A group of members from the Chinook Chapter of the FFA will be travelling with their advisor, Mrs. Mitzi Cecrle, to Bozeman later this week to attend the Montana FFA Ag Expo. Scheduled for November 16-18 and considered one of Montana’s largest agricultural conferences, the Expo provides an opportunity for youth across the state to hone their leadership skills and to interact with those who share similar interests. It also offers competitions, workshops, and several speakers. The featured keynote speaker at Thursday night’s banquet will be Fanchon Stinger.

Former Fox 59 News Anchor, Stinger currently co-hosts Professional Bull Riders Now. She speaks nationally and hosts events that create positive, inspirational messages. In 2021, she co-founded and launched the charitable initiative Grit & Grace Nation, encouraging middle and high school girls to lead with courage through exposure to successful female mentors and western values of faith, family, and freedom. She also co-owns two bucking bulls—Stinger and Lil Hott—who compete on the PBR Tour.

Among the sponsors of the Ag Expo are the Montana Foundation of the FFA and John Deere Dealers. In fact, students at Chinook High School refer to the Expo as “J Days,” describing it as “the most fun of all the competitions we attend.”

Among the numerous competitions, Chinook members will put their skills to the test in Ag Sales and Ag Mechanics. Additionally, they will participate in several Career Development Events (CDE) to include Poultry, Horse Evaluation, Meats Evaluation, Livestock, Range, Floriculture, and Ag Sales. Each CDE is intended to challenge youth to develop critical thinking skills and effective decision-making aptitudes, to foster teamwork, and to promote communication while recognizing the value of ethical competition and individual achievement.

Of the many workshops and seminars offered, members hope to attend those featuring Ag Mechanics and Equipment Operators Safety. They will also take in the Career Fair on Friday, a dance on Friday night, and the Awards Ceremony on Saturday beginning at 11:00 a.m.