Cambridge FFA Chapter Attends Idaho State Leadership Conference
On April 3 - 6, 2024, 24 members from the Cambridge FFA Chapter traveled to the campus of the College of Southern Idaho in Twin Falls, for the 93rd Annual State Leadership Conference themed “Beyond the Horizon”.
The members started by competing in the Poultry Career Development event. Team members included: Madalyn Reynolds, Kyle Crabtree, Asher Harley, and Bridger Miller. Members rate the finished product by evaluating and grading ready-to-cook carcasses and parts of chickens and turkeys, among other practicums. Hunter Hastie participated in the Agricultural Education invitational event. She was required to submit a lesson plan before the event and then present portions of the lesson in a “classroom” with students and judges. The floriculture team competed in preparing centerpieces, corsages, plant identification, problem-solving, and a written exam. Team members were Hunter Hastie, Haven Harley, Cloe Russell, and Madalyn Reynolds. The team placed 11th. Asher Harley also took the Conference Parliamentarian Exam.
The convention started Wednesday evening with keynote speaker National FFA President Amara Jackson from Michigan. There were 1,750 members registered for this year’s convention. Thursday morning, eight members, Ridge Loveland, Jack Papineau, Easton Hastie, Audry Winkles, Emma Ford, Kyle Crabtree, Shawn Snedaker, and Madalyn Reynolds, attended a tour of Niagara Springs Fish Hatchery, which is owned and financed by Idaho Power, but operated and staffed by Idaho Department of Fish and Game. Members also served as Courtesy Corp members throughout the events: Audry Winkles, Hope Harrison, Addi McKee-Barton, Brady Dion, Asher Harley, Madison Gerlock, and Quinn Hoskin. Wyatt Moura and Hailey Kindall served as the Cambridge FFA Chapter delegates, with Wyatt serving as the POA - Program of Activities Committee chairperson. MacKee Nichols participated in the Agriscience Fair. The afternoon and evening were scheduled for two more convention sessions. Mrs. Nichols was recognized as the 2023-2024 Western Idaho District Advisor. Zane Nichols was awarded an Idaho FFA Foundation J.A. Wedum Foundation scholarship for $2,000.
Friday morning, Zane Nichols was recognized as the Western Idaho District Star Farmer based on his Supervised Agricultural Experience program. In addition, six members of the chapter were awarded their State FFA Degrees: Zane Nichols, Hunter Hastie, Haven Harley, Cloe Russell, Shawn Snedaker, and Mackenzie Sprague. These members began the application process at the beginning of the year, submitting their State Degree application and passing an FFA Knowledge and Parliamentary Procedure test.
Friday afternoon, the chapter was awarded the National Chapter Award, which is an application based on chapter activities in Growing Leaders, Building Communities, and Strengthening Agriculture. This application will continue to the national level. Hunter Hastie won the State Proficiency Award in Agricultural Sales for her SAE of non-paid placement in the Cambridge FFA Floral Shop. Hunter completed an application and went through an interview process. Zane Nichols won the State Proficiency Award for Beef Production Entrepreneurship, based upon his SAE of his cattle herd. He, too, applied and went through an interview. These awards will also advance to the national level. Also in this session, MacKee Nichols and Eric Loveland also won the State Agriscience Award for Food Products and Processing, Division 2, for their research on different egg substitutes that may be used when baking. This project will advance for national judging.
The Cambridge FFA Officers rounded out the session with the officers participating in the talent portion of the convention with their “Roaring 20’s” dance choreographed by and taught by alumni member Melanie Mosekian. The members then participated in an Idaho FFA Day of Service. They learned about the Jae Foundation and the “Boot Check” events to focus on and assist individuals with mental health struggles. Each member wrote notes of encouragement and made friendship bracelets. Members rounded out the night attending the convention dance.
On Saturday morning, members attended the conference’s final session, which was marked by the presentation of the POA committee report by committee chair Wyatt Moura and Hailey Kindall’s recognition for her efforts in putting together the chapter scrapbook.
Cambridge FFA members and advisors sincerely thank the school administration, our incredible alumni, parents, and fellow FFA members from across the state for making this a terrific leadership experience. We are excited to finish out the 2024 school year.
