The Hermiston FFA Chapter returned from a busy and successful weekend at the Oregon State FFA Convention.
After two years of COVID-forced virtual conventions, the event returned to its in-person format and the HHS chapter competed in front of over 3,000 members, advisers, and guests from around the state and nation.
Chapter Advisers Sandy McKay and Brianna Gilman escorted 24 students to the Deschutes County Fair & Expo Center in Redmond for four days of competition, workshops, delegate business meetings, and memory-making. At the state convention, members were also recognized for their accomplishments, further developed career and leadership skills, and earned the privilege of representing Oregon at the national level in multiple events. And, for the third time in recent years, a Hermiston FFA member was elected to serve as the Oregon FFA State vice president.
To earn an FFA State Degree, recipients must demonstrate the highest level of effort applied toward their Supervised Agricultural Experience projects, outstanding leadership abilities, and exhibit community involvement throughout their FFA careers. Members awarded their State Degrees this year were Hector Leal, Kylie Temple, Paige Bolen, Grant Hills, and Abigail Conner.
Ainsley McCann, an HHS ninth-grade student, led off the State Creed Speaking contest as the first speaker in the event. Ainsley’s flawless performance set the bar high. She earned first place on the judges’ scorecards and a trip to compete at the national convention this fall in Indianapolis. McCann set herself apart from the crowd by answering the question ‘How would she alter the FFA Creed?’ In her response, she described how the document could be enhanced by including a reference to agriculturists’ influence beyond the local area to also include the entire country and throughout the world. McCann is coached by longtime supporters of the program, Chuck and Bonnie Miller.
Marketing Plan students Helen Cooley, Annikah Perez, and McCann placed in the top 10 with their marketing plan developed for HHS’s student-run concession business, Java Dawg. Through this experience, the students gained experience as speakers, polished presentation skills, and learned about marketing a business. Cooley will graduate this spring, but Perez and McCann are already talking about topics for next year.
Extemporaneous Speaker Alexis Leathers placed in the top eight with her speech on the supply chain. Leathers presented a speech jammed full of research and stories from industry members she had previously interviewed in preparation for the contest. The Extemporaneous Public Speaking contest requires students to research 30 topics from one broad category. At the competition, topics are drawn from the potential list at random, and students then have 30 minutes to create a 4-6 minute speech and present it to a panel of judges. Leathers was also called back to the stage a short time later to be awarded the prestigious H.S. Gibson Memorial Scholarship.
Kylie Temple competed in the Job Interview contest, where she was interviewed by a panel of judges consisting of business leaders, industry insiders, and FFA alumni. The contest consists of multiple rounds of competition. Following the first round on Thursday, Temple was one of six competitors who advanced onto the next round. In the second round, Temple completed six intense one-on-one interviews, where she earned nearly perfect marks on her way to winning the state competition and moving on to compete at the national convention this fall.
Also winning a state title and advancing to compete in Indianapolis in October was the Conduct of Chapter Meetings team. This team of seven students conducted a mock chapter meeting to demonstrate knowledge of basic parliamentary law and the use of correct parliamentary procedures. The team consists of HHS ninth-grade students Elle Blakely, Amy Armstrong, Cozette Cooley, Addison Garberg, Jaydan McKim, Payton Howard, and Alexis Castillo. These members advanced through multiple levels of competition to reach this point with support from alumni Kennidy Baker. Adviser Sandy McKay points out that this is the inaugural year for the contest in Oregon, making this group the only team that has ever earned this title in Oregon.
To top off Hermiston FFA’s success, HHS Senior Grant Hills was elected to serve as the 2022-23 Oregon FFA State Vice President. Officer candidates undergo a grueling three days of interviews, followed by a general election by delegates representing each of the FFA chapters in Oregon. Hills will put his college plans on hold for one year to represent the Oregon FFA Association. This is both a huge accomplishment and commitment from an outstanding young man who continues to show extraordinary leadership skills.
Those advancing to the national competition will join the Food Science Team, which previously earned its ticket to Indianapolis in competitions held earlier in the year.
“The advisor team at Hermiston High School could not be more proud of the chapter’s accomplishments this year and especially at the state convention,” said co-adviser Sandy McKay. “We are truly blessed to have such amazing students to work with and unwavering support from our school and community.”
