Olympia Middle School Students Participate in Vocational-Agriculture Fair
Section 9 FFA Show

 

[August 17, 2023] 

On July 25, eight Olympia Middle School agriculture students exhibited several projects at the Section 9 FFA Show for the first time in the program’s history. OMS had over 60 entries that included sheep, swine, goats, beef, rabbits, poultry, and vegetables. Students learned about caring for animals and growing a garden in the agriculture classes at OMS in the fall and spring semesters. Students spent several hours preparing their projects, growing in knowledge, and building transferable skills and relationships. The students represented the middle school very well throughout the show day.

Paislee Hoffman exhibited in several sheep classes and won first place in each Hampshire class entered. She also had Reserve Champion Ram with her yearling Hampshire ram.

Trayson Miller also took home the Grand Overall Barrow award with his champion duroc and received champion crossbred gilt, reserve crossbred barrow, and reserve in the All Other Breeds category with his barrow.

Kamryn Rader won several classes in the sheep and goat divisions. She also exhibited cucumbers from her garden. When she wasn’t in the show ring with her animals, she was found helping several other students exhibit their projects as well.

Luke Prestegaard

Luke Prestegaard and Clayton Grieder exhibited their swine at the show, too. They exhibited very competitive projects and both students said they enjoyed having the opportunity to show with their friends and are looking forward to next year.

Kennedy Finchum exhibited her steer that she earned through an interview process with the Logan County 4-H Beef Scramble committee. She had to keep records on her project throughout the last year and competed with her steer in the showmanship division in addition to her breed class.

Morgan Buatte exhibited several rabbits that she has raised with her family. She was a huge asset to our classroom rabbit project this spring semester.

Morgan was also complimented on her Yorkshire gilt in the swine show.

AJ Witham also exhibited her ducks and swine at the show. “I had to practice walking my pigs several times before the show. I also learned more about ducks during the duck showmanship,” Witham said.

Agricultural education instruction is delivered through three major components: Classroom Instruction (context learning), Supervised Agricultural Experience programs (work-based learning), and student leadership organizations like the National FFA Organization.

Thank you to Dr. O’Donnell, Mr. Jones, Mr. Hoffman, Mrs. Mohr, and Mrs. Baer for providing opportunities for leadership development, personal growth and career success through this experience.

[Meg Baer
OMS Agriculture & STEM Teacher
with photos courtesy of Wolf Grove Photos, Katie Rader, & Kayla Burrel]