When the Chinook FFA Chapter returned from the 94th Annual State FFA Convention, they brought home awards. Touted as "the biggest FFA competition in the state," the event was held in Billings at the Metra Park. Two members received honors for achieving their State Degrees. Winning this prestigious degree were Wylee Simenson and Aislinn Handy. The group's next big event is Donkey Basketball later this month.

According to the FFA organization, "the State FFA Degree is the highest honor a state association can bestow upon its members. It is a step in the FFA degree system that encourages personal growth and achievement."

With fewer than two percent of FFA members earning a State Degree, selection is based on FFA activities, strong supervised agricultural experiences (SAEs), and community service. Both Handy and Simenson were recognized as State Degree recipients at the Convention.

Handy's SAE Type was Entrepreneurship/Ownership with an Animal Systems Pathway. To earn her State Degree, she showed growth in a nine- animal cattle herd as well as a nine-animal horse herd over a period spanning from 2018-2023. Reflecting on what her SAEs taught her, Handy wrote: "I learned specific skills and responsibilities such as independence and health charting as well as money management and care-taking."

In the area of community service, Handy, who currently serves as the Chapter's President, provided evidence of volunteer work at the PAWS Animal Shelter, where she donated several hours to create three roofs for a dog house project. In addition, she contributed time to serving dinner to pheasant hunters, wrapping gifts for the Angel Tree, unloading the food truck for the Chinook Food Pantry, working the coat check at the New Year's Gala for the Friends of the Pool and Park Foundation, and creating Valentine's Day cards for nursing home residents.

As his SAE, Simenson also selected Entrepreneurship/Ownership with an Animal Systems Pathway. He developed Wylee Beef, a Show Cattle Operation, which started with 15 head in 2019 and grew to 33 head by 2023.

On his application for the State Degree, Simenson, the Chapter's Vice President, gave evidence of his involvement by highlighting Chapter, Regional, State, and National event participation. For his community service, Simenson donated considerable time to local 4-H members. For example, in 2022, he put on free showmanship clinics in Chinook once a week for the two months preceding the fair. "Amounting to 48 total hours, these were available to every kid who wanted to show up. I also supplied drinks and food," Simenson stated.

During 2023, he donated another 18 hours to help clip steers and lambs before the Blaine County Fair.

In other Convention highlights, the twenty-one Chinook FFA members who traveled to Billings competed in nine different Career Developing Events: Agronomy, Agricultural Technology and Mechanical Systems (aka Ag. Mechanics), Floriculture, Horse Evaluation, Livestock Evaluation, Meats Evaluation, Poultry Evaluation, Veterinary Science, and Sales. Top scorers from Chinook in each event are named first and bolded in the following list:

• Agronomy: Bryce Elliot, Eyan Hofelt, Kirbey Hofelt, and

Wacee Simenson

• Ag Mechanics: Brockton Elliot, Ben Hofeldt, Jacob Metcalf, and

Kohen Sullivan

• Floriculture: Aislinn Handy, Kirbey Hofeldt, Emma Paulson,

and Madilyn Gruszie

• Horse Evaluation: Aislinn Handy, Emma Paulsen, Ashlyn Hofeldt,

and Sterling Bemis

• Livestock Evaluation: Wylee Simenson, Brockton Elliot, Wacee

Simenson, and Rangler Skoyen

• Meats Evaluation: Madi Gruszie, Bryce Elliot, Oliver Standiford,

and Landen Keeling

• Poultry Evaluation: Oliver Standiford, Zoe Scofield, Rangler Skoyen,

and Landon Keeling

• Veterinary Science: Ashlyn Hofeldt, Aislinn Handy, Bella Brown, and

Zoe Scofield

• Sales: Brockton Elliot, Wylee Simenson, Ben Hofeldt,

and Kohen Sullivan

With his performance scores, Wylee Simenson also accomplished Top Ten status in Livestock Evaluation by ranking seventh overall.

In side competitions, Oliver Standiford and Kohen Sullivan were among the Top Three Strongest FFA'ers, an accolade they earned by competing in a pushup competition during the Third Session.

Wylee Simenson receives his State FFA Degree from State FFA Officers at the 94th Annual State FFA Convention.

Up next for the Chinook FFA are their Donkey Basketball games on April 28 at 5:00 p.m. in the Floyd Bowen Gymnasium. The evening will feature three games played against teams of FFA officers riding donkeys. Their first opponent will be first responders, followed by a team of school board and faculty members. The final game will see current FFA members going up against a team of FFA alumni. Gate tickets are $10 for adults, $8 for students in grades 7-12, and $6 for children K-6. Concessions will also be available during the evening's entertainment.