Havre High School FFA returns from nationals

Havre High School's year-old Future Farmers of America chapter attended the 96th Annual National FFA Convention and Expo in Indianapolis this month, giving agriculture students an opportunity to network and build leadership skills.

Havre High School Agriculture Teacher and FFA Chapter Advisor Saralyn Standley said the event had more than 70,000 students from across the U.S., and while her chapter didn't do any competitions, they were able to attend workshops and go to information sessions that allowed them to connect with fellow students passionate about agriculture.

FFA member and HHS senior Reinhard Bold said he was able to make a lot of connections just being there.

"I wanted to be part of it," Bold said, " ... That was pretty cool, to see 70,000 kids all wearing blue and gold down there."

Fellow FFA member and senior Clara Haslem said she was able to connect with people as well, and that has opened up new possibilities for what they might be able to do in the future.

"I think a lot of it gave us the confidence that like, 'Oh my gosh, we can actually compete next year,'" she said.

Haslem said her favorite part of the event was working on local service projects for National Days of Service.

"It was great to get out into the city and help out any way we could," she said.

As for Bold, he said the trade show was his favorite part of the event, and connecting with organizations like Welker Farms of Shelby, who were at the event.

He said it was interesting to see all of the organizations and companies that grew out of FFA and learn about its history.

He said his takeaway message from the event was a sense of unity among the thousands of people passionate about agriculture there.

Standley said this sense of unity was a big part of the event and she thinks the event was a success for all the students who went, hearing good messages and making connections that will help them grow as leaders, messages and connections they can bring back and share with those who didn't go.

She said it was also great to give students and opportunity to travel, as some haven't had too many chances to do so.

"Taking them to a big city and having some of those experiences was really cool, and I think seeing the full scope of what FFA is, what it looks like in other states, and just seeing so many members across the United States that have the same passion as they do about agriculture was really great," she said.

Bold and Haslem said going someplace new was a great experience, but Bold said it was a lot to take in at times.

"It was big," he said, "a lot of people. I can say that I was kind of happy to be home."

Standley said none of the students engaged in any of the competitions this year, but they will have an opportunity to see what it's like later this week as they attend Ag Expo in Bozeman.

She said Ag Expo is a bit like a pre-season game for FFA competition, giving students an opportunity to see what it is like without being ranked for state or national competition.

In addition to attending workshops and further developing their leadership skills, she said, students will be competing in 16 different categories and her goal is to see a few teams place in the state top five and some individuals place in the state top 10.

Bold said he will be competing in range agronomy, sales and mechanics, and Clara Haslem said she will be competing in floraculture, agronomy and soils.

Haslem said she's hoping they can connect with some younger FFA members, who are often still figuring out what they want to and like to do.