Culbertson Hosts FFA Career Development Events
Ators, Anderson Place High In Floriculture
Nine area schools competed for top honors during two FFA career and leadership development events at the old armory in Culbertson Monday, Jan. 20. CDEs develop college and career readiness skills. The competitive events serve as an outgrowth of instruction in the agricultural education classroom for FFA members in grades seven to 12.
Students from Plentywood, Froid, Bainville, Culbertson, Fairview, Hinsdale, Opheim, Lambert and Richey took part in two events: agricultural sales and floriculture.
The sales CDEs were held in the morning, with Opheim’s Cole Taylor taking first place in the individual standings. He was followed by Fairview’s Ashley Karst in second place and Zach Fauth (Opheim) in third. Bainville’s Violet Azure tied with Plentywood’s Jesse Clawson for fourth place.
Opheim won first place in the team standings for sales. Fairview followed in second, with Plentywood in third and Bainville and Richey in fourth and fifth places respectively. Culbertson came in sixth place and Froid placed ninth.
In the floriculture individual event, Hinsdale’s Elise Strommen placed first, followed by Culbertson’s Ashtyn Ator in second, Plentywood’s Sarah Hagan in third, Alicyn Ator (Culbertson) in fourth and Bainville’s Michah Anderson in fifth.
Patti Moss Armbrister coached Hinsdale to a win in the floriculture team event. Culbertson placed second, Bainville came in third and Froid placed ninth, followed by Medicine Lake in 10th place.
“Overall, I feel the CDEs went very well,” said Bainville ag ed teacher Kellen Standley. “There were no major issues and the event was very competitive across the board. I know that many of the students in attendance had a great opportunity to learn new information in addition to showing what they know.”
The next district FFA event will be held in Sidney (hosted by Fairview) on Feb. 10, and will feature district leadership CDEs, including prepared speaking, extemporaneous speaking, creed speaking, star greenhand, parliamentary procedure and farm and agribusiness management.
“We will also present our sweepstakes awards there for the top individuals and chapters overall this year,” said Standley.
“I was very impressed with our chapter president, Violet Azure, finishing in the middle of the pack for floriculture,” said Standley. “She went in with zero training and volunteered to compete before we left this morning so they’d have a full team and she held her own, which was awesome.”
CDEs give student the chance to try out ag careers
