Holdrege FFA Participates in Virtual State Convention

Holdrege FFA Participates in Virtual State Convention
CREDIT – Holdrege FFA / Holdrege Chapter Conduct Team earning a Gold Medal
April 12th, 2021 | Austin Jacobsen

HOLDREGE – Thirty Holdrege FFA members represented the Chapter at the 93rd Nebraska State FFA Convention
April 7-9th. Events and State Contests were held virtually this year with teams competing from March
22nd through March 30th and final results being announced during the virtual Convention Sessions.
The State FFA Association developed a virtual program of keynote speakers: State FFA Officer
retiring addresses, agricultural industry tours and career fairs. Sessions were held virtually with
several honors and awards being presented to the Holdrege Chapter and Members.

Holdrege FFA submitted it’s application and for judging of the Chapter’s Program of Activities in
the National Chapter Recognition program. The Chapter was awarded the Premier Chapter Award.
The award was presented to the Top 11 chapters across the state out of 195 Chapters. The Holdrege
Chapter received Top Chapter honors in both Strengthening Agriculture and Growing Leaders
categories, while getting 3rd in the Building Communities Division. The chapter was given the
overall Top Chapter Application. The application will now move to the national level for evaluation.
This is the 13th time in 14 years that the Holdrege application has made it to the National level.
The Holdrege Chapter was also recognized by the Nebraska FFA Foundation for raising over
$6,400 for the I Believe In the Future of Ag Campaign. This amount was added to the state
campaign funds generated and in return the chapter received $7,100 back for supporting the
campaign. The funds put into this chapter come from many Holdrege area sponsors and donors,
who contribute to the Campaign.

Chapter members Damian Smith, Garrett Ehrenberg, Josh Reed, Sabyn Petit, Grace Borden and
Cassie Fulmer each earned their State FFA Degrees. The State FFA Degree is the highest degree
that members can earn through the State Association. Since 1940 one hundred fifty Holdrege FFA
Members have earned the State FFA Degree.

CREDIT – Holdrege FFA / Holdrege Chapter President Damian Smith, State Degree recipient & State Proficiency Winner
CREDIT – Holdrege FFA / Holdrege Chapter member Garrett Ehrenberg, State Degree Recipient & Proficiency Winner
CREDIT – Holdrege FFA / Holdrege Chapter member Josh Reed, State Degree recipient & Proficiency finalist
CREDIT – Holdrege FFA / Holdrege Chapter Vice President Sabyn Petit, State Degree recipient
CREDIT – Holdrege FFA / Holdrege Chapter member Grace Borden, State Degree recipient & LDE Speaker
CREDIT – Holdrege FFA / Holdrege Chapter Cassie Fulmer, state degree recipient

Holdrege FFA members excelled in Proficiency Award recognition this year. Senior, Josh Reed,
received state runner up in Agricultural Service Placement. Senior, Damian Smith, received state
winner honors in Ag Sales – Placement which will continue to National Level. Also qualifying for
national consideration will be Garrett Ehrenberg’s Vegetable Production application as he was
named the state winner. Senior, Cassie Fulmer received 5th place state gold in Ag Processing.
The Holdrege Chapter earned several accomplishments in the area of Leadership Development
Events. Senior Grace Borden earned a Bronze ranking in Natural Resources Speaking Event
outlining Conservation Stewardship Program.

The Parliamentary Procedure team earned a Silver ranking for their demonstration of different
procedures on March 25th. Damian Smith, Sabyn Petit, Kade Komenda, Erika Wilkins, Chyenne
Tidyman and Cassie Fulmer. Alternates for the team were Tyson Meyers and Connor Fulmer.
Holdrege has qualified a State Parliamentary Procedure Team for State 6 of the past 9 years.

The Freshman Chapter Conduct of Meetings Team was also a State Qualifier for the 7th time in 10
years. This team was made of Zac Sundquist, Beau Jensen, Corey Hanson, Charli Wells, Gavin
Fornkner, Trey Weaver and Jaren Moore. Alternates for the team were Hearlea Shaw. The team
competed on March 26th and earned an 8th Place Gold state rating of 24 teams.

Most of the chapter members competed in the State Career Development Event contests during the
week of March 22nd.

Cassie Fulmer, Erika Wilkins, Bailey Edgren and Kade Komenda were all a part of the Food
Science Team. The team placed 20th of 36 teams. Individually, Kade Komenda earned a blue
placing.

Competing in Ag Communications was Erika Wilkins, Kade Komenda, Sabyn Petit,and Cassie
Fulmer. Individually, Sabyn Petit placed 5th Place overall with Cassie Fulmer and Erika Wilkins
bringing home white placings.

Livestock Management participants were Sabyn Petit, Sheree Russell, Grace Borden, Charli Wells,
and Jeremiah Johnson. This team worked together and demonstrated knowledge of six major areas
of the livestock industry from nutritional management to reproduction and marketing skills. The
team earned a red ranking.

Competing in Agriscience were freshman Corey Hanson, Jaren Moore, Trey Weaver, and Beau
Jensen. The team took individual tests covering general agriculture knowledge and then more
questions that centered on plant systems. The team earned a red ribbon placing. Beau Jensen earned
red individually with Trey and Corey earning white ribbons.

The Agronomy team received a white ribbon; the team consisted of Josh Reed, Garrett Ehrenberg,
Zac Sundquist, and Jaren Moore. Josh Reed had a red placing with Zac and Jaren earning white
ribbons. The contest consisted of testing student knowledge of crops, insects, weeds and crop
disorders and soils knowledge.

Holdrege FFA Chapter members will be concluding major activities for the school year with the 84th
Annual FFA Banquet on Sunday, April 18th at the Phelps County Ag Center and conducting Plant
Sales starting May 1st.

CREDIT – Holdrege FFA / Holdrege Chapter 4th Place Ag Communications Team (Left to Right: Petit, Erika Williams, Fulmer, Kade Komenda)
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