We've Got The County Covered
We've Got The County Covered
Milk River Winter Districts took place for FFA members in the area on December 10. Hosted by the Fort Benton Chapter, the event included contests in Agronomy, Mechanics, and Vet Science. Representing Chapters from Havre, CJI, Fort Benton, Dodson, Malta, Big Sandy, Turner, and Chinook, approximately 115 members competed. From the two Blaine County schools, various competitors walked away as winners, and Chinook's team captured fourth place in all three contests.
Some of the top performances for Chinook occurred in Mechanics, where two individuals made the Top Ten: Kenneth Gruszie (fifth place) and Brock Elliot (seventh place). Not far behind was Julian Powell at thirteenth. These laudable performances edged the team into fourth overall. Other members on that team were Eyan Hofeldt, Rangler Skoyen, Bryce Elliot, and Wacee Simenson.
In Agronomy, Ivey Lenz from Chinook landed in the Top Ten with her tenth-place performance in such activities as grading grain, identifying plants and seeds, and discussing pest management and agronomic disorders. Joining Lenz to round out the Agronomy team were Gus Buck, Bryce Elliot, and Eyan Hofeldt.
Earning 12th place in Vet Science, Ashlyn Hofeldt helped her team capture fourth overall. Her teammates were Megan Flanagan, Ivey Lenz, Bella Brown, and Falyn Cecrle.
The four FFA members who travelled from Turner: Joe Trautmann, Jake Brown, Finn Janczik, and Avery Fox also competed in Mechanics. Although they didn't place, they were "grateful for the experience." In commenting on their performance, Trautmann explained: "We had two experienced members on the team, and two new members. That, and our need for more practice, explains our scores."
In addition to a written, general knowledge exam, the Mechanics competition was comprised of various stations where contestants had to demonstrate their skill in categories like Welding, Carpentry, Wiring, Using a Transit, and Identifying Engine Parts. Another station asked the team to name parts of a tractor and to decipher hand signals. "I could name the tractor parts, but I was out of my comfort zone with the hand signals that I have never seen before or used," Brown explained.
Trautmann added, "With transit operation, I had seen a transit in operation before but never used one."
Two more areas, Junior Agronomy and Junior Mechanics contests saw Bryce Eliot place fourth in both, while Wacee Simenson earned fifth place in Mechanics.
The next State FFA qualifying events will occur with Spring Districts, although a date for those competitions has yet to be determined.
