State FFA students highlight successes at state convention

BROOKINGS, S.D. – A sea of blue and gold will converge in Brookings this weekend as 2,200 state FFA members gather to celebrate their accomplishments and showcase their career development skills at the 94th annual South Dakota State FFA Convention.

The convention will be held April 24-26 on the South Dakota State University campus.

Allison Ogden, a sophomore at Sturgis Brown High School is excited to demonstrate her skills and hard work at this year’s convention.  She will be competing with her teammates in the Agriculture Business Management competition.

The competition consists of a 90-question test consisting of three parts – math, vocabulary, and key concepts.  Winners at the state competition will go on to compete at the National FFA Convention held each fall in Indianapolis, Indiana.

“We take balance sheets or net worth statements and examine them and have to answer questions about it,” said Ogden.

Ogden, who has not grown up with a background in agriculture is in her second year in agriculture education, an elective for high school students.  She currently serves as the chapter’s Student Advisor.

“The variety of skills that it teaches you can be used in the real world and is more applicable opposed to some of our other classes. FFA is so much more than just agriculture.  It teaches you a variety of important skills like public speaking and leadership.”

Ogden said she has made many friends through FFA and reconnecting with them is what she looks forward to most about the state convention.

Students will compete in career development competitions in agriculture business management, ag communications, agriculture technology and mechanical systems, agronomy, dairy cattle evaluation, floriculture, food science and technology, horse evaluation, livestock evaluation, meats evaluation, milk and milk products evaluation, natural resources, nursery and landscape, range plant identification and veterinary science.

Throughout the three-day convention, students will also participate in a Career Carnival with exhibits from 50 industry leaders and colleges, package meals for Meals of Hope that will be provided to Feeding South Dakota, and attend leadership workshops and awards ceremonies.

All of the award sessions will be broadcast live right here on ConnectCenter1.tv .