We've Got The County Covered
We've Got The County Covered
Members of the Big Flat Chapter of the FFA: JR Brown, Landon Hickel, Jake Brown, Joseph Trautmann, and Avery Fox celebrate at the Milk River Spring District competition after winning third place as a team in Agricultural Sales. As individual performers, Fox took first over-all, Trautmann earned third, and Hickel captured sixth place.
The Big Flat Chapter of the FFA travelled to Havre for spring competition in the Milk River District on a snowy, below zero Tuesday, February 4. After competing in events like Extemporaneous Speaking, Agricultural Sales, Creed Speaking, Parliamentary Procedure, and Prepared Speaking, the team from Turner captured third place in Ag. Sales. Helping the team to reach that finish, Avery Fox, a sophomore, won accolades as the first-place individual. Joseph Trautmann, a junior, came in third, and Landon Hickel, another junior, landed sixth. Their fourth Ag Sales team member was Jake Brown.
In earning their third-place team plaque, the group had to individually sell Kubota skid steers and attachments to two different judges, take a written exam that tested knowledge from the salesperson's handbook regarding content and delivery, and perform a team sale. In this final task, similar to a problem-solving situation, the team received a scenario, had twelve minutes to collaborate and trouble-shoot, and then delivered their pitch to the judges.
"It was my written test that really helped bring up my score," Fox stated about his first-place finish as an individual.
Fox went on to express satisfaction in his achievement, as well as the team's: "We get to go to State as third place finishers, so that's good. It will put us in better standing in Bozeman."
Advisor for the Big Flat FFA Chapter, Mrs. Kayleigh Turley expressed pride in her team by saying: "I'm really proud of their achievement and told them that all that practicing they did must have really helped."
Turley had set up opportunities for the four young men to sell Kubota skid steers to their teachers, who were able to give them tips. That experience also indicated where their salesmanship needed revision or support.
Following her team's win, Turley promptly placed their plaque on a display stand at the school's front office. Because of the team's placing, the Big Flat members have earned the right to compete in Agricultural Sales at State FFA.
The 2025 Montana State FFA Convention will be held in Bozeman, Montana, from April 1–5. The Montana FFA Foundation describes the convention as "a dynamic atmosphere where over 2,000 FFA members, dedicated teachers, passionate alumni, and supportive advocates will converge from every corner of Montana. This annual convention is not just an event; it's a celebration of agricultural excellence and leadership development!"
Spring Districts, which were hosted by the Havre FFA Chapter, took place at Fifth Avenue Christian Church on the south end of Fifth Avenue. FFA Chapters represented travelled from Big Sandy, Chinook, CJI, Fort Benton, Havre, Malta, and Turner. At lunchtime, members selected from a taco menu that offered travelling tacos, as well as soft shell and hard shell varieties. Following lunch, competition continued, and an awards ceremony closed out the day's events.
