We've Got The County Covered
We've Got The County Covered
Carter Rayburn, Eyan Hofeldt, Wacee Simenson, Ruger Scofield, Zoe Scofield, Paige Murray, Dane Haluska, and Killian Liddle represented the Chinook FFA in Great Falls and Cascade in late January.
In late January, the Chinook FFA travelled to Cascade and Great Falls for Montana's largest ag show, the Montana Agricultural and Industrial Exhibit known as MAGIE. Held at the Pacific Steel & Recycling Arena & Exhibition Hall at Montana ExpoPark on January 21-23, MAGIE 2026 featured more than 160 vendors and over 200 booths. In addition to viewing innovations in the Farm, Ranch, and Industrial spaces, FFA members competed in the annual KMON sponsored contests in four categories: Poultry, Ag Sales, Livestock, and Meats Evaluation.
Hosted by Cascade High School, the KMON FFA competitions took place on Tuesday, January 20, the day before the MAGIE started, and at the fairgrounds on Wednesday, January 21, in an area separate from the trade show. In fact, MAGIE would likely not have notoriety as the largest ag show in Montana without the FFA members who compete and then walk through the displays to view various agribusinesses and to visit with representatives about the ag industry and future job possibilities.
The KMON competitions are Career Development Events (CDEs) and included Poultry and FFA Ag Sales and Service on Tuesday and Agronomy, Meats, and Livestock Evaluation on Wednesday.
Comprised of Eyan Hofeldt, Zoe Scofield, Paige Murray, and Ruger Scofield, the poultry team placed seventh, as did the Meats Team. Carter Rayburn, Eyan Hofeldt, Paige Murray, and Ruger Scofield served with that group. Individually, Rayburn ranked in the Top Ten in Meat Evaluation, securing eighth. With their performances, these two teams qualified for state competition.
Representing Chinook in Sales were Wacee Simenson, Killian Liddle, and Dane Haluska. That trio of competitors earned fifteenth, with Simenson taking top score honors for his team.
Trailing in 20th position, Zoe Scofield, Killian Liddle, Dane Haluska, and Wacee Simenson applied their efforts in Livestock Evaluation. Scofield earned the highest score among her teammates.
MAGIE has been in existence for more than five decades representing all facets of agriculture, equipment, and technology. When asked about her favorite part of the experience, Zoe Scofield, who serves as Reporter for the Chinook Chapter of the FFA, stated: "The highlight of the MAGIE, in my opinion, was learning about different career paths and trades at all the booths. The highlights of the KMON competitions were making it to state in the state qualifiers (poultry and meats) along with getting to have what is commonly called a 'practice' contest to prepare us for state."
