TORRINGTON – To finish months and months of hard work, preparation and finally execution, all the effort proved to pay off for numerous Torrington-Lingle Future Farmers of America (FFA) Chapter members, who will be headed to the National Conference held in Indianapolis, Indiana in November.

The FFA members from the area headed to the Cheyenne State Convention, early last Wednesday, April 19, to present their projects and presentations, which lasted all through Saturday, April 22.

Three category participants were able to convince the judges that their work was good enough to merit Career Development Event (CDE) first place finishes. This qualifies them to now move on to the National Conference in the fall. 

The members that ended up taking first, within their respective categories would be Kaleb and Connor Booth, Sam Birdsall and Louden Bremer, all in the Livestock Evaluation category.

Second, in the Marketing Plan category, would be Carleigh Dugger, Klacie Groene and Addy Scott who were able to take home first as well.

Finally, in the Agronomy category, again Klacie Groene, Natalie Speckner, Addison Hansen and Holly Leiseth were named CDE champions. All will be headed to the National FFA Expo at the Indiana Convention Center.

Each student was graciously proud, excited, and humble about their most recent achievement as part of the program, as Torrington High School (THS) junior Connor Booth explained.

“It just feels good to finally get this opportunity, after spending all the long hours learning and working to achieve these goals.”

His peers agreed as well. For seniors Klacie Groene and Carleigh Dugger, going back a second time, in two events for Groene, is certainly a learning experience, and something to be proud of.

“I’m pretty excited,” Klacie said. “Not a lot of people get to qualify for Nationals in two events, especially two years in a row.”

Dugger agreed, and had more to add, along with peer and THS senior Dylan Packard. They not only emphasized the importance of honing their FFA skills and knowledge, but getting a chance to meet new people that shared those same goals and aspirations.

“I’m very excited I’m going back a second time,” Dugger explained. “My peers and I got the opportunity to walk across that stage for our category. That’s very hard to do. It tests your knowledge, and we didn’t expect to walk across the stage. You’re able get close to your chapter, after four days being with your chapter, and learn a lot from each other. I loved making new friends and taking opportunities that I never thought I could do. I also enjoyed the dance that was presented at the competition.”

“The experience just to meet new people from different places, learn about their lives and how different the world is from Torrington,” Packard added.

The students showed humility in their accomplishments and emphasized that although they were able to achieve something great here in their home state, there was a mutual understanding that the competition will be much harder at Nationals, and there is still room for improvement.

“It’s way more competitive, and there’s going to be a lot more that goes into preparing,” Klacie said. “You compete with the best of the best on a national level.”

Booth was also aware that to compete at a national level, the essentials for hard work and dedication can’t be overlooked.

“The goal is to win, or be in the top four even,” Booth said. “[To] bring it on home, it would just be an honor to bring home a National Championship. The 2013 team from here was able to win, and the goal is to match that. But there’s going to be lot of long, late nights again. Staying up working until about nine o’clock. It always depends on everyone’s schedule.”

As improvement goes from an experienced leadership standpoint, Dugger took responsibility and was honest. She proceeded to share a goal she wished to improve on when she enters the National Expo in Indianapolis.

“Personally, I would like to improve my trust in my teammates,” Dugger said. “I always have a habit of taking control. I need to work on that.” 

Dugger also pointed out that the Marketing Category, in which she competes and took home first, still has some small kinks she believes can be worked out, and made even better.

“We also need to work on our vocabulary,” Dugger explained. “There’re certain glossary words that come straight out of their book, and we have to know them word for word. We’ve been studying very hard on that.”

Full results for the Torrington-Lingle FFA Chapter, as part of the Wyoming FFA State Convention are listed as followed, and were provided by Torrington-Lingle FFA advisor Jason Groene.  

Agronomy – High Team Overall (State Champions), High Team in Soils, High Team in Entomology and Grain Grading, High Team in Test, second High Team in Weed, Seed, and Forage Identification, Natalie Speckner – Reserve Champion, Individual Overall – Holly Leiseth, third High Individual Overall – Addie Hansen – fifth High Individual Overall – Klacie Groene – eighth High Individual Overall.

Marketing Plan – High Team Overall (State Champions) – Klacie Groene, Carleigh Dugger, Addy Scott, Livestock Evaluation – High Team Overall (State Champions), High Team in Oral Reasons, High Team in Beef, High Team in Sheep, High Team in Female Selection, second High Team in Swine, Kaleb Booth – third High Individual Overall, third High Oral Reasons, Louden Bremer fourth High Individual Overall, Sam Birdsall – ninth High Individual Overall, Connor Booth – 10th High Individual Overall. The boys finished with 93% accuracy over 3,000 points.

Employment Skills – Klacie Groene – third High Overall

Jr. High Meats – third High Team Overall, Carter Groene – eighth High Individual, Carter Hendricks, Drew Kramer, Nathan Lira

Jr. High Poultry – third High Team Overall, Addie Hager, Aftyn Hager, Taelor Cushman, Charlotte Speckner – fourth High Individual Overall

Jr. High Livestock – fourth High Team Overall, Carter Groene – fourth High Individual Overall – Drew Kramer, Nathan Lira, Trinity Martin

Farm Business Management – fourth High Team Overall, Team Activity – High Team – Sam Birdsall, Sarah Birdsall, Teryn Stokes, Natalie Speckner

Poultry Evaluation – fifth High Team Overall, Anna Frederick –fifth High Individual, Kenzie Wilkins – ninth High Individual, Hadley Wilkins, Grace Kelly

Environmental and Natural Resources – fifth High Team Overall, Carleigh Dugger, Kassidy Hurley, Hope Hager, Colter McFarlin.

Parliamentary Procedure – fifth High Team Overall, Sarah Birdsall, Ivy Palfy, Jaycee Hurley, Zoe Hoff, Teryn Stokes, Wittni Bugher.