The Yelm High School FFA team made a good showing at the state competition with one team placing first and a Yelm senior selected to attend the national convention.
For the first time since 2019, Tornados hit the road for an extended stay at Washington State University (WSU) for the FFA State Convention, with 38 students participating from May 8 through May 12.
Yelm FFA Advisor Kyle Johnson said the experiences students had this year in Pullman were “vastly improved” from previous years.
“This was the first year FFA state convention was held at WSU in quite a few years, which meant most students have never had the opportunity to visit WSU and see the true potential of how exciting state convention can be,” Johnson said. “The students who attended this year came out with many great successes, accomplishments and memories. I truly believe this provided them with an experience that fosters a deep passion for actively participating in FFA.”
During the trip, Yelm students Tristan Waters, Myah Hernandez, Katelyn Wisniewski, Taylor Curzon and Kai Lewis took first place in the F.A.R.M For Kids event, which challenges FFA members to educate elementary students on the importance of agriculture, according to WashingtonFFA.org.
During the convention, YHS student Kyla Poland was selected to represent the state of Washington at the FFA National Convention in Indianapolis, Indiana, Oct. 23 through Oct. 26. AJ Carney also ran for state office during the state convention and made it into the top 10.
Yelm’s veterinary sciences team, featuring Kyla Poland, Maile Poland, Kolton Nash and Jaden Hernandez, took fifth place in Pullman. Tornados Eagan Wall, Liberty Manley, Liv Silva, Curzon and Lewis took seventh place in the milk-quality and food-processing competition.
Yelm’s farm-business management competition team, featuring Brody Mounts, Mara Ottman, Aliannah Tyler, Eneida Contrearas and Taylar Avega, also took seventh place. Finishing in eighth place was Yelm’s conduct of chapter meetings team, which included Natalee Erkelens, Safiyah Kamal, Mariah Gibson, Evelynn Courneya, Jada Katona and Kurtis Westlund.
Matt Mounts, longtime Yelm FFA advisor, believes the state convention in Pullman allows program members to showcase the skills they’ve been honing throughout their tenure in the Tornados chapter.
“This convention gives students an opportunity to improve their leadership skills and put their skills to work as they participate in leadership and career development events that they have been practicing all year,” he said.
Yelm FFA participants in Pullman also competed in first-year member, food science and technology, agriculture sales, parliamentary procedure, agriculture communication and FFA creed competitions.
Aside from preparing for the competition at WSU, Johnson said that members had an abundance of different opportunities and events on campus.
“Students had the opportunity to attend numerous leadership workshops, tour the campus, learn about local agriculture, learn about local agricultural businesses and industries, participate in community service opportunities, build friendships with students from other schools across the state,” Johnson said. “Those lucky enough had the chance to check out WSU’s creamery, Ferdinand’s, to eat some fresh made cheese and ice cream.”
Up next for Yelm’s FFA Chapter will be the officer election process, and the end of the year awards banquet at 5:30 p.m. Thursday, May 30. According to Mounts, members will have several hands-on learning opportunities in the summer, along with program participation in the Thurston County Fair.
