Members, supporters honored at Thermopolis FFA banquet

The Thermopolis FFA chapter opened their annual banquet last week by announcing they earned a three-star rating at state, which is the highest rating available to a chapter.

Members, parents and community supporters came together to honor the group's accomplishments over the past year, on both the local and state level.

Following that announcement, several awards and honors were presented.

Proficiency awards are designed to reward students for their supervised agricultural experiences. Students put data into their AET record books to compete with other students across the state. Two Thermopolis members were finalists at state, Rebekah Johnson Bronze Animal Systems and Morgan Slover Gold Animal Systems.

Spring is designated to competing in Career Development Events (CDE's) and Leadership Development Events (LDE's) for chapter members. The agricultural issues team focuses on presenting a current issue in agriculture to a public audience. A successful team must investigate an issue they find prevalent in the world of Agriculture, engage the community through the presentation, submit a portfolio to the state judging panel, and then present to a panel of judges. Emme Norsworthy, Rebekah Johnson, Owen McCumber, Bubba Bowman, Sydney Shaffer and Hallie Martinez. This team took first at state and will be advancing to national convention in the fall.

The livestock teams evaluates market and breeding livestock. There are a total of 10 classes, and members must give four sets of reasons. The members on the high school team at state were Lexi Overfield, Owen McCumber, Cadence Steadman and Hadley Johnson. Hadley Johnson was the second high individual, and as a team, they were first in beef and fourth high team overall.

This year, the Thermopolis FFA Chapter also had a highly competitive junior high livestock judging team. These students spent many hours throughout the summer traveling to different locations around Wyoming judging at 207 competitions.

The members that participated on the middle school state livestock team were Hayden Overfield, Tymber Eckley, and Rylee and Taylor Agar. Rylee Agar was the overall high individual, and the team placed first at the state contest.

The Meats judging team identifies 40 cuts, places 6 classes, yield and quality grades six carcasses and answers questions about two classes. The high school team of Will Clark, Eli McCumber, Simon Ream and Kallie VanHeule took fifth place at state convention.

The Vet Science competition is a highly competitive CDE that tests a student's ability to memorize breeds, diseases, parasites and vet equipment, as well as their ability to professionally and correctly perform a variety of veterinary procedures. Thermopolis has a very strong team going into the state competition next year. Rebekah Johnson, Morgan Slover, Kallie VanHeule and Lexi Overfield participated this year.

Ag Mechanics is a great way for trades students to show off their skills by troubleshooting small gas engines, electrical problems, and also puts together a team presentation. This is a very diverse competition and can lead to many great career opportunities in the future. Gavin Shumway, Chase Moeller, Jason Bowman and Jim Christensen received pins for competing this year.

Agriculture Sales competition students collaborate and sell their items. Team members take a test and give an individual, and team presentation. This is a great way for members to get hands-on experiences in selling items within the ag community. This year's team members were Eli Dickey, Morgan Slover, Kaitlin Barral and Kallie Van Heule.

The Agriscience Fair is a section of the FFA program that allows members to be creative in their own ways. They choose a subject matter, research their topic, collect data, write a written evaluation on their topic, put together charts to display their results, then present their information in a professional manner. The Thermopolis Chapter competes in this project each year and had the 2nd highest amount of projects from one school. The elite members who competed at the National FFA Convention last fall include Hanna Hill, 6th place in Food Products and the team of Lance Axtell and Brody Potter, 7th place in Animal Systems division.

This year, there were 48 local science fair participants. High school finalists included Owen McCumber and Gavin Shumway - Gold; Lexi Overfield- Gold; Eli McCumber- Bronze; Ruthanne Johnson - Gold; Jason Bowman and Jim Christensen - Gold. Middle School finalists included Tymber Eckley - Gold; Teresa Steadman- Silver; Jayssie Owsley- Bronze; Rylee and Taylor Agar - Silver; Maile McCumber and Kamryn Farrell - Bronze; Austin Slagle - Gold; Kaycee Stothart - Silver; Lainie Boren- Silver; Cody Bomengen and Stone Pebbles - Silver; Tera Kraushaar - Gold; Hayden Overfield and Ellis Webber - Gold. The group was just two points short of breaking a tie with Chief Washakie for the agriscience sweepstakes.

After a win at the state convention in 2019, the middle school poultry judging team continued to work hard to achieve their goal of winning state again. Team members were Hanna Hill, Tera Kraushaar, Teresa Steadman and Austin Slagle. Tera Kraushaar was the overall high individual.

The middle school horse judging team was made up of Maile McCumber, Jayssie Owsley, Kamryn Farrell, and Kaycee Stothart. This team was new to horse judging, but placed 3rd at the state contest.

Will Austin Slagel, Tera Kraushaar, Millie Johnson, and Teresa Steadman competed in the quizbowl and were tested on their knowledge of the FFA.

The environmental and natural resource team of Owen McCumber, Kale Odelle, Hadley Johnson and Chase Herring was tested on a wide range of subjects, from ENR problem solving, soil tests and profiles, air and water analysis, GPS use and waste management.

Cody Mayfield, Chase Herring, Simon Ream and Porter McCumber were members of the high school poultry judging team

The FFA Creed is recited by new members to reflect their growing belief in agriculture and agricultural education. The FFA Creed must be memorized and recited by freshmen for them to earn the Greenhand Degree, which is required for all FFA members. Some enjoy this and take it a step further to compete at district and regional speech. Tucker Lake, Kaia Galovich and Brooklyn Williams took that step this year. At districts, Tucker was first and Kaia was third which let them both move on to regionals. At regionals, Tucker was third and Kaia fourth, just short of qualifying for state.

Other FFA members competed in some very competitive speaking events. Lexi Overfield, Ruthanne, and Rebekah Johnson competed in extemporaneous speaking. At districts, Rebekah placed first, and Lexi placed fourth. Rebekah advanced to the regional contest, where she placed second, moving on to state, where she placed eighth.

Parliamentary Procedure and conduct of a chapter meeting are very similar contests, both are very intense contests that test a student's knowledge on parliamentary procedure and Robert's rules of order through a written test and a skit.

Thermopolis FFA members on the Parli Pro team were Rebekah Johnson, Ruthanne Johnson, Ally Taylor, Morgan Slover, Sydney Shaffer and Hallie Martinez. The Conduct of a Chapter Meeting team consisted of Tucker Lake, Porter McCumber, Kadance Bowman, Kaia Galovich, Jayda Griffin, Brooklyn Williams and Dazlynn Hunt. Both teams fell just short of being in the top six by placing seventh.

Emme Norsworthy competed in the Employment skills CDE. This contest is set up for a student to go through a series of interviews that simulate getting a job. She had to make and upload a resume, have interviews in person and on the phone,. This is highly competitive and is very hard to advance, but Emme made it to the semifinals.

A.M. Hartwig was the very first Ag teacher at Hot Springs County High School in 1938. In honor of his outstanding influence on the Hot Springs County High School Agriculture Education Program, the group recognized those individuals who have gone above and beyond to help out Thermopolis FFA members.

This year Wyatt Agar , Pat Cornwell, Hannah Brooks, Kati McCumber, Linda McCumber, Jessie Ream, Dennis Russel, Sadie Eckley and Jacob Chaloupka were honored.

Leadership pins were presented to middle school members Maile McCumber, seventh grade and Hayden Overfield, eighth grade.

For high school, leadership pins are awarded to one member of each class. Freshman Sydney Shaffer, sophomore Morgan Slover, junior: Hallie Martinez and senior Rebekah Johnson were recognised.

The FFA Alumni is a dedicated group of individuals that do amazing things for our Ag students. They fundraise and do community events to assist the chapter in going to conventions, contests, and other events. They also give out scholarships to our seniors to help them with their post-high school dreams. This year's scholarship winners were Eli Dickey, Emme Norsworthy and Rebekah Johnson.

Jason and Billie Jo Norsworthy, Betsy and Brian Johnson, Dr. Kevin and Sheri Dickey and Billie Mayfield were welcomed as honorary members into the FFA

The first degree an FFA member can receive is the Discovery degree. This year's winner, Tymber Echley, has shown leadership and growth over the past two years as a middle school FFA member.

Mr. Van Heule presented each FFA greenhand a sign that can be hung up at their house.

One outstanding freshman is honored each year as Star Greenhand. This year's winner, Tucker Lake, has competed in the creed contest, conduct a chapter meeting and run for a chapter office.

Star Chapter Farmer is the highest award the chapter can bestow on a members. This year's Star Chapter Farmer is Emme Norsworthy.

The new high school FFA officer team includes President Hallie Martinez, Vice President Cadence Steadman, Second Vice President Morgan Slover, Treasurer Sydney Shaffer, Secretary Lexi Overfield, Reporter Tucker Lake and Sentinal Hadley Johnson

New middle school FFA officers include President Maile McCumber, Vice President Kamryn Farrell, Second Vice President Jayssie Owsley, Secretary Ella Slover, Treasurer Ryan Axtell, Reporter Charlee Slagle, Sentinel Lainie Boren and Representative Chloee Owsley.

The 2020-2021 Annual Thermopolis FFA Banquet wrapped up with these words followed by the Pledge of Allegiance. "As we mingle with others, let us be diligent in labor, just in our dealings, courteous to everyone, and above all, honest and fair in the game of life."