Montana FFA Spring 2016 Newsletter

Montana FFA Foundation
502 South 19th, Suite 102
Bozeman, MT 59718
(406) 582-4118
foundation@montanaffa.org
State Advisor’s
UPDATE:
Over1,600membersandguestsattendedMontana
FFA’s86thAnnualStateConventionMarch30th–
April1stinBozeman,Montana.TheMontanaFFA
StateConventionhosted10careerdevelopment
events,generalsessions,andworkshopsduringthe
four-dayevent.Thewinningteamsearnthe
opportunitytocompeteattheNationalFFA
Conventionwhichwilltakeplacethisfallin
Indianapolis,IN.NewStateFFAOfficerswere
selectedandareasfollows:AlbertKoenig–
PresidentfromBelgrade,CJStevenson-1stVPfrom
Moore,JonAndres-2ndVPfromMissoula,AshleyKoenig-SecretaryfromBelgrade,Josh
Meyer-TreasurerfromGreatFalls,KacieCummings-ReporterfromCascade,BrockReiner-
SentinelfromFlathead(Kalispell),andJakeMichels-ParliamentarianfromShepherd.
MissoulaFFAtookhometheTeamSweepstakesaward,whiletheFlatheadFFAearnedthetitle
ofStarChapterforthesecondyearinarow.CarolineRoederofChoteauwasnamedtheStar
GreenhandwithLiviaJackolafromKalispell,announcedastheStarinAgribusiness.Montana’s
StarinAgriculturePlacementwenttoChloeWilliamsofGreatFallsandKaceyBertolinoofJoliet
earnedthetitleofStarFarmer.
Over250DayofServiceparticipantsteamedupwith14locationsintheGallatinValleytolenda
helpinghand.LocationswheremembersvolunteeredincludedEagleMount,Heartofthe
Valley,theHistoryMuseum,andseveralBozemanparks.Thecombinedworkeffortofthese
studentvolunteerstotaledover500hourstoimprovethecityofBozeman,aswellas
communitybusinessesandorganizations.
Montanabusinessandindustryrepresentativesfromaroundthestatewereinattendanceas
sponsorsfortheeventaswellaspromotingtheirorganizationduringthethree-dayFFA
Tradeshow.TheMontanaFFAmakesapositivedifferenceinthelivesofstudentsby
developingtheirpotentialforpremierleadership,personalgrowthandcareersuccessthrough
agriculturaleducation.Formoreinformation,pleasecontacttheMontanaFFAAssociationfor
upcomingeventsandwaystogetinvolved.ForcontactinformationvisittheMontanaFFA
websiteatmontanaffa.org
Welcome Helping Hands Sponsor
TheFFAFoundationispleasedtohave
FarmersStateBankasaHelpingHands
Fundsponsor.FarmersStateBankhas
providedanopportunityforFFA
membersinMissoula,Victor,
StevensvilleandCorvallistoreceive
grantmoneytocompletecommunityserviceprojectsthroughtheHelpingHands
Funds.TheHelpingHandsFundsassistsFFAmembersintheirefforts“toServe”
theircommunitiesjustasFarmersStateBankhasserveditcustomers.
Foroveronehundredyears,FarmersStateBankhashadonegoal:tocontinueto
grow,whilekeepingthecommunitybankfeelandatmosphere.Thislocal
institutioncontinuestohelpcustomerswithproductsandservicesrangingfrom
traditionaltostateoftheart.
FarmersStateBankwasthenumberonelenderinRavalliCountyfor2013,2014,
and2015,accordingtotheRavalliCountyClerkandRecordersoffice.TheBankis
also an SBA Preferred Lender, which reduces approval time on Small Business
Administrationloansandhelpsbusinessesprosper.
In keeping with their goal of supporting local communities, each year Farmers
State Bank awards a $10,000 scholarship to seniors from participating high
schoolsinDarby,Hamilton,Stevensville,Victor,Florence,CorvallisandMissoula.
Todate,thesescholarshipshavebenefited118students,withover$926,250.00
awarded.
Farmers State Bank has grown to include locations in Victor, Florence, Darby,
Stevensville,Hamilton,LoloandMissoula.www.Farmersebank.com
Bulls for Blue
Weareexcitedtoannounceyetanotherprogramfor
our5,000FFAmembers,BullsforBlue:Geneticsfor
Success!TheBullsforBlueProgramisdesignedto
supportFFAmembersgettingastartintheirownbeef
productionprojectthroughBullsforBluestartup
funds.Montanaseedstockproducerscancontribute
bydonating10%ofLot10attheirannualbullsaletotheMontanaFFA
Foundation.Fundsgeneratedallowustoprovideon-goingprogramsupportfor
ourstudents,andprovidestartupfundsforSupervisedAgricultureExperience
projectsrelatedtothebeefindustry.Studentsinterestedinthebeefindustrycan
usethesefundstopurchasecows,secureleasedgroundforgrazing,andother
costsassociatedwiththeirproject.SupportingtheBullsforBlueProgramaidsFFA
studentsthroughoutthestate,andpromotestheBeefindustrytothenext
generationofproducers.Ifyouhaveanyquestionsaboutourprogram,orwould
liketoparticipateintheprogram,pleasecontactusat(406)582-4118.Thankyou
toourcurrentBullsforBlueparticipants:
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MyttyAngus
BobcatAngus
Stevenson’sDiamondDot
Stevenson’sAngus
InderlandAngus
BasinAngus
PricklyPearSimmentalranch
CircleLAngus
HylineAngus
FeltonAngus
BlevinsAngus
SutherlinRedAngusFarms
BullsoftheBitterroot
GatewaySimmental&LuckyCross
KlompienRedAngus
DeBruyckerCharolais
SouthMontanaAngusAssociation
VermillionRanch
State Convention Results
AgriculturalSalesCDE:
Individual:Firstplacereceiveda$1,000
scholarshipsponsoredbyBillingsFarmhand.
1. AlbertKoenig–Belgrade
2. JoeLackman–Forsyth
3. AshleyKoenig–Belgrade
4. BrettRobertus–Laurel
5. WalkerHeckman–Fairfield
6. NatalieArnott–Missoula
7. KylaAndres–Missoula
7.NathanWildeboer–Missoula
9.JessicaHoran–Moore
10.ShaneMilton-Joliet
Team:
1. MissoulaFFA
2. BelgradeFFA
3. LaurelFFA
4. ShepherdFFA
5. FlatheadFFA
AgronomyCDE:
Individual:Firstplacereceivedascholarship
sponsoredbyMontanaSeedGrowers.
1. DustinPape–Stevensville
2. KaceyBertolino–Joliet
3. AnthonySongstad–Joliet
4. CarolineRoeder–Choteau
5. CaitlynCorso–BigTimber
6. RussellZentner–Clark’sFork
7. JohnPower–Wheatland
8. NoelleSenner–Flathead
9. CaraWhite–Clark’sFork
10. DylanSander–Plevna
Team:
1. JolietFFA
2. StevensvilleFFA
3. MissoulaFFA
4. Clark’sForkFFA
5. PlevnaFFA
AgriculturalTechnologyandMechanicalSystemsCDE
(mechanics):
Individual:UTITechnicalSchooloffereda$3,000tothe
thirdplaceindividual,$5,000tothesecondplace
individual,and$10,000tothefirstplaceindividual.The
firstplaceindividualalsoreceiveda$1,000scholarship
fromGeneralDistributing.
1. AlbertKoenig–Belgrade
2. CottonMyers–Joliet
3. GrantPanion–Missoula
4. BenRoeder–Choteau
5. TravenOlson–MilesCity
6. BenHallford-Stevensville
7. BrandonRoss–Bainville
8. HazenFink–Lambert
9. LukeHenke–Shelby
10. TannerCrawford–FergusofLewistown
Team:
1. MissoulaFFA
2. BelgradeFFA
3. BigSandyFFA
4. ChoteauFFA
5. LaurelFFA
AgriscienceFair:
Overallwinnersineacharea:
AnimalSystems:ElizabethBrennenandZacZimmerman-
Missoula
PowerandTechnologySystems:AllieBlainandMorgan
Harris-Joliet
PlantSystems:BrandonBergum-Moore
EnvironmentalSciencesandNaturalResources:Kate
Inderland–BigTimber
SocialSystems:SilkeAdams–ParkCity
FoodScience:JessieDuffyandNatalieArnott–Missoula
State Convention Results
CreedSpeakingCDE:
1.
2.
3.
4.
AnnaSlivka–Winifred
MeganBrewer-Melstone
MattieTucek–GrassRange
TrentonBraaten–Townsend
ExtemporaneousSpeakingCDE:
1.
2.
3.
4.
AshleyKoenig–Belgrade
McKadeMahlen–Culbertson
KalaBertolino–Joliet
JonAndres–Missoula
FarmBusinessManagementCDE:
LivestockJudgingCDE:
Individual:Thefirstplaceindividualreceiveda
$1,000scholarshipsponsoredbyWestfeeds.
1. JessMoody–BigTimber
2. HannahKraft–Laurel
3. CourtneeClairmont–MissionValley
4. JonAndres–Missoula
5. ClaireRuckman–Fairfield
6. LiviaJackola–Flathead
7. AlbertKoenig–Belgrade
8. KelseyKraft–Laurel
9. KristaCallantine–Belgrade
10. HazenFink–Lambert
Team:
Individual:Thefirstplaceindividualreceiveda$1,000
scholarshipsponsoredbytheMontanaFarmBureau
Foundation.
1. AlbertKoenig–Belgrade
2. SamCurry–BigTimber
3. JohnTatarka–Belgrade
4. NathanWildeboer–Missoula
5. GrayGordon–Flathead
6. BenRoeder–Choteau
7. KarlyHanson–Flathead
8. JonAndres–Missoula
9. BrettMcRae–Colstrip
10. AshleyKoenig–Belgrade
Team:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
BelgradeFFA
MissoulaFFA
FlatheadFFA
BigTimberFFA
ChoteauFFA
PreparedPublicSpeakingCDE:
1.
2.
3.
4.
CJStevenson–Moore
TylerNoyse-Townsend
KatieKoterba–ElectricCity
RachelPrevost–Lambert
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
LaurelFFA
FlatheadFFA
BroadwaterFFA
MissoulaFFA
BigTimberFFA
ParliamentaryProcedureCDE:
1. ShepherdFFA
2. FlatheadFFA
3. JolietFFA
Note from the President
Greetings,
Happy Spring to everyone. Spring is a great time for fresh new
beginnings.Fortheranchingcommunity,calvingandlambingisin
fullswingandthefarmingcommunityisbusygettingtheircropsin
thegroundallinanticipationofanotherprosperousyear.
ThissamesequencetakesplaceforMontanaFFA.OnApril2ndthe
members of the Association voted in a new slate of state officers.
These 8 outstanding individuals were selected from a great group of candidates to lead our
Association for another year. Congratulations to them as well as all of the other contest
winnersandparticipants.
The Foundation also started a fresh beginning with the addition of our newest corporate
sponsor,TireRama.PleaselookforthedetailsoftheTireRamaprograminthiseditionofthe
newsletter.
Convention was a tremendous success with our students being allowed to apply their
knowledge through the many different contests and learn leadership skills in the many
workshopsthatwereoffered.
Allofthissuccesscomeswithagreatdealoftimeandeffortfrommanypeoplethroughout
our great state and is not financially possible without the generosity of our donors and
sponsors.Asspringturnstosummer,cherishthememoriesmadeandholdontothefactthat
Montana Agriculture has a very promising and bright future through the efforts of our
MontanaFFAstudents.Thankstoeveryonewhocontinuestoaddtooursuccess.
ForeverBlue,
CurtRobbins
President
MontanaFFAFoundation
Tire Rama Challenge
Tire-Ramahasspentthelast39yearsdeliveringextensiveautorepairstosatisfiedcustomers
throughoutMontana,Wyoming,Idaho,andWashington.Theiremployee-ownedoperationfocuses
onbuildingstrongcustomerrelationshipsandprovidingthehighestqualityworkmanshiponeach
andeveryautomotiverepair.AllqualifyingservicesareautomaticallybackedbytheNAPAWarranty,
andtheyoffertheirownHassle-FreeWarrantyforpurchasewithyourtires.Ourgoalistoprovide
unparalleledserviceineverythingtheydo,anywherethey’relocated.
TheMontanaFFAissoexcitedtoannounceournewpartnershipwithTireRama!Uponpurchaseof
tiresfromanyTireRamaintheBigSkyState,TireRamawillgraciouslydonate$2.00pertiresoldto
MontanaFFA!
SimplystopintoanyTireRamaandmentionyou’rewithFFAwhenyoupurchaseyourtiresand
theywilldonate$2.00foreverytiresold,toscholarshipsthroughtheFFAFoundation!
IfeveryFFAmember,Alumnior
familymemberpurchasedtheir tiresfromTireRama,theFFA
Foundationwouldreceiveover $2.00+thousandsofFFA
supporters
statewide=scholarships,and
opportunities formembers!
Theskyisthelimit!
OurVicePresidentoftheFoundation
Board,Mr.BillJimmerson,enjoyinghis
newtires!
Greetings from the Executive
Director
GreetingsfromtheMontanaFFAFoundation!
The86thAnnualMontanaFFAStateConventionwelcomedover1,500FFA
membersandgueststoBozeman,andbeautifullyshowcasedtheimpactFFA
canhaveonouryoungleaders.StateConventionneverceasestoinspire,
engageandencourageallstakeholders;whileprovidingaspringboardintoa
newseasonofdevelopingouryouth.Thesponsorsanddonorswhosupport
ourprogramsarethebackboneofourlocalandstateprograms.
TheFoundationsupportedmorescholarships,programsandprojects,thananyothertimeinFoundation
history,inthankstoourdonors.IndividualsandcompaniesseethevalueintheFFAprogramandsupportwith
time,talentandtheircheckbooks.IwanttothankeachofourpartnersandstakeholderswhomakeMontana
FFAapromising,brightlightinthefutureofMontanaand
Agriculturestatewide.Aswediveintoanotherexciting
yearimpactingstudents’lives,thankyouforyourpartin
developingourfutureleaders!
Sincerely,
JaimeEdmundson
MontanaFFAFoundation
ExecutiveDirector
Face of FFA
Abbey Dunn – Corvallis FFA
For50yearsinRuralCorvallis,MT,thelocalFFAchapterwas
nothingbutadistantmemory,ofbygoneyearsnevertocome
again.For50years,Corvallisstudentslookedlonginglyat
neighborhoodschoolswithFFAprograms,allwhileknowingthat
theywouldprobablyneverhaveaprogram.Until2015,whena
groupofstudentsandawillingschoolboarddecidedtohirean
advisor,andanewgenerationofCorvallisFFAmemberswere
born.
ForchapterpresidentAbbeyDunn,themomentisoverdue.“This
yearalone,FFAhelpedmemakeconnectionswithpeoplethatare
reallyimportantintheagriculturalindustry,bothteenagersand
adults,”Dunnsaidinarecentinterview.“Ithasimpactedmylife
inmanyways.”
Corvallis,Montana,ispartoftheBitterrootValleyregionof
Montana,classifiedasaruralareaheavilydependenton
agriculture,accordingtothemostrecentU.S.
Censusdata.TheFFAchapterisdevelopingthe
nextgenerationofthoseagriculturalworkers.
“FFAhashelpedmemeetpeoplethatare
changingthefutureofagriculture,anditisvery
cool,”accordingtoDunn.
For50years,CorvallisHighSchoolstudents
interestedinagriculturehavenotbeenabletosay
thattheyarepartofanFFAchapter.Thisyear,
thatisfinallychanging.AlreadytheFFAhas
impactedCorvallisinavarietyofways,and
accordingtoAbbeyDunn,thattrendwillcontinue
intothefuture.“We’vealreadysetstandardsfor
thefuture,”shesaidconfidently.“We’vealready
plannedoutwherewewanttheFFAtogofrom
here,andwethinkwehaveabrightfuture
ahead.”
“We believe
in the future of
agriculture”
Congratulations to FFA participants
for making it to State!
Farmers State Bank
www.farmersebank.com
Seven convenient locations in
Missoula & the Bitterroot Valley
Member FDIC
Welcome New State Officers!
Congratulationstoournewslateofleadersfor2016-2017!
President-AlbertKoenig,BelgradeFFA
AlbertisexcitedtosupporthisBobcats,attendingMSU-Bozeman,majoringinAgriculture
Business.
st
1 VicePresident-CJStevenson,MooreFFA
CJplansonattendingMontanaStateUniversitymajoringinFinancialEngineering.
nd
2 VicePresident-JonAndres,MissoulaFFA
JonisexcitedtoattendMontanaStateUniversitymajoringinChemicalEngineering.
Secretary-AshleyKoenig,BelgradeFFA
AshleywillbeaproudBobcatattendingMSU-Bozeman,majoringinAgricultureBusiness.
Treasurer-JoshMeyer,ElectricCityFFA
JoshwillbejoiningtheMarineCorpsuponretirementofhisyearofservice.Hewillberesiding
inBozemanduringhisStateOfficeryear.
Reporter-KacieCummings,CascadeFFA
KaciewillalsobeattendingMSU-BozemanmajoringinPre-Medinhopesofbecominga
Physician’sAssistant.
Sentinel-BrockReiner,FlatheadFFA
BrockwillbeattendingMontanaStateUniversitymajoringinAgriculturalEducation,broad
fieldteaching.
Parliamentarian-JakeMichels,ShepherdFFA
Inthefall,JakewillbeattendingMontanaStateUniversity,majoringinElectricalEngineering.
Congratulations to the
Little Big Horn Chapter!
Recently, the Little Big Horn FFA chapter at Lodge Grass High School received a
$50,000 dollar grant from the Agricultural Development Council from the Growth Through Agriculture
program. The chapter is planning to use these funds and other loan opportunities as part of a “hands on”
learning experience in beef production.
As Ty Neal, the chapter advisor, and the FFA students explained in their application and presentation,
this project will engage freshmen and sophomores by allowing them to purchase cattle, breed them, sell steer
calves, keep heifer calves, and collect the proceeds in the form of a college scholarship after graduation.
They hope to attract students who typically don’t have the opportunity to participate in agriculture in addition
to existing members of FFA. Congratulations to the Little Big Horn FFA Chapter!
CongratulationstoourHelpingHandsGrantRecipients!
ChoteauFFAInanefforttocontinuetoservetheircommunity,ChoteauFFAmembershave
designedanopportunitytoserveandcooperatewithspecialneedsstudentsintheirschoolbyestablishinga
schoolgarden.Classroombasedlessonswillbetaughttothestudentsontheimportanceofgrowingand
caringforagarden.Toconcludetheseason,aschool-widetastingpartywillbeheldsostudentsareableto
sampletheirharvest.Choteauisreceiving$2,100fortheirproject.
LodgeGrassFFALodgeGrassFFAisexcitedtousetheirallotted$400toadoptahighwaytobe
cleanedupthreetimesayear.Theresultofourprojectwillbeacleanercommunity.“Theyhopethatothers
willseetheirhardworkandstoplitteringsomuchwhentheyrealizewhatabeautifulcommunitytheylive
in.”
TwinBridgesFFATwinBridgesFFAwasgiven$1,500tobuildapproximately20benchestoseat
guestsattheSheridanCountyFair.Thiswillgivethestudentstheopportunitytoenhancetheirskillsin
weldingandwoodworkingaswellasthesenseofdoingsomethingtohelpothers.
HinsdaleFFAHinsdalewasawarded$2,500toreplaceacommunitysidewalkalongtheedgeofa
parkinthetown.Thesidewalkisbrokenupandcoveredwithweeds,thechapterisexcitedtohaveauseable
sidewalkforcommunitymemberstoenjoythepark.
CorvallisFFACorvallisFFAwasawarded$650toprovidethecommunityaplacetorestwhen
enjoyingtheMontanaoutdoors.TheyplanonbuildingandupdatingthepublicbenchesbetweenHamilton
andLolo.
ThankyoutoourHelpingHandsSponsors:Farmer’sStateBank,KenyonNoble,
Dennis&PhyllisWashingtonFoundation,andFiveValley’sLandTrust!
Montana FFA Foundation
502 South 19th, Suite 102
Bozeman, MT 59718
foundation@montanaffa.org
(406)582-4118
Non-Profit Org.
U.S. Postage
PAID
AlphaGraphics
Bozeman