pehringer of the Buffalo FFA, Treasurer Sage Wells of the Cheyenne High Plains FFA, Reporter Anthony Quick of the Cheyenne Frontier FFA, Sentinel Spencer Rabou of the Pine Bluffs FFA and Parliamentarian Riley Banker of the Bearlodge-Sundance FFA.
“State officers serve as the face of the Wyoming FFA Association during their year of service,” Broda explained. “They will represent Wyoming FFA and local, state and national events as well as conduct leadership workshops in high schools across the state. They serve as strong ambassadors for the agriculture industry and youth leadership.”
Averi Reynolds is a corresponding writer for the Wyoming Livestock Roundup. Send comments on this article to roundup@wylr.net.
