Crookston FFA students competed at the 97th Minnesota FFA State Convention April 19-21, at the University of Minnesota St. Paul campus, Minnesota State Fairgrounds, and 3M at Mariucci Arena in Minneapolis.Â
As a chapter, Crookston FFA was recognized in the National Chapter category as a superior ranked chapter. Crookston FFA was also recognized for participating in the Ag Literacy challenge.
Ella Capistran was named the state Agriscience Fair winner of Division 1 Food Products and Processing Systems and will be moving on to nationals later this year.
Addie Schiller was the state Proficiency winner in Agricultural Education. She will be sending it to nationals later this year.
Ben Capistran was named the state Proficiency winner in Grain Production Placement, which will advance to nationals later this year. Ben was also named the state runner-up in both Fiber/Oil Crops Production Entrepreneurship and Specialty Crop Production Placement.
The Agriculture Mechanics team was awarded the title of State Runner Up (out of 39 teams) and ranked gold. Ben Capistran led the way, earning 1st Place in Ag Mechanics Individual title (out of 126 competitors). Axl Page and Austin Thode ranked gold, and Garrett Wilkens ranked bronze.
Brady Samuelson placed 4th (out of 15) FFA members in the Talent contest, ranking gold. He was given the chance to sing on stage in front of over 3,000 Minnesota FFA members and guests.
The Best Informed Greenhand team placed 5th in the state competition (out of 69 teams) and ranked gold. Ella Capistran captured the title of 1st place Individual Best Informed Greenhand (out of 352 competitors). Bella Cisneros, Nathan Pahlen, and Axl Page ranked gold; Emmagail Frantz, Molly Workman, Haddie Halland, Anna Heldstab, and Eva Gosse ranked silver.
The Forestry team placed 10th (out of 42 teams) and ranked gold. Leah Johanneck led the team by placing 7th individually (out of 157 competitors) and ranked gold. Allison Abeld, Addie Schiller, and Izzy Pahlen were the other team members ranking silver.
The Floriculture team placed 14th (out of 46 teams) and ranked gold. The team consisted of Lilli Bridgeford, ranking gold, Elle Pierson, Emilee Smith, and Hamsini Chanda, ranking silver.
The Soils team placed 17th (out of 45 teams) and was ranked silver. The team was made up of Ella Capistran (12th individually out of 157 competitors) ranking gold, Eva Gosse, Anna Heldstab, and Haddie Halland ranked silver.
The Companion Animals team placed 23rd (out of 55 teams) and was ranked silver. The team was made up of Bailee Klinnert (gold), Emmy Johnson (gold), Mckinna Amiot (silver), and Alex Zammert (bronze).
The Poultry Evaluation team placed 40th (out of 44 teams) and was ranked bronze. The team consisted of Bella Cisneros, Molly Workman, Nathan Pahlen, and Brady Samuelson, all ranking bronze.Â
The Dairy Evaluation team placed 53rd (out of 60 teams) and was ranked bronze. The team was made up of Mykayla Garcia, Emmagail Frantz, Calianna Donarski, and Peyton Krenzel, all ranking bronze.
In the Agricultural Education contest, Addie Schiller and Emilee Smith represented Crookston and placed 6th (out of 8 teams), ranking bronze. They created and presented a lesson plan called, Livestock Lingo 101.
Crookston FFA had 1 student qualify and compete in the Milk Quality Contest. Hayden Ricard was individually ranked bronze for his contest.
Ben Capistran participated in the state band, playing his clarinet and Brady Samuelson sang in the state choir, singing bass.
Leah Johanneck and Addie Schiller were awarded the highest degree that Minnesota can bestow upon a member. They both received their State Degree.
