ABOVE: Martin County West students, form left: Evelyn Curtis, Lily Truesdell, Jocelyn Lange and Ellie Nelson earned first place in their Horse Evaluation CDE at the State FFA Convention. These four participants are expected to represent MCW by going on to the national tournament in Indianapolis in October.

SHERBURN– Martin County school’s FFA chapters had the incredible honor of bringing select handfuls of students to compete in the state FFA convention which took place last week. The state-level convention provides hands-on agricultural and judging competitions to students of FFA and several of Martin County’s talented FFA participants have garnered remarkable placements.

Granada-Huntley-East Chain’s (GHEC) FFA chapter sent 21 total students to the Minnesota state FFA convention. The school’s chapter is advised by agricultural instructor McKenzie Wagelie.

GHEC had two teams compete at the state convention, the Livestock Evaluation team and the Best Informed Greenhand team. The Livestock Evaluation consisted of members: Lylah Becker, Leighton Hugoson, Lynsie Salic and Maddie Lewis. The team scored 18th place among 66 different teams, receiving a golden rating, with Lylah Becker garnering the highest score of the team. Participants among the Best Informed Greenhand included: Addison Barrick, Tisa Rosales-Wegner, Lynsie Salic, Maeson Olson, Jevin Garry, Jonah Moeller, Hank Hugoson, Alivia Saunders, Aubrey Benoit, Sammantha Steuer and Elsy Johnson. The Best Informed Greenhand competition tested participants in 7th to 9th grade with 100 questions about the regulations and history of FFA.

The team concluded the competition with a placement of 21st out of 67 teams total, and earned a golden rating. Addison Barrick collected the most points among the Best Informed Greenhand team. Four students from GHEC were selected to perform in the FFA Honor Band. These individuals are Layla Johnson, Ava Donohue, Elsa Thompson and Kayla Mattson. The GHEC FFA received recognition at the convention. President Tessa Johnson and Vice President Jorvik Jensen earned state degrees. This is earned by community service, FFA activities, earning $2000, and a completed interview at the regional level. The GHEC FFA chapter was acknowledged with a gold National Chapter Award, and was deemed a superior chapter.

Martin County West’s (MCW) FFA and agricultural instructor is Stephanie Wohlhunter. A total of 45 participants from the MCW chapter attended the state convention. All participants and their respective teams ranked gold, silver and bronze. All but one of the MCW teams received a golden ranking, putting MCW at the top 3rd of all schools at the FFA State convention.

The Horse Evaluation team consisted of Lily Truesdell, Jocelyn Lange, Evelyn Curtis and was led by Ellie Nelson, who got second place after a tie-breaker for first. The team earned first in the state, and will compete in the national tournament in late October in Indianapolis.

Those on the team noted that they were nervous, surprised and happy prior to receiving first place.

“We didn’t expect to get first. I thought we were going to get second or third,” said Nelson.

The Soil Evaluation Team, with members Talon Ebeling, Katelynn Kennedy, Harrison Rathman and Colby Schwichtenberg. Each individual participant for Soil Evaluation earned gold, with Ebeling earning second place, and the CDE earning second place overall.

The Forestry CDE team placed third in the state after an outdoor competition. The team consists of Katie Hartke, Alyx Stahl and Gabriel Streimer, who all earned gold. The Forestry CDE commits to their studying with coach Bob Roesler. The Farm Business Management Career Development Event earned 3rd in the state. Members Barret Scholl, Michael McCorkell and Teya Schmidtke earned gold, and Riley Ebeling earned silver.

Senior Braelyn Faber auditioned and competed in the Talent tournament at the convention, presenting an original song which she then garnered a 4th placement, as well as representing in her school in the FFA chorus. Hayden O’Connor, Ava Scarfpin, Ryelynn Forsberg and Alyx Stall were selected to participate in the FFA band.

The MCW FFA chapter concluded their state convention with congratulating and granting FFA Degrees to these 11 MCW seniors: Braelyn Faber, Ryelynn Forsberg, Katie Hartke, Brock Lange, Jerome Koons, Callie McCorkell, Isaac Olson, Harrison Rathman, Colby Schwichtenberg, Alyx Stahl and Gabriel Striemer.

Wohlhuter said, “Overall it was a great show. I appreciate the effort the kids put in to continue the tradition of success.”