Students flooded the city of Indianapolis with an attendance of 72,956 for National FFA Convention November 1-4 as they attended workshops, competed in different events and heard messages from keynote speakers.
South Dakota FFA members and agricultural educators represented the state with class, integrity and passion for agriculture, recognized for months of hard work and preparation as the convention proceedings finishedupinIndianapolis.
Members of the Wessington Springs FFA Chapter Meats Evaluation and Technology Team brought some hefty hardware back to Jerauld County earning a silver placing on the national stage with individual results including: Carter Gaikowski, silver; Braydin LaBore, silver; Blake Larson, silver; Ridge Roduner, bronze.
“I am so proud of this young group of men. Not only did they compete well against the whole of the USA, but they also have developed terminology and complex motor skills needed for the meats industry. Any one of them could walk into a meat locker today and would be one of, if not the best candidate for the job,” explained Wessington Springs FFA Advisor Brady Duxbury. “That is the magic behind what we do in FFA. These young people thought they were competing, but in reality, they developed the critical thinking and industry specific skills to be successful in a future career. Only those who are most ready to step into the industry get the opportunity to compete at the national level, and these boys are the most ready in our state and obviously some of the most ready in the nation.”
Editor’s note: Look for more about the silverplacing team and the national convention experience in next week’s True Dakotan.
