Results are in from the 2008 FFA Convention

By DALE HILDEBRANT, Farm & Ranch Guide
Thursday, June 19, 2008 1:43 PM CDT

FARGO, N.D. - The campus of North Dakota State University was teeming with the “blue & gold” as hundreds of FFA students from across the state gathered in Fargo for their 79th State Convention.

This annual event was held on June 2-6 and centered around the theme - “Blue Jackets - Bright Futures.”

The assembly allowed for competition in dozens of areas, between both individuals and the chapters across the state and those in attendance elected a new slate of officers for the 2008-2009 year.

New state officers

President - Darin Spelhaug, Wyndmere

Secretary - Levi Hall, Berthold

Northwest Region Vice President - Anna Moss, Kenmare

Southwest Region Vice President - Aaron Steckler, Mandan

Southeast Region Vice President - Robert Vallie, Richland 44

Northeast Region Vice President - Tyrell Martin, Killdeer

Ambassador - Andrew Young, Napoleon

Star Finalists selected

Through competition, Star Finalists were chosen in four areas - State Star Farmer, Star in Agribusiness, Star in Placement, and Star in Agri-science, with the following results:

€ Star Farmer - Paul Rice, Maddock. Paul is an important part of the 4500 acre Rice family farm near Maddock where they produce wheat, barley, corn, soybeans and pinto beans. Paul raises various crops on his own 250 acres and helps in all other farming operations with his parents John and Barbara Rice.

Paul recently received his small plane private operation license, and he plans to continue his flying interests as a member of the ROTC along with his agriculture degree studies at NDSU.

His FFA activities include Dairy Foods Career Development Event competition, Chorus, and Parliamentary Procedure Career Development Event, and he has served as chapter treasurer and vice president. His FFA advisor is Gary Wald.

In addition to Paul, other finalists for this award included Troy Brunn, Lisbon; Emily Lasher, McClusky; and Ben Tokach, Mandan.

€ Star of Ag Placement - Nicholas Priewe, Wyndmere. Nicholas' Supervised Agricultural Experience (SAE) program began with his own lawn mowing business - mowing for the Wyndmere School. He then gained employment at Oak Valley Growers, a turkey farm just down the road from his home. His work ethic and dependability made him a very valuable employee that earned the respect of the farm's management team.

With the closing of the turkey farm, Nicholas found employment at the Randy Quam ranch where he assists in the management of his 500 commercial cow herd.

Nick has participated in Livestock, Ag Mechanics, Horse, and Demonstration Career Development Events (CDE), and he served as Wyndmere chapter president in 2007-08. He also led his officer team to participate in the National Parliamentary Procedure CDE in Indianapolis in 2007. His parents are Robert and Carol Priewe and his FFA Advisor is Scott Thiel.

Besides Nicholas, other finalists included Ryan Grady, Gackle-Streeter; Matthew Mitskog, Richland 44 and Matthew Sprenger, Wyndmere.

€ Star in Agribusiness - Cooper Tonneson, Granville. Starting with 2 hives of honeybees as an eighth-grade student, Cooper has expanded his beekeeping operation to 16 hives which he maintains each summer. His hives travel to California in the winter months to pollinate almonds with his mentors at “Volks' Honey” of Minot.

Cooper also owns a small herd of registered brown Swiss dairy and commercial beef cattle. He also works many hours of farm placement at home and for neighbors. He has served as chapter sentinel and has competed in Parliamentary Procedure and Livestock Selection CDE.

His parents are Terry and Pam Tonneson of rural Towner, and his FFA Advisor is Jeff Hagel.

Isaac Sondrol, Turtle Lake-Mercer, Torie Krull, Richland 44 and Randy Bittner, Center were the other finalists in the competition.

€ Star in Agri-Science - Kimberly Randle, Maddock. Kimberly is an active member of the Maddock A.S. Gibbens FFA Chapter, and she has a variety of SAE activities including working as a lifeguard at the Maddock swimming pool, selling sweet corn, operating her own lawn care service, and volunteering for the Maddock Ambulance Service.

She has completed two major agriscience projects including “The Effects of Hydrogen Peroxide on Seed Germination” in 2005 and “The Comparison of Psychotropic Proteo-lytic Bacteria in Cheese” in 2006. Her 2006 project was selected as the State Fair Food Science - Agriscience Fair Champion in 2007.

Her FFA activities include Dairy Foods Career Development Event, Quiz, and State FFA Band and Choir. Her parents are Wayne and Diane Randle and her FFA advisor is Gary Wald.

A fellow student at Maddock A.S. Gibbens FFA Chapter, Courtney Foss, was the other finalist in the competition.

A complete list of this year's convention winners and photos from the event can be found on the FFA Foundation Website at: http://www.ndffafoundation.com/

stateconv08/CDE.htm.

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