Crookston FFA had great success at the 96th Minnesota FFA State Convention April 28th and April 29th.
On Monday, April 28, Crookston FFA had 37 students compete in nine Minnesota FFA state Career Development Events (CDEs). The ranking of teams and individuals is based on thirds. The top third of competitors would be considered gold, the middle third would be silver, and the bottom third of all competitors would be bronze. The results are as follows:
The members that competed in the Best Informed Greenhand Invitational placed 4th in the state! Best Informed Greenhand is an FFA and agriculture knowledge exam for 7th through 9th graders. This year, there were 75 teams in the event. Of 423 individuals, Lyla Oman tied for 11th and Asher Wieland tied for 17th. The team ranked gold. Team members ranking gold included: Lyla Oman, Asher Wieland, Isabella Cisneros, Nathan Pahlen, Brady Samuelson, Jacob Biermaier, and Emmagail Frantz. Rilynn Aubol ranked silver.
The members who competed in the Forestry CDE placed 6th out of 41 teams in the state. The Forestry CDE challenges members to learn about the Forest industry. They identify Minnesota tree species, wood samples, and tools, take a knowledge exam about the industry and management practices, identify tree diseases and pests, and do product scaling and timber cruising. Out of 148 individuals, Tessa Weber placed 12th and Leah Johanneck placed 16th. The team ranked gold. Tessa Weber, Leah Johanneck, and Isabel Pahlen were gold individuals. Michael Bochow ranked bronze.
The Agricultural Mechanics CDE challenges members in many areas, including welding, electrical, plumbing, construction, engines, and more. The contest includes knowledge examinations, hands-on components, and identification. The team placed 10th out of 39 teams. Individually, Ben Capistran placed 3rd out of 129 individuals. The team ranked gold. Individually, Ben ranked gold, Dylan Thode and Austin Thode ranked silver, and Axl Page ranked bronze.
The Agricultural Communications CDE has members attend a mock press conference, create a communications plan, and create content in different formats to share the story. The team placed 7th and ranked silver. Joslyn Wallace finished 10th out of 36.
Individually, Joslyn Wallace ranked gold, Taylor Wieland ranked silver, and Allysen Wagner and Catelyn Maruska ranked bronze.
The Milk Quality and Products CDE challenges members to learn about the dairy industry from production to marketing. Not only are they tested on their knowledge they need to be able to identify types of cheeses, simulated milk defects, and score samples of milk using the California Mastitis Test. The team ranked Silver. Emily Bowman, Sylvia Christensen, and Leia Parking individually ranked silver, and Rylee Anderson ranked bronze.
The Floriculture CDE challenges members to evaluate the merits of horticultural design and care. Members make an arrangement based on a theme, take a test on plant care and diseases, and identify plants used in the industry. The team ranked silver. Lillianna Bridgeford, Emilee Smith, and Nevayahlee Bruce individually ranked silver, and Elle Pierson ranked bronze.
The Horse Evaluation CDE has members who judge horses based on their breed-approved traits, give oral reasons, and identify tack used in the industry. Lana Peterson competed as an individual and ranked Silver.
The Companion Animal Science CDE challenges members to learn knowledge applicable for going into veterinary medicine, including breeds of companion animals, possible ailments, nutrition and care, muscle, skeletal, and body systems, and more. The team ranked bronze. Individually, Bailee Klinert ranked gold, Meliyah Moore ranked silver. Nashelle Tellez and Alexis Durham ranked bronze.
The Nursery Landscape CDE challenges the members to learn about landscape installation practices, design, maintenance, and the common plants used in Minnesota landscapes. The team ranked bronze. Addisyn Schiller and Cade Wisk ranked silver, and Madilyn Abrams and Jocelyn Johnson ranked bronze.
Out of the 220 FFA chapters in Minnesota, Crookston FFA earned 2nd place in the Agriculture Literacy Challenge. This award is given to a chapter that plans and initiates Agriculture Literacy projects throughout the year. Crookston FFA’s application focused on its booth at the county fair, activities during FFA week at the high school, and elementary agriculture lessons.
Crookston FFA earned a Silver National Chapter Award for the events that the Chapter Officers planned and facilitated throughout the year!
Crookston FFA had four members who earned their state degrees. Less than 10% of all Minnesota FFA members qualify and earn their State Degrees. To earn a State Degree Members must have taken two full years of high school agriculture courses, earned or invested $1000 into their SAE or worked 600 hours, volunteered at least 25 hours with at least two organizations, participate in at least 10 events above the chapter level, have a C average, and demonstrate 10 motions of parliamentary procedure. Emily Bowman, Ryan Street, and Michael Bochow were awarded state degrees.
Crookston FFA had three state runner-up proficiencies. Proficiency Awards are given based on written applications and hours worked in agricultural areas. Ben Capistran was the state runner-up in Grain Production Placement and Fiber Oil Entrepreneurship, and Emilee Smith was the state runner-up in Diverse Horticulture.
Each of the eight regions in Minnesota FFA has one Nominating Committee member for the Minnesota FFA state officer team. Addisyn Schiller applied and was chosen to be the Region 1 Nominating Committee member. She helped to decide the 2025-2026 Minnesota FFA State Officer Team.
The State Decree recipients – Emily Bowman, Michael Bochow, and Tessa Weber
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