Eleven students from Niobrara County High School represented Rawhide FFA at the 2018 Wyoming State FFA Convention April 21 in Cheyenne. 

Three Rawhide FFA chapter teams walked across the 2018 Wyoming State FFA Convention stage in Cheyenne April 21 to gather their respective second, third, and fourth place ribbons with erupting cheers that awoke the student sitting behind them. In its two year lifetime, Rawhide FFA has competed at the state level both years, however, this was the first year chapter members placed in their respective competitions. 

“I was very pleased with how we competed,” said Jason Hubbard, Rawhide FFA chapter advisor. “We got eight out of the 11 kids we took across the stage which is unheard of in the second year of having the program.”

Freshman Abby Kottwitz led the Greenhand Quiz Bowl team with a second place title in high scoring individuals. Her teammates, freshmen Bryn Bruch and Riley Shaw, placed 32nd and 70th, respectively. 

Abby also competed as one member of the horse evaluation team which placed third overall in performance classes; the other team members were juniors Peyton Kottwitz, Kylie Strauch, and Sadie Sturman.

Competitors are required to place classes of horses based on breed and gender. Students then decipher top horses that are conformationally correct, having straight legs, balance, and structure. 

The agricultural technology and mechanical systems team, seniors Trisha Hales and Cole Mellott, juniors Clayton Williams and Pacen Gifford, grasped fourth overall in their competition. “We put in some long days, and a lot of effort but getting fourth in mechanics was a very big accomplishment, so in the end it was all worth it,” Clayton said. 

For the competition the members have to solve problems, have an understanding of modern technology and have the ability to function as individuals and as team members.

Representing environmental and natural resources were Hales, Peyton, sophomore Allison Williams, and Abby; the livestock evaluation team consisted of Strauch, Clayton, Sturman, and Peyton. 

“Livestock judging was the most competitive of all the events that I participated in,” Strauch said. “The horse judging, meats judging, and veterinary science were also very, very competitive because there were 110 plus FFA members in each event from most of the schools in the state.” 

Strauch was the only competitor in Rawhide FFA who competed in meats evaluation, in which she had to rank different cuts of meats based on cut ability and quality. Hales, Strauch, Allison, and sophomore Rylee Matthews comprised the veterinary science team, in which they identified instruments that are used in the practice as well as identify animals. 

As primarily younger classmen, most of the Rawhide FFA members will have the opportunity to compete at future state and national events. In addition, Sturman got to leave 2018 Wyoming State FFA Convention with a vivid memory of seeing “ the sea of blue jackets and listening to [officers’] retiring addresses.” 

Rawhide FFA chapter will commence their 2017-2018 year with a spring banquet May 4 at 6 p.m.

“We will recognize our team members as well as the members for earning their FFA degrees,” Hubbard said. “Along with the dinner and awards, we will have a silent auction of projects the members built in ag class.” 

Members will also make an appearance at the Ag Expo May 21 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Niobrara County Fairgrounds.