Chinook FFA Announces Winners from Fall District Competition

Eight chapters from across the Milk River District of the Montana FFA gathered at the Blaine County Fairgrounds on October 1 for 2024 Fall District competition hosted by the Chinook Chapter of the FFA. Chinook's Agriculture Teacher and FFA Advisor, Mitzi Cecrle not only reported various contest winners but shared gratitude with the numerous community members who assisted in making the event possible.

Once the scores had been tallied and any ties broken, it was determined that teams representing Malta, Havre, Chinook, Big Sandy, and Big Flat/Turner would advance to state competition in Livestock Judging and that teams from Chinook, Big Flat, Big Sandy, Fort Benton, and Malta had qualified in Horse Evaluation.

Following Opening Ceremonies and a welcome by Chinook High School Principal, Brian Rayburn, the various phases of competition in Livestock Judging and Horse Evaluation got underway on the Blaine County Fairgrounds at approximately 9:00 on Tuesday morning. Livestock for the event was provided by Clayton Hofeldt (bulls), Travis Buck and Bear Paw Livestock (steers), Wylee and Wacee Simenson (heifers), Pat and Whitney Wicks (goats), and Max Hofeldt (lambs).

During Livestock Judging with the assistance of Committee Event Chair Justin Simenson, FFA members worked within teams to rank breeding and market classes of the various livestock groups provided. Observing these animals for desirable traits in marketing and breeding livestock, competitors had to make selections and provide oral reasons to support their decisions. The top team in this competition was Malta with 1287 points. Only two points below that score was Havre's FFA Chapter. Rounding out the top five were Chinook (1264), Big Sandy (1260), and Big Flat (1212).

From Chinook, Zoe Scofield, Wacee Simonson, Lynley Conrad, Britt Powell, Ruger Scofield, Dane Frey-Haluszka, Tucker Crawford, and Ashlyn Hofeldt all competed in Livestock Judging. From Turner, Avery Fox, JR Brown, Jake Brown, and Joseph Trautmann made up the Livestock team.

Those members scoring in the Top Ten individually were Karle LaBrie (Malta), Layla Messerly (Malta), Alex Worrall (Big Sandy), Maddelynne Dean (Havre), Britt Powell (Chinook), Kami Scheele (Havre), AJ Marquis (Malta), Brielle Tinsley (Havre), Lily Smith (Havre), and Ashlyn Hofeldt (Chinook). Only nine points separated the first and tenth place individuals.

Cecrle explained the scoring process: "Once all the scores were submitted, I took the results from the top four individuals from every FFA Chapter to identify team ranks. Individual ranking as a whole was part of the original copy with everyone from each FFA chapter. With that, we had a couple individuals in Livestock who tied for fourth, so in the top ten, we compared reasons. If there was still a tie, we would compare test scores."

In the Horse Evaluation event under the guidance of Committee Chair Jennifer Jones, competitors judged the horses by how they performed with a halter and under a saddle. Four horses in each class were examined by competitors and ranked first through fourth place. There were halter classes and riding classes. The halter classes were split into mares and yearlings, without reasons, and geldings with reasons. The riding classes were English Style under Hunter and Western Riding on the Rail. Participants defended their decisions through oral reasons in front of judges.

When their work was complete, Chinook had emerged as the top team with a score of 1075 points. Members on that team were Ashlyn Hofeldt, Megan Siemens, Zoe Scofield, and Bella Brown.

The Big Flat team comprised of MJ Beaman, Meridian Snider, Modesty Chamberlain, Pau Martinez, and Finn Janczik took second with 1025 points, and Big Sandy captured third with 1018 points. Rounding out the top five were Fort Benton with 930 points and Malta with 771.

Scoring in the Top Ten individually were Meridian King-Snider (Big Flat), Modesty Chamberlain (Big Flat), Ashlyn Hofeldt (Chinook), Riggin Meckel (Fort Benton), Megan Siemens (Chinook), Kenzie LaBrie (Malta), Colter Han (Big Sandy), Madison Maki (CJI), Zoe Scofield (Chinook), and Bella Brown (Chinook). Thirty-two points separated the first and tenth place competitors in this category.

Finally, Range judging took place at the Blaine County Rod and Gun Club. Competitors were required to identify 25 different plants, complete a stocking rate scenario, prove their understanding of plant anatomy, and perform soil tests. The soil test involved an ecological site, which was dug to about 20 inches. Participants determined the soil type and the moisture of the topsoil. The stocking rate is the number of Animal Unit Months (AUMs) a pasture can hold.

The Soils Crew, consisting of Scott Brady, Willa Nagel, and Jenna Fultz from Hill County's Natural Resources Conservation Service, consulted in this competition category. They were assisted by Blaine County Extension Agent, Juli Snedigar who specializes in Agriculture and Natural Resources. Snedigar not only served as Committee Chair for this event but uploaded results from the range contest.

Winning teams in Range were Big Sandy with 451 points, CJI with 381, Chinook with 318.5, and Malta with 167.5. From Chinook, Ruger Scofield, Bryce Elliot, Tucker Crawford, and Julian Powell contributed to the team score.

Taking Top Ten honors were Lola Snell (Malta), Warren Harley (Big Sandy), Quinn Rodewald (Big Sandy), Harley LaBuda (Big Sandy), Julian Powell (Chinook), Chloe Hinson (CJI), Kyra Anderson (CJI), Owen Allderdice (Big Sandy), Piper Erickson (CJI), and Bryce Elliot (Chinook). In Range competition, eighty-two points differentiated first from tenth place. Turner did not compete in Range.

Cecrle wished to thank all of the chapter members and advisors from the Milk River District for making the 2024 Fall Districts a success. "Chinook FFA would love to give a HUGE thank you to everyone who helped with this year's Fall District Competition. The Top Five teams qualify for state, and since we have nine chapters in our district, it comes to 4.5 rounded up to 5. Range is not a competition at State, but some say Montana Range Days during the summer is considered 'State.' It's up to advisors to consider Range Days as their own state competition. I believe Range is important in Montana, so kudos to the advisors who still provide some opportunities for students to learn why and how to keep our rangelands healthy."

Although the list of event volunteers is lengthy and Cecrle declared that she appreciates every single one, she wished to give a special shout out to "the Blaine County Rod and Gun Club, especially Joe Kennedy, for the use of the Gun Range; to Jennifer Jones who helped out with Horse Evaluation and also provided the officials; to Karyn Billmayer and two of her students, Natalie and Taylynn, from MSU–Northern; to Wylee Simenson and Keith Plumer from the Livestock Team at Casper College in Wyoming for providing officials; to the Blaine County Fair Board for the use of the fairgrounds, which were an amazing location for our Livestock and Horse Competitions; and to the lunch cooks for providing a great meal."