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Written by Breah Steffen
LINCOLN — “Every Moment” was the theme this year for the 97th Nebraska FFA State Convention, with 32 members of the Hartington- Newcastle FFA Chapter among the 7,800 blue jackets that invaded downtown Lincoln last week. Students have put in long hours in order to prepare for the state competition that took place over three days. Students from both Cedar Catholic and Hartington Newcastle took to the challenge to compete and represent the community in ten contests, the state choir, delegates, and receiving top awards.
The first day of the contest was focusing on Leadership Development Events. Breah Steffen and Karissa Bruning competed in Agricultural Demonstration. They showed their skills of Goat Showmanship, and answered questions from the judges, they received a bronze award at the state competition.
Sr. Public Speaking was a pre-written competition, Ava Stewart took to the challenge of writing a speech entitled “The Effect of CRISPR/Cas9 Technology on Genetic Diversity in Beef Cattle.” She presented and made her way into the Finals which was top six. She was on stage on Friday to receive her award of second place individual. We had three members of our group selected to be a part of the State FFA Choir, Aaralynn Collier is a four year member of the choir and she received a solo this year, Kyptin Collier, and Jayden Lordemann sang their hearts out at all the major sessions.
The Agricultural Proficiency awards honor FFA members who, through their Supervised Agricultural Experience, have developed specialized skills they can apply toward their future careers. Five students sent on their proficiency applications to the state competition. Ava Noecker and Ava Stewart were chosen to be State Finalists, where they had to interview in order to be awarded for first, second or third place.
Ava Noecker’s proficiency was in Dairy Production, she took first place and will have her application sent on to the National Competition this fall. Ava Stewart’s proficiency was on Swine Production, and she took second place.
Career Development events focused on more hands-on contests, Floriculture was the first contest to happen. The team placed 58th, with top individual was Maddie Steffen at 101st. Other teammates included Mckenzie Bruning, Kora Kneifl, and Katelyn Wubben.
Agronomy had an early morning but they rose to the challenge by team placing 45th, top individual members were Graham Potts 97th, Jason Heimes, Cole Heimes and Gabe Reyes. Livestock Management is a team-based competition with individual knowledge based components on six different species- bases. The team placed 19th and members consisted of Ava Noecker, Ava Stewart, Gus Lammers, Breah Steffen, Karissa Bruning and Adeline Pinkelman.
The Welding competition is designed to promote and create an interest in welding. The HNS team placed 56th. The top individuals were Ty Opfer in arc welding 30th, Josiah Christensen in tig welding 32nd, Cris Kneifl in oa welding 54th, and Castin Pinkleman in mig welding 57th.
The Agriscience team placed 100th. Calley Stewart was top individual on the team at 127th. Other members included Marek Heimes, Elsie Haahr and Gus Lammers.
Livestock Judging was early to start there Friday but students identify, evaluate the difference in breeding and market livestock. The team placed 54th, with top individuals Ava Noecker 76th individual, Breah Steffen placed 118th, other teammates included Quinn Hochstein and Ashton Wakeley.
Poultry Evaluation blends practical hands-on experience with the basic knowledge of the poultry industry. This year’s team placed 23rd, teammates included Calley Stewart, Ava Stewart, Ali Ford and Jade Ford.
On Friday, ten seniors got to walk across the stage in order to receive the top award, the Nebraska State FFA Degree. Mckenzie Bruning, Nicholas Coleman, Aaralynn Collier, Cole Heimes, Benjamin Klenschmit, Matthew Loecker, Ava Noecker, Castin Pinkleman, Claire Rolfes and Maddie Steffen applied with a written application and did an in-person interview about their SAE and FFA involvement in order to receive the top honor that can be received within high school.
The HNS FFA members also recognized FFA teach/sponsor Emma Lammers upon receiving her Honorary State FFA Degree for going above and beyond for things in the classroom, school and for the chapter.
Ava Stewart received second place for the Swine Production proficiency and sccond individual for Sr. Public Speaking.
Ava Noecker is the State Winner in the Dairy Productions Placement Proficiency. Her application will be sent on to the National FFA Convention later this fall.
