Sherman chapter shines at state FFA convention

FFA chapters from Sherman County School and Condon High School had a big weekend at Oregon FFA State Convention last weekend.

Held in Redmond, the 96th annual Oregon FFA State Convention featured a number of state level career and leadership development events, workshops, keynote speakers, a college/career expo and the election of the next year's Oregon FFA State Officers, Sherman FFA advisor Nels Swenson said.

Swenson is Sherman's agriculture science teacher and FFA advisor. He also teaches middle school and high school agriculture classes, plant science and animal science, metal and wood shop, small gas engines and leadership.

"This year's convention was jam packed with events and contests, and the Sherman County FFA Chapter had more students competing and involved in events than any year before," Swenson said. "I am super proud of the work each person put into their events leading up to convention, and it was great to see them on stage competing and being recognized."

Sherman senior Sawyer Baker was among 21 seniors from across the state who ran for one of six positions as a State Officer.

The State Officer team begins right after State Convention with training and events, and students balance their new positions with the rest of their senior year school load, Swenson said. After graduation, students take a gap year and spend that whole year being the face of Oregon FFA, traveling the state, speaking and leading workshops for FFA members, representing the organization with businesses, the legislature and the ag industry.

"The interview and election process is intense, and Sawyer made it through two rounds of cuts to be selected as one of the top 10 individuals that would get the chance to be elected," Swenson said.

And although Baker ultimately was not selected as one of the six, "being in the top 10 is a huge accomplishment that many never attain," Swenson added.

Sherman senior Henry Poirier was also on the trip to receive his Oregon FFA State Degree, the highest award for Oregon FFA. To earn this honor, individuals must complete a minimum of two years of high school ag classes, log 30 hours of community service, invest in their Supervised Agriculture Experience and prove hundreds of dollars in earnings and hours logged, Swenson said.

He added that Sherman also had a team qualify for the State Conduct of Chapter Meeting contest, a freshman competition where the seven individuals begin with the FFA meeting opening ceremonies, then demonstrate their ability to run a business meeting using Robert's Rules of Order by making motions, debating and voting through parliamentary procedure.

"Sherman County FFA has had a very busy year," Chapter Reporter Gabe Fritts said. "First we started it off by placing 5th at the State Soils judging contest, which qualified us for the National Soils contest held in Oklahoma April 29 to May 3. In October, we went to National FFA convention held in Indianapolis."

And of course, their trip to the annual state convention in Redmond last weekend, Fritts added.

Condon FFA also had a big showing at state, as this was the first year the school has had an FFA Chapter since 2012.

Science and ag teacher Marilee Anderson is the chapter's new FFA advisor. She previously served as the 4-H Extension agent for Gilliam County. She said she was thrilled to take on a new role this year, work more closely with students and bring back Condon's FFA chapter after more than a decade-long hiatus.

"It was one of the hardest decisions I've ever made, but it really clicked and made sense," Anderson said. "The past few months have been so exciting and so rewarding."

She said it's been a busy year so far, and among their many accomplishments is securing $65,000 in grant funding to revamp the shop program.

"I am grateful for the support of our community members, parents and administration," she said. "The opportunities these young people now have through FFA will transform their lives."

Anderson added that it was great to see FFA banners made by Donna Bates, Condon's school food services director and grandmother of two FFA members, make it back home.

"It was pretty special to see a banner that was made in Condon actually come back to Condon," Anderson said.

Condon junior Wyatt Johnson was awarded top prize in the FFA talent competition, first for singing the National Anthem, and then for Chris Stapleton's "Tennessee Whiskey."

"State Convention is not only an opportunity for members to grow in knowledge, but it's also an opportunity to share and experience life-long memories," Johnson said. "While it may seem like just another fun weekend right now, I presume in distant years I will look back upon this very same weekend, and wish I could do it all over again."