On Tuesday, December 12, the Chinook Chapter of the FFA travelled to Winifred for Winter District Competition. Members competed in Meats Evaluation, Veterinary Science, Agronomy, and Ag. Mechanics. All of the teams qualified for State, with two Junior Ag Mechanics competitors placing in the Top Ten. Then, on December 19, the FFA membership attended a Leadership workshop with members of the State FFA Officer Team.

Ranking in the Top Ten were Rangler Skoyen, who placed sixth, and Julian Powell, who placed seventh. Other members on the Junior Ag Mechanics team were Eyan Hofeldt and Wacee Simenson.

In sharing results for the teams, Chapter Reporter Brockton Elliot explained that at Winter Districts, all of the competitions are state qualifying except for the junior teams.

Mary Pyette Photo

State qualifiers on the Meats team were Bryce Elliot, Oliver Standiford, Madilyn Gruszie, and Wylee Simenson. Veterinary Science team members included Aislynn Handy, Ashlyn Hofeldt, Zoe Scofield, and Bella Brown, while Bryce Elliot, Oliver Standiford, Eyan Hofeldt, and Wacee Simenson represented the Agronomy team. Finally, Ben Hofeldt, Kohen Sullivan, Brockton Elliot, and Jacob Metcalf qualified as competitors in Senior Ag. Mechanics.

Next up for the FFA membership was a leadership workshop with members of the State FFA Officer Team on Tuesday, December 19. Lance Rutledge, the State Treasurer from Big Sandy, and Shaun Billingsley, the 2nd Vice President from Missoula, visited students in the Chinook High School Ag classroom and shop. Both young men, who are home on break from MSU-Bozeman where they attend college, focused on teaching teamwork to the Chinook students. The pair led several team building games to engage the group.