On Tuesday, March 5, the Meeker FFA Chapter loaded up around 30 members on a bus and headed up to Craig’s CNCC campus for the 2024 District Leadership Development Event (LDE) competition. LDEs consist of a variety of competitions that provide FFA members with the opportunity to develop their leadership abilities. Eleven FFA members competed against students from the nine other schools in District One and placed first, advancing them to the state competition held in Pueblo in June.
For the first time in the last decade, Meeker FFA will be representing District One in the state Quiz Bowl competition. This event tests the general knowledge of freshmen and sophomores in their first year of agricultural education by putting them in a gameshow-type setting. Teams are asked a myriad of questions based on all things agriculture and race to buzz in with their answers. The Meeker Blue team consisted of Sidney Keetch, Kailynn Watson, Aurora Stallings, and Aidan Tapia. They blew through three rounds of the bracket and came out on top against eight other teams. We had another Quiz Bowl team compete,with the team members of Koy Weber, Trent Sanders, Said Rodriguez and Carlos Carillo. This team did great as well, and came out placing fourth.
The other team that will be going to the State Convention is Agricultural Issues. This competition highlights the pros and cons of an issue currently happening and directly affecting those who work or heavily rely on agriculture. This year’s team is highlighting; Ecological Succession or Economic Depression: Who is benefitting from Wildlife Management Practices? This team consists of Braydin Raley, Autumn Stallings, Mathew Willey, Leah Wood, Aimee Shults, Emily Hamm and Alan Rivera.
On top of all the teams and individuals who made it to state, another group of FFA members accomplished impressive feats as well. These members included Birdie McCaffrey, who competed in Agriculture Education. In this competition you prepare a mock teaching lesson for a targeted age group.You then teach this lesson with some of the FFA members at the competition.
Charlie Rogers competed in Employment Skills which is a mock interview. These contestants “apply” for a list of jobs with a resume and cover letter. They interview for the job at the competition with a portfolio in front of a panel of judges.
Meeker also took two creed speakers, Aidan Tapia and Said Rodriguez. All individuals who take Into to Ag have to memorize and recite the FFA Creed Written by E.M. Tiffany, the top two from our chapter competition move on to districts, which is exactly what these two young men did. Finally, Meeker had one prepared speech contestant, Eva Scritchfield, who wrote and memorized a speech about her experience and the benefits of Acuscope, which is a therapy system that uses FDA-approved microcurrent modality instruments with animal calibration designed to treat neuromuscular and musculoskeletal conditions. Aimee Shults also ran for District Office and is now the 2024-25 District One Sentinel.
Meeker came to be very proud of these individuals’ hard work, congratulations to everyone who competed!
Meeker FFA Chapter members competed at the District Leadership Development Event in Craig, Colorado, this month. Top row from left to right: Eva Scritchfield, Charlie Rogers, Alan Rivera, Trent Sanders, Koy Weber, Orion Musser, Said Rodriguez, Carlos Carrillo, Aidan Tapia, Hayden Garcia, Tristan Rollins, Mathew Willey, Quentin Simpson. Middle row: Sidney Keetch, Aurora Stallings, Sydnie Ross, Ava Nay, Lili Piper, Leah Wood. Bottom Row: Jaicee Simmons, Kailynn Watson, Cody Richardson, Kayla Castillo, Braydin Raley, Autumn Stallings, Aimee Shults, Emily Hamm.
(Left) Emily Hamm and Aimee Shults (Retired and New District One Sentinel). (Center) Aidan Tapia and Said Rodriguez (Creed Speakers). (Right) Eva Scritchfield.
