National FFA Convention is October 23-26. Eastern Oregon features heavily
EASTERN OREGON – The National FFA Convention is coming up October 23-26. Soon enough, Indianapolis will be filled by a sea of blue corduroy jackets. Among the thousands of students, advisors, and other participants, chapters from Eastern Oregon are making quite the presence. For example, out of 87 Oregon FFA members earning their American degrees this year, 31 come from communities in Eastern Oregon:
Union County
- Gavin Bakker. Cove
- James Frisch. Cove
- Collin Rovey. Cove
- Delaney Kleabaum. Union
- Pual Reed. Union
- Payden Bowles. Imbler
- Zoe Brown. Imbler
- Issac M Insko. La Grande
Baker County
- Cooper Gover. Pine-Eagle
- Cole Morgan. Pine-Eagle
Wallowa County
- Cody Fent. Enterprise
- Maclane Melville. Enterprise
- Madison Wigen. Enterprise
- Mary Thiel. Joseph
Malheur County
- Jimena Anguiano. Ontario
- Tevan Frahm. Ontario
- Henry Garret. Ontario
- Alexandria Petes-Diaz. Ontario
- Paisley Porter. Ontario
- Rance Prentiss. Ontario
- Brady Cooper. Nyssa
- Rylie Stokes. Vale
Umatilla County
- Rylee Demianew. Pendleton
- Chloe Gray. Pendleton
- Elizabeth Doherty. Hermiston
- Grant Hills. Hermiston
- Alexis Leathers. Hermiston
- Kylie Temple. Hermiston
- Ethan Jones. Mcloughlin
Harney County
- Halleigh Baker. Crane Union
- Tayleur Baker. Crane Union
Beyond the American degree recipients, various other students and chapters are earning national achievements this year. Among these, Elgin ag teacher and FFA advisor Daniel Bolen has been named teacher of the year by the Oregon Agriculture Teacher Association. Other student awards (broken down by category by the Oregon FFA) include:
General Achievements
- Union FFA Alumni & Supporters: National FFA Alumni Outstanding Chapter Regional Finalist.
Career Development Events
- Nyssa chapter: Ag Issues
- Abbie Wilks (Pendleton): Creed Speaking.
- Nyssa chapter: Farm Business Management
- McKenzi Rose (Echo): Job Interview
- Echo chapter: Meats Evaluation & Technology
- Hermiston chapter: Parliamentary Procedure
National Agriscience Fair
Animal Systems:
- Division 1 –Darby Lucas, Imbler
- Division 2 – Karlee Patterson & Olivia Haddock, Imbler
- Division 3 – Taylor Johnson, Baker
Animal Systems:
- Division 2 – Kinley Adams & Piper Braseth, Imbler
- Division 3 – Alexandria Honsvick, Baker
- Division 5 – Helen Gordon, Imbler
Environmental Sciences & Natural Resource Systems
- Division 2 – Kolten Martin & Wyatt Yancey, Imbler
- Division 4 – Matthew Daniels & Kaitlyn Gonzalez, Ontario
Food Products & Processing Systems
- Division 4 – Abel Marquez & Andrew Knipe, Ontario
Power. Technical, and Social Systems
- Division 3 – Catlynn Wade, Ontario
- Division 4 – Madelyn Stanciu & Nicole Frahm, Ontario
- Division 6 – Colson Johnston & Simon Sosa, Ontario
Social Systems
- Division 1 – Whitney Haddock, Imbler
- Division 2 – Kelsey Hays & London Kunz, Imbler
- Division 3 – Chase Myatt, Baker
- Division 4 – Eva Paulson & Keira Counsell, Imbler
Proficiencies
- Agricultural Education – Entrepreneurship/Placement: Emma Gregory, Burns
- Agricultural Mechanics Design and Fabrication – Entrepreneurship/Placement: Crae Campbell, Pendlton
- Agricultural Sales – Placement: Delaney Klebaum, Union
- Agriscience Research – Plant Systems: Jose Armenta, Baker
- versified Agricultural Production – Entrepreneurship/Placement: Jayda Cant, Imbler
- Environmental Science and Natural Resources – Entrepreneurship/Placement: Kellen Crenshaw, Joseph
- Equine Science – Entrepreneurship: Taylor-Jo Hoffman, Echo
- Equine Science – Placement: Keelie Jones, Union
- Fiber and/or Oil Crop Production – Entrepreneurship/Placement: Kale Bingaman, Imbler
- Forest Management and Products – Entrepreneurship/Placement: Payton Hess, Joseph
- Goat Production – Entrepreneurship/Placement: Gabrielle Prentiss, Ontario
- Grain Production – Entrepreneurship/Placement: Brea Rudd, Union
- Outdoor Recreation – Entrepreneurship/Placement: Lily Royes, Enterprise
- Specialty Animal Production – Entrepreneurship/Placement: KaraAnn Akers, La Grande
- Specialty Crop Production – Entrepreneurship/Placement: Paul Reed, Union
- Swine Production – Placement: Lane Petersen, Union
- Veterinary Science – Entrepreneurship/Placement: Dakota DeLyria, Joseph
- Wildlife Production and Management – Entrepreneurship/Placement: Andrew Beachy, Joseph
One final note, the 2024 national convention also marks the La Grande chapter’s return to convention following a six-year hiatus. Good luck and congratulations to all FFA members from across Oregon!