by Lacey Barger

 

The 79th Nebraska State FFA convention was held in Lincoln March 28 through March 30. The two Parli-pro teams that made it to state left at 10:30 a.m. and the rest of the members left at 1 p.m.
The Senior Parli-pro team, which consisted of Kurtis Palu, Megan Surface, Kenneth Kumm, Justin Avery, Jessica Bertschinger, and Kayla Eckmann, received a silver plaque. The Junior Parli-pro team, which consisted of Alyssa Sutter, Mickey Doerr, Sarah Oltjenbruns, Katie Eckmann, Kristen Allen, Kayla Pischel and Charissa Hanzlik, also received a silver plaque.

 

Kurtis Palu received gold in Extemporaneous Speaking. Kenneth Kumm received Silver in Natural Resource Speaking. Amanda Lawyer received silver in Job Interview. Amanda Lawyer, Brandon Thiele, and Phillip Doerr received a silver plaque in Ag Demo. Proficiency award winners were: 1st place- Kenneth Kumm and Jeremiah Bertschinger; 2nd place- Justin Cunningham and Amanda Lawyer; 3rd place- Brandy Folk and Emily Lauck.

 

In the Career Development Events State contest the Ag Science team, consisting of Ali Gieselman, Emma Wagner, Leanna Cayler, and Lynndsy Hauger received purple as a team. Individually, Ali Gieselman received a purple ribbon and Emma Wagner, Leanna Cayler, and Lynndsy Hauger received blue ribbons. Lacey Barger received a red ribbon in the Meats Evaluation contest. The Ag Sales team, which included Megan Surface, Kayla Eckmann, Alyssa Sutter, and Kayla Pischel, received a red ribbon. Individually Megan received a blue ribbon, Kayla Pischel and Alyssa Sutter received red ribbons.

 

LaVerne Hauger and Cody Allen received blue ribbons individually in Livestock Judging and Mickey Doerr received a red ribbon. The Food Science team received a blue ribbon; on the team were Kurtis Palu, Emily Lauck, Amanda Lawyer, and Lindsay Hopkins. Individually Lindsay and Emily received blue ribbons and Amanda Lawyer received a red ribbon. The Livestock Management received a blue ribbon overall, the team consisted of Kenneth Kumm, Justin Cunningham, Ashley Liable, Alyson Dather, Charissa Hanzlik, and Sarah Oltjenbruns. They had purple ribbons in Swine and Sheep Management, a blue in Horse Management, and a white in Dairy management. The Welding Team, which consisted of LaVerne Hauger, Phillip Doerr, and Nick Eckmann received a blue overall. Laverne received a blue ribbon individually in Oxy Acetylene welding and Phillip received a white in Wire Welding.

 

The State convention ended for us when seven members of the Bloomfield FFA Chapter received their State FFA Degree. Those members included Kenneth Kumm, Kurtis Palu, Jessica Bertschinger, Lacey Barger, Philip Doerr, Kayla Eckmann, and Emily Lauck. Overall the week was a great success.