TORRINGTON – Jason Groene, to those who may not be familiar, is the current Torrington High School (THS) Agriculture instructor, as well as the Future Farmers of America (FFA) Advisor for the Torrington/Lingle chapter. 

Groene originally grew up in Winfield, Kansas, but been teaching in Wyoming for nearly over 20 years, 17 being right here in Torrington. 

After recently being able to hold a very successful fundraiser Saturday evening at the Torrington Rendezvous center, Groene is now focusing on the upcoming Wyoming FFA State convention. He and his members will be participating this week Cheyenne. The competition will commence promptly at 9:30 a.m. Wednesday, April 19, and will conclude Saturday, April 22.

Groene sat in his classroom after school Monday afternoon, along with wife Kelly, to discuss more about the goals his FFA program hopes to achieve this week at the convention.

“After school there’s quite a few agriculture students, and FFA members, that stay to study and participate even more. It’s a great way for them to practice honing their public speaking.” Groene began.

When asked what the goals and expectations for this year’s State Convention were, Groene responded without a second thought.

“We want to win the overall sweepstakes”, Groene said. “It’s a very prestigious event. They take out the 16 developmental career events, with your best five placing, then add that together and the [best] score wins.” 

The last victory the chapter had was in 2009 at the State Convention. After having placed in consistent competitive standings for the last several years, Groene and his FFA members are ready for a win. 

“We won in 09, and we’ve been in the top five every year since. Last year we were the runner up, the year before we were the runner up. That’s [involving] every FFA chapter that’s eligible, and there will be four more chapters this year along with some middle schoolers. There are a total of 60 chapters in the state. That’s from the largest high school in the state down to the smallest in the state. We are all together and there are no classes. Very competitive, very prestigious. When you win that cup up there, that’s a very prestigious deal.”

The various events the members will be completing in are vast, and incredibly competitive. 

The events the members are entered in consist of livestock evaluation, technology, poultry evaluation, horse evaluation, agronomy, marketing plans, agriculture mechanics and technology, farm and agriculture business management, agricultural sales, environmental and natural resources, parliamentary procedure, employment skills and finishing with the green hand quiz bowl.

Groene is confident and convinced his students will represent the FFA, and themselves well in the upcoming convention. His hopes in them does not stop there, however. He and his family also have all the confidence in them future-wise, with everything they’ve learned in years to come.

“When our kids go out into the world, we want them to be ready for that world and reality,
Groene said. “We try to strive to put that belief into them. They are all highly intelligent. One particular student [of mine] has a very sound financial mind. All of our young ladies, can all do just so much.”

Groene advocates an open and inclusive approach to leading the FFA program here in Goshen County, and would like to see more and more participants each year.

“This fall we had 228 enrolled on the first day of school between here and Lingle. And we have 70 of those that are active FFA members. How many would do you think we’ve graduated though this program? If you took the overall agriculture kids, maybe 10 to 12 a year. We’d always like to see that number go up.” 

“If you look at the student body population in Torrington and Lingle, with 400 kids between the two, if we have 70 of those in FFA, and 228 enrolled in agriculture class, we have over a quarter of the kids go through the program. It’s something that everyone should come and experience.”

Groene’s wife Kelly is also hopeful and encouraged by the students that have already gone on to have success.

“They are highly sought after for schools and scholarships,” Mrs. Groene explained. “It’s fun to watch the kids who graduated ten years ago, [working] in their professions now, with their families, to see the skills they’ve taken with them and how they’re using them. I think it’d be fun for more parents to become involved.”

A former student, and current THS educator, Sabrina Juma, was also available for comment, and has fond memories of her time in the FFA chapter, as well as having Groene as a teacher and mentor.

“It was awesome, and I loved every bit of it,” Juma proclaimed. “I was a student and member, and loved it enough that I’m back, being a teacher at the school now.”

Juma still considers Groene a teacher and mentor, offering help and advice whenever needed. 

“I still get taught by Mr. Groene, just in a different way.” Juma added.

When asked what she would say to a student who was shy, or hesitant about joining FFA, or looking into studying agriculture, Juma responded convincingly.

“I would say it may be the best thing for you. They tend to learn and blossom. Another thing I would say, without agriculture, we would be homeless and hungry. Being here you can learn about things that involve everybody. You don’t have be raised on a farm, or ranch to learn and appreciate agriculture. A majority of our members do not even live on ranches or farms.”

One thing could certainly be argued after seeing Groene give so many after-school students he and his family’s personal time. 

With such an inclusive mindset, along with the drive to see students of all backgrounds succeed, if the world had more teachers like Jason Groene, the better off the world may be.