Two area Chapters of the FFA participated in competitions held at Fort Benton High School on February 8. The Chinook Chapter of the FFA took three teams and the Harlem Chapter took one. For Chinook, the Senior Agronomy team placed 5th, Senior Ag Mechanics placed 15th, and the Junior Mechanics team placed 6th. Because of a malfunction with the Scantron machine, scores and placings for Harlem were not readily available.

Representing Chinook, six FFA members travelled to Fort Benton with their advisor Karyn Billmayer to test their knowledge on Tuesday. Christopher Jungers competed in Senior Ag Mechanics, Tucker Crawford and Kenneth Gruszie comprised a Junior Mechanics team, and Shyla Benzing, Aislinn Handy, and Madi Gruszie participated in Senior Agronomy.

Harlem's Ag Mechanics team was accompanied by their advisor Kylee Urie.

During competition, each group was offered a series of different stations. Those in Senior Mechanics had to demonstrate an understanding of three-way switches, rafter layout, valve train assembly, skid loaders, and arc welding in the assembly of a gate latch.

The stations completed by the Junior Mechanics invited FFA members to interact with problems related to single pole switches, rafter layout, small engine parts identification, tractors, and mig welding. Each student works through the stations individually. These scores go towards the team's points. Four members typically comprise a team.

Those competing in Agronomy followed previous state guidelines. Teams evaluated an agronomic scenario and developed a crop management plan. Individually, members also completed an agronomic knowledge exam, with questions relating to plant and seed identification, fertilizers, diseases and disorders, equipment, grain grading, and variety selection.

Students in this event demonstrate an understanding of sustainable agriculture and environmental stewardship while learning the fundamentals of the many fields that holistically come together to successfully produce field crops.

About her competitors, Billmayer said, "It was a good contest overall. I feel our teams did really well. Unfortunately, since we didn't have four-member teams and those additional numbers to yield a higher composite score, we didn't qualify for state."

Christopher Jungers waits his turn to demonstrate his knowledge of arc welding in the assembly of a gate latch.

Next on the horizon for the FFA are a contest in Conrad on March 5, Montana FFA CDE Days on March 21-22 at the Eastern Montana Fairgrounds in Miles City, and the 92nd Annual FFA State Convention in Bozeman from March 30 through April 2.

Billmayer explained that CDE Days are Career and Leadership Development Events that provide FFA members with competitive hands-on learning opportunities in various career areas. Her membership has expressed interest in all three of these events, and Billmayer hopes to take a large group while sports are between seasons.