Several Yelm High School FFA program members punched their tickets to the FFA state convention in Pullman, Washington, after YHS hosted the annual district leadership contest on Wednesday, March 20.
Matt Mounts, FFA adviser and agriculture teacher at YHS, said 11 different schools came to compete in one of eight different contests at the event. He added that some programs came from as far away as Lake Washington and North Kitsap.
“I think hosting this event is pretty important to our program. Not only does it give the community and some of our administrative team an opportunity to see these kids in action by being judges, but it also showcases our program and allows those other schools around us to see where Yelm is, what type of activities we do,” Mounts said. “We pride ourselves on hosting a well-run, efficient contest that gives every kid the best opportunity to excel and attempt to qualify for state. This is something we’ve always prided ourselves on, and it’s very cool that we get to host this year in and year out.”
Mounts added that the top four individuals in each competition qualified for state, while fifth-place finishers will serve as alternates. The range of competitions included a combination of career development events and leadership development events.
Two members of Yelm’s program competing in the FFA Creed Speaking competition qualified for state, as Emma Faw placed first and Alivia Sage placed fourth. Mounts said the event is a first-year member speaking contest.
For prepared public speaking, participants wrote a six- to eight-minute speech on an agricultural topic of their choice, with five minutes of question and answering following their presentations. YHS member Kyla Polland finished in first place, earning the highest score overall and on her manuscript.
In the employment skills competition, formally known as the job interview, participants presented a cover letter, resume and an application. The process also involved an interview and a follow-up correspondence letter. YHS member Eagan Wall earned fourth place.
YHS’s parliamentary procedure team won first place. It included members Radcliffe Cushman, Perla Gutierrez Espino, Aj Swearengin, Jayden Hernandez, Collin Sawyers and Kolton Nash. Participants are judged on their knowledge of parliamentary law and their ability to present logical, realistic and convincing debate and motions, according to FFA.org.
Conduct of chapter meetings, a first-year member contest, saw Yelm’s FFA program take first place, as well. The team included members Kurtis Westlund, Evelynn Courneya, Natalee Erkelens, Safiyah Kamal, Jada Katona, Maraha Gibson and Kai Manley.
As a program, Yelm’s agricultural Sales career developments team finished in first place. Liv Silva finished in second, Noah Cornwall finished in third, Mara Ottman finished in sixth, and William Icenoggle finished in ninth.
“We’ve hosted this event for at least the last 25 years. It’s one that I don’t want to give up, and Lorraine Wikoff organized it this year. I’ve done it the previous 20-some odd years. It’s time to teach somebody new the ropes, on how to organize it and host it,” Mounts said. “I firmly believe that a lot of the community support we get is through our community members being able to come in and judge and be a part of this contest to see the outstanding things kids are doing, and the immense amount of talent these individuals have.
“Events like this cannot function without community support,” Mounts said. “These types of events can always use more help, so if anyone is ever interested in seeing the great things that these kids do, or helping judge one of these contests, we would be more than happy to accommodate them and welcome them with open arms.”
Those interested in participating in the annual district leadership contest as community volunteers can contact Mounts on his YHS email.
With the conclusion of the district leadership contest, Yelm’s FFA program will turn its attention to the upcoming plant sale and to preparing for the annual FFA State Convention in Pullman over Mother’s Day weekend.
“They all get to go to Pullman and stay on the WSU campus in the dorms for four days. They’ll attend leadership workshops and compete in these leadership contests and hangout with about 3,500 other FFA members from around the state,” Mounts said. “As we prepare, the students come in after school to prepare themselves to go. That creates a lot more ownership in the experience itself and gives those students a lot of buy-in to why they’re there. They had to work to get there.”
