FFA Big Muddy Promotes Ag Careers

Future Farmers of America students from across northeastern Montana gathered in Hinsdale Oct. 1 for the Big Muddy FFA District Livestock & Agronomy Career Development event.

Varsity and JV students competed individually and collectively in agronomy and livestock. FFA organizations from Lambert, Richey, Bainville, Culbertson, Plentywood, Opheim and Hinsdale competed in the event.

FFA members can join as early as seventh grade and middle school students make up most of the JV teams, while varsity encompasses students up to the 12th grade. Hinsdale FFA advisor and event organizer Patty Armbrister was enthusiastic about the inclusion of the younger members and the experience they gain by competing early. "By the time they get to varsity, they're really good," she explained.

The Opheim chapter was in charge of organizing the Agronomy portion of the event and their varsity team claimed first place. Chase Redfield, Opheim advisor, said, "I felt like we did a very good job having it organized and ready to go." Cole Taylor, the club president, said, "Agronomy went well. I was happy with the outcome. I am very proud of our placing especially considering how young our team is, and how hard we worked."

For the agronomy portion, students were tested in seeds and plant identification, farm equipment, insect identification, and graded grain and hay. The tests, set up in eight rotations, are designed as an introduction to potential careers in agriculture and farming. Participants answered questions on everything from Hard Red Winter Wheat weights to the most productive balers to the reason for growing solid stem wheat.

The livestock testing portion of the day was originally planned to take place at the Hinsdale rodeo grounds, but rather ironically, relocated to the Glasgow Stockyards due to mud. Here students were divided into six groups where they judged bred heifers, yearling bulls, ewes and market swine as an introduction to a profession in the livestock industry. In addition to judging, FFA members were required to justify their ratings to judges. This portion of the testing is intended to improve public speaking skills.

Mandy Fuhrmann, Opheim FFA treasurer said, "Livestock went really good, and I was confident with my judging." Redfield expressed pride in his club, "I thought they did great. These kids have been studying for the past four years, and even better we still have two years to compete with the oldest ones."

Carrie Taylor of the Opheim FFA chapter contributed additional reporting for this story.

Team: Varsity Livestock

Rank Team Score

1 Hinsdale 1439

2 Lambert 1315

3 Richey 1288

4 Culbertson 1272

5 Bainville 1261

6 Plentywood 1212

7 Medicine Lake 901

8 Sidney 886

Team: JV Livestock

Rank Team Score

1 Richey 1233

2 Culbertson 1213

3 Hinsdale 1204

4 Opheim 1137

5 Lambert 1125

6 Plentywood 1005

7 Culbertson Extra 449

Team: Varsity Agronomy

Rank Team Score

1 Opheim 1099

2 Richey 1044

3 Lambert 975

4 Hinsdale 957

5 Bainville 937

6 Culbertson 918

7 Medicine Lake 818

8 Missouri Valley (Wolf Point) 629

Team JV Agronomy

Rank Team Score

1 Hinsdale 984

2 Culbertson 909

3 Richey 786

4 Lambert 708

5 Missouri River (Wolf Point) 677

6 Opheim 627

7 Bainville 582

8 Richey Extra 134

Hinsdale and Opheim results

Individual Varsity Livestock

Hinsdale FFA

Kaitlyn McColly 309 1

Cordell Younkin 305 3

Loden Idler 302 4

Trey Johnson 1283 12

Individual JV Livestock

Hinsdale FFA

RyLee Mix 273 3

Walker Olsen 264 5

Mattea McColly 261 7

Craton Nelson 256 11

Opheim FFA

Mandy Fuhrmann 264 5

Aiden Fouhy 251 14

Damian Cable 227 21

Jefferson Delisle 220 22

Individual Varsity Agronomy

Hinsdale FFA

Aiden Albus 256 6

Trey Johnson 243 9

Elise Strommen 214 19

Halle Beil 204 23

Opheim FFA

Cole Taylor 346 2

Zach Fauth 323 3

Bo Anderson 142 29

Carrie Taylor 218 18

Individual JV Agronomy

Hinsdale FFA

Walker Olsen 279 3

Cienna Strommen 264 4

Mattea McColly 221 9

Codi Donniaquo 210 13

Opheim FFA

Aiden Fouhy 334 1

Jefferson Delisle 263 5