The 2022-2023 State FFA was one to remember. We had Lance Rutledge, our local FFA Chapter president, run for a State FFA office. We had multiple teams participating in FFA competitions including: Forestry, Agricultural, Technical, and Mechanical Systems (ATMS); Agronomy, Horse Evaluation, Veterinary Science, and Farm and Ag Business Management. We had a couple of participants enter the Montana Junior Ag Mechanics Show (JAM) for the first time at State FFA. We had many members that got proficiency awards, State Degrees, and scholarships.
Lance Rutledge ran for a 2023-2024 state office against a strong pool of over 25 candidates. He made it past the first elimination round of participants and was part of the final
14. As they were announcing the new State Officers, Lance Rutledge’s name was called for the new 2023-2024 State Treasurer. Lance will begin next year receiving advanced leadership training, then helping with leadership conferences, meeting with business and industry partners, and visiting the over 100 chapters across the state.
We had multiple teams competing in competitions. The forestry team was made up of Sam Cox, Christian Winderl, Conner Sibra, and Eli Dixon, placing 8th out of 21 teams. The ATMS team included Cooper Taylor, Conner Sibra, Kaden Pursley, and Severin Heimbigner which placed 15th out of 52 teams. The Agronomy team had Eli Dixon, Conner Sibra, Angie Sant, and Jacee Worrall, placing 13th out of 50 teams. Participating in the Horse Evaluation competition included Ty Terry, Angie Sant, Jenny Sant, and Mattie Gasvoda, placing 37th out of 50 teams. In Veterinary Science, Alex Worrall, Jenny Sant, and Mattie Gasvoda participated, placing 43th out of 48 teams. Farm and Ag Business Management participants included Lance Rutledge, Angie Sant, Jaycee Worrall, and Mattie Gasvoda. The Farm and Ag Business Management team placed 2nd overall with Lance placing 3rd and Angie placing 4th.
The Montana Junior Ag Show (JAM) is a show in which FFA chapters and kids enter a project that they have built into different categories. These categories include Trailers, OutDoor Recreation, and Farm Equipment and Machinery. In the OutDoor Recreation category, Amy Gasvoda entered a log patio furniture set, receiving a blue ribbon. In the Farm Equipment Machinery category, Kaden Pursley entered his 1976 Chevy truck in which he installed a
12-valve Cummins engine, receiving a red ribbon. Also, in the Farm Equipment Machinery category, Cooper Taylor entered a flatbed that he built for his dad’s pick up.
Members who received the Proficiency Award included: Ag Mechanics - Samuel Cox, Kaden Pursley, Conner Sibra, and Cooper Taylor; Beef Production - Christian Winderl; Grain Production - Eli Dixion. Members who received the State Degree, which is the highest degree that a member can receive within the State Association, were Mattie Gasvoda, Lance Rutledge, Angie Sant, and Jaycee Worrall. Receiving scholarships were Mattie Gasvoda, Lance Rutledge, and Angie Sant. As a whole, the Big Sandy FFA Chapter received a Superior Rating.
Congratulations!
