Young leaders – Wyoming FFA installs new state officer team
Cheyenne – On April 11, nearly 350 volunteers and 1,300 members, teachers and supporters spent the week in Cheyenne for the Wyoming State FFA Convention celebrating the theme “Grow for Gold.”
As the crowning moment on the week, a nominating committee of seven individuals selected the 2015-16 Wyoming State FFA Officers.
The newly elected officer team is President Lois Brennecke of Cheyenne, Vice President Seth Thiele of Buffalo, Second Vice President Jamie Hansen of Laramie, Third Vice President Jaycie Arndt of Buffalo, Secretary Averi Reynolds of Casper, Treasurer Rebecca Weber of Shoshoni, Reporter Rachel Derner of Burns, Sentinel Chaney Peterson of Sheridan and Parliamentarian Chancy Templeton of Gillette.
Year of service
“Our state officers are the public face of the Wyoming FFA,” says State Advisor Stacy Broda. “They serve as ambassadors for our organization and provide a link between local chapters and our state association.”
During their year as Wyoming state FFA officers, these nine students will meet leaders in business and education and organize meetings and activities statewide.
The officers’ responsibilities include providing personal growth and leadership training for students, setting policies that shape the future of the Wyoming FFA and promoting agricultural literacy, says the Wyoming FFA Association.
“State officers commit to a year of service to the Wyoming FFA,” says Broda. “Each of them will travel several thousand miles to interact with business and industry leaders, hundreds of FFA members and teachers, corporate sponsors, government and education officials and the general public. It’s a prestigious and important position.”
From the team
Each of the nine students selected for state office this year will be graduating from high school this spring and advancing to colleges across the state of Wyoming.
Brennecke, who has been an FFA member since she was in seventh grade, describes her decision to run for the office, saying “I wasn’t ready to be done with FFA, and I wanted to impact members’ lives across the state.”
She continues that the state officers in past years have been influential in her life, and she was driven to continue to serve the Wyoming FFA Association as a state officer.
Her sentiments were echoed by nearly every other officer selected to serve the Association this year.
Long-time agriculture advocate Thiele adds, “I have seen the positive impact that state officers have on a lot of students, and I hope that I can continue those positive influences.”
Peterson continues, “State officers have always been down-to-earth people. I remember meeting them at camp and realizing that I wanted to serve the organization and help members like they do.”
“I love this organization. I am excited to continue my FFA experience and impact other members’ lives the way that past state officers have impacted mine,” Brennecke says. “I’m super psyched for this year, and I’m extremely grateful for the opportunity.”
Motivated for influence
“Being a state officer is all about connecting with members from across the state,” Brennecke continues. “I’m excited to be able to share what each chapter does and learn from it.”
With a background of FFA officers in her past, Weber comments, “This organization is in my blood. I found out early that the type of people who serve as state officers are great leaders, and I strive to be like them. It’s always been my number one goal.”
“As the Sentinel, it’s part of my duties to help get members involved and make them feel comfortable,” Peterson adds. “It is my goal to be involved and build a strong network of members.”
Templeton notes that she also hopes to be a positive influence for agriculture and the FFA organization.
Since she was young, she has been invovled in agriculture, and Templeton says, “It is an honor to be a state officer, and I will serve my Association and the FFA members this year by being an advocate and reaching out to inspire others.”
This year
Each of the officers have set personal goals for the year, and they will continue to work together to set goals as a team, but an overarching theme among all of them was the opportunity to increase involvement and advocate for the agriculture industry.
“I hope to help make this year a fun year for our team and for Wyoming FFA members,” Weber says. “We want to keep members interested in FFA and get them excited about serving.”
Hansen notes, “I hope to embrace this year and not let the opportunities go by. I’m super excited to work with a great team and this great organization.”
“I hope I can be a good state officer,” Brennecke says. “I want to connect with members and make a difference. I hope to help them get involved and get them excited about agriculture.”
Derner explains that her passion for leadership and feeding the world has continued to drive her motivation in the past and in this year. As a state officer, she hopes to help members understand the importance of the agriculture industry and continue to be involved in leadership.
“This year provides us a great opportunity to connect with members and advocate for agriculture,” she says.
“I’m honored and excited to serve and work with the great people involved in this organization,” Peterson says.
Thiele comments, “As a state officer, I’m part of something bigger than just myself. FFA is an extension of my family, and I work for everyone in the organization – from my chapter through the state and national levels. My main goal this year is to serve the Wyoming FFA Association to the best of my abilities.”
CDE Results
Many of the FFA members who visit Cheyenne for the Wyoming State FFA Convention are there to compete in a wide variety of Career Development Events (CDEs).
“CDEs are designed to combine classroom learning with hands-on practical experience in a competitive setting,” explained State FFA Advisor Stacy Broda. “Members have a chance to learn career skills like decision making or public speaking, as well as teamwork and self-discipline.”
Wyoming FFA hosted 17 different CDEs during the state convention. Winning chapters are now eligible to represent Wyoming at the National FFA Convention, held in Louisville, Ky. on Oct. 28-31 this year. Some students also received college scholarships and cash prizes for their accomplishments.
“We are grateful to all of the many volunteers, sponsors and local advisors who make these events happen for our members,” said Broda. “The skills our students learn through these events will serve them long after their FFA careers are over.”
The following teams and individuals placed at the top of their CDEs.
Agriculture Issues Forum
Frontier FFA, Cheyenne
Agriculture Mechanics
High team – Buffalo FFA, Buffalo
First Place Individual – Trevor Spanyers, Buffalo FFA, Buffalo
Second Place Individual – Noah Wozney, Powell-Shoshone FFA, Powell
Third Place Individual – Asa Mercer, Paintrock FFA, Basin
Agriculture Sales and Service
High Team – Buffalo FFA, Buffalo
First Place Individual – Delancey Hodge, Chief Washakie FFA, Worland
Second Place Individual – Daycia Kohl, Douglas FFA, Douglas
Third Place Individual – Afton Peterson, Ten Sleep FFA, Ten Sleep
Agronomy
High Team – Casper FFA, Casper
First Place Individual – Jaycie Arndt, Buffalo FFA, Buffalo
Second Place Individual – Michael Nading, Jr., Casper FFA, Casper
Third Place Individual – Trey Campbell, Casper FFA, Casper
Creed Speaking
Max Cowger, Upton FFA, Upton
Environment and Natural Resources
High Team – Rocky Mountain FFA, Byron
First Place Individual – Jennifer Parker, Rocky Mountain FFA, Byron
Second Place Individual – Averi Reynolds, Casper FFA
Third Place Individual – Nick Schlattmann, Paintrock FFA
Extemporaneous Public Speaking
Rachel Derner, Burns FFA, Burns
Farm Business Management
High Team – Casper FFA, Casper
First Place Individual – Robert Buline, Wind River FFA, Pavillion
Second Place Individual – Kaylen Lewis, Casper FFA, Casper
Third Place Individual – Cole Hill, Paintrock FFA, Basin
Greenhand Quizbowl
High Team – Riverton FFA, Riverton
First Place Individual – Rose Buckingham, Riverton FFA, Riverton
Second Place Individual –Mady Dolcater, Riverton FFA, Riverton
Third Place Individual – Vinnie Dolbow, Riverton FFA, Riverton
Horse Judging
High Team – Lovell FFA, Lovell
First Place Individual – Ky Sorensen, Paintrock FFA, Basin
Second Place Individual – Addysen Rosner, Frontier FFA, Cheyenne
Third Place Individual – Breaunna Moore, John B. Kendrick FFA, Sheridan
Livestock Judging
High Team – John B. Kendrick FFA, Sheridan
First Place Individual – Colten Flitner, Paintrock FFA, Basin
Second Place Individual – Makenna Greenwald, Torrington-Lingle FFA, Torrington
Third Place Individual – Gabby Koltiska, John B. Kendrick FFA, Sheridan
Marketing Plan
Shoshoni FFA, Shoshoni
Meats Judging
High Team – Torrington-Lingle FFA, Torrington
First Place Individual – Hunter Romsa, Casper FFA, Casper
Second Place Individual – PD Miller, Torrington-Lingle FFA, Torrington
Third Place Individual – Makenna Greenwald, Torrington-Lingle FFA, Torrington
Parliamentary Procedure
Casper FFA, Casper
Prepared Public Speaking
Chaney Peterson, John B. Kendrick FFA, Sheridan
Poultry Judging
High Team – High Plains FFA, Cheyenne
First Place Individual – Kenzie Klipstein, High Plains FFA, Cheyenne
Second Place Individual – Brook Weibel, Burns FFA, Burns
Third Place Individual – Taylor Townsend, John B. Kendrick FFA, Sheridan
State Booth Competition
Meeteetse FFA, Meeteetse
Career Event Sweepstakes
Casper FFA, Casper
Leadership Sweepstakes
John B. Kendrick, Sheridan
Veterinary Science
High Team – Riverton FFA
First Place Individual – Bree Dooley, Paintrock FFA, Basin
Second Place Individual – Katie Hazelwood, Riverton FFA, Riverton
Third Place Individual – Abbi Faxon, Casper FFA, Casper
The Wyoming FFA Association also offers several contests for junior high FFA members. Results for those contests are listed below.
Novice Horse Judging
High Team – Burn FFA, Burns
First Place Individual – Tyler Humphrey, Burns FFA, Burns
Second Place Individual – Jodean Langlois, Burns FFA, Burns
Third Place Individual – Cheradyn Kettley, CY FFA, Casper
Novice Livestock Judging
High Team – Burns FFA
First Place Individual – Kiley Shepperson, Kaycee FFA, Kaycee
Second Place Individual – Brody Tharp, Ten Sleep FFA, Ten Sleep
Third Place Individual – Braxton Olson, Burns FFA, Burns
Novice Meat Judging
High Team – CY FFA, Casper
First Place Individual – Kelcey Anderson, Snowy Range FFA, Laramie
Second Place Individual – Clayton Louderback, Upton FFA, Upton
Third Place Individual – Jacob Castlebury, CY FFA, Casper
Novice Parliamentary Procedure
Casper FFA, Casper
Saige Albert is managing editor of the Wyoming Livestock Roundup and can be reached at saige@wylr.net.
