Students recognized for outstanding achievements

At their November meeting, the Hot Springs County School Board brought the livestock judging team of the Thermopolis FFA Chapter in for a round of recognition, after their outstanding performance at the American Royal in Kansas City, Missouri, this fall.

On Oct. 16, the Thermopolis FFA members found themselves representing the entire state of Wyoming across the nation, as the livestock judging team placed fourth in the country, then came in second in the “reasons” class — for the oral reasons they were able to supply for judging various classes and species of animals — with only a Texas FFA team beating them.

Team members are Taylor Agar, Rylee Agar, Tymber Eckley and Hayden Overfield.

Thermopolis FFA faculty advisors deemed it “a great showing for kids from our community,” and lauded those students for “the work they’re putting in” to such demanding extracurriculars.

Faculty also commended the Thermopolis FFA horse judging team, which they noted is “really building up (with) a lot of freshmen,” and who also competed this fall, in the Oct. 13-21 Northern International Livestock Exposition, or “NILE,” at Billings, Montana,

Team members are Kamryn Farrell, Kaycee Stothart, Maile McCumber and Mesa Longwell.

Farrell ranked third overall in the individual senior FFA horse category, out of 131 kids in the West Nationals.

Farrell was the highest-placing Wyoming student to compete at NILE, while the all-freshman team from Thermopolis placed 14th overall out of 36 chapters in the NILE team senior FFA horse category.

“Doing well on reasons is tough,” Hot Springs County School Board Vice-Chair Will Farrell said. “It was one of the toughest things I ever had to do in FFA, was give reasons; very, very difficult.”

Morgan Slover was then called forward to receive a Good Sportsmanship award from the Wyoming High School Activities Association, after WHSAA Commissioner Ron Laird received a recommendation from match officials for the “exemplary conduct” Slover demonstrated during the Thermopolis volleyball match on Oct. 14.

“Sportsmanship is a goal that all our coaches and athletes should have, as they participate in activities,” Laird wrote. “I am pleased to hear that your students and coaches understand the true meaning of participation. Please extend my appreciation and congratulations to Morgan for joining the ride, by demonstrating respect, Integrity, dedication and encouragement.”

According to the officials and table workers at that afternoon’s game, Slover and a girl on the competing team, who was also awarded, “played hard for their teams and encouraged others around them every match.”