Cortez FFA members Tierney Wilson and Cassie Finley, competed in the 86th annual Colorado Future Farmers of America Convention at Adams State College on May 28-30.
Wilson placed in the silver category in the prepared public speaking event with an 8-minute speech she researched and wrote about the reintroduction of wolves and the potential impact it has on agriculture. Finley competed in the FFA Creed speaking event and placed in the bronze category. She recited the FFA Creed from memory, and answered questions from the judges. Both girls were in the top 15 in the state.
Both had won their respective contests at the district level earlier this year. The annual convention is held to honor the top FFA members for their supervised agricultural experience programs, recognize outstanding chapter across the state and provide opportunity for members to compete in several leadership development events.
Three Cortez FFA members also received the State FFA Degree, the highest degree a state can bestow upon members. The State FFA Degree is conferred upon members who invest and/or earn $2,500 through their supervised agricultural experience program, complete 50 hours of community service, participate in seven FFA activates about the chapter level, and complete their record books and matching application.
Finley, Wilson and Laycee Jones received this honor. All three students received a certificate and a golden charm to hang on their FFA jacket in recognition of their FFA accomplishments, sponsored by Jimmy and Nita Smith of Rifle, Colo. The names of all Cortez FFA members who have achieved this honor hang on a special plaque in the agricultural education classroom at Montezuma-Cortez High School.
Several Cortez supervised agricultural experience programs were also recognized. Whitney Finley received a gold award for her beef production SAE in which she artificially inseminated and raised market and breeding beef. Whitney Finley has recently won grand champion at the Montezuma County Fair with her beef project. Wilson received a silver award for her sheep production SAE in which she raised and showed market sheep at local and national shows. Chantell Ford received a participant rating for her diversified livestock production SAE. Chantell raises and shows market beef and market swine, as well as her recorded hours working at IFA Country Store.
Last, Wilson received the District III Washington Leadership Conference scholarship. The scholarship, provided by the Colorado FFA Foundation, will pay the registration fees for her to attend the Washington Leadership Conference in Washington, D.C., in July.
“Cultivate” was this year’s convention theme. More than 1,500 FFA members, advisers, supporters and guests attended the convention. Colorado FFA Association servers more than 5,000 FFA members in 110 chapters across Colorado.
