TORRINGTON – If you noticed an increased amount of yellow school busses in Torrington on Tuesday, then you probably also saw a plethora of unmistakable blue and gold FFA jacket clad students too.

Torrington played host to more than 30 FFA chapters from across Wyoming as they competed in three different career and leadership development events (CLD and CDE). 

Students participating in vet sciences and farm/agribusiness competed at Eastern Wyoming College (EWC) while those competing in the conduct of chapter meetings were at Son Rise Church. 

The top six teams for each CDE will move on to the Wyoming State FFA Convention held in Cheyenne in April. 

The six teams moving on for conduct of chapter meeting are Frontier FFA, Casper FFA, Thermopolis FFA, Wickham FFA, Snowy Range FFA and Torrington-Lingle FFA.

“We were nervous,” Blake Cushman, member of the Torrington-Lingle team said. 

The competition tests teams on their knowledge of parliamentary procedure, how to conduct a meeting and communication skills. Members assume various officer duties (president, vice president, secretary, treasurer, reporter, sentinel, and advisor) during the competition. They were presented with the task of selling Christmas trees and wreaths and had 13 minutes to conduct the meeting.

Assistant advisor of the Torrington-Lingle chapter, Sabrina Juma, said her team did well thinking outside of the box.

“We are a young team. Teams can consist of seventh, eighth and ninth graders. We only have one ninth grader where other teams can consist of all freshmen,” Juma explained.

She said her team did a great job using leadership, public speaking and communication skills to get them to the next level. 

Students competing in the Veterinary Science CDE take a more hands-on approach. According to the Wyoming FFA website, the Veterinary Science CDE, students work in teams demonstrate their technical competency with small and large animals by completing a written exam, critical-thinking scenario questions, identifications and hands-on practicums.

The written exam includes questions on anatomy, disease, genetics, husbandry and nutrition. 

In the Identification portion of the competition, the students must use proper equipment to view and identify parasites and other microscopic organisms. They must have a general knowledge of the organisms as well as know and understand their lifecycle. 

Teams also have to identify breeds of multiple small and large animals. 

The hands-on practicum includes both clinical procedures and handling/restraining of multiple species. The clinical procedures include giving injections, preparing for surgery, filling prescriptions and surgery prep. 

The farm and agribusiness management competition had kids competing to demonstrate their ability to analyze agricultural business management information, apply economic principles and concepts of business management, evaluate business management decisions and work together cooperatively as a team.

The top six teams from these CDE competitions will be announced next week but won’t find out placings until the state convention in April. 

Torrington-Lingle FFA Advisor Jason Groene said there were more than 130 students competing in various CDE competitions on Tuesday. 

“EWC is the only collegiate facility in the state with a Vet Science program and they have hosted this event since it originated in 2011-2012,” Groene explained.

He also took note of the type of students competing in FFA today.

“These are the varsity teams here today. The best of the best,” Groene said. 

Competing in FFA doesn’t come without its challenges either.

“Students participating in FFA are also participating in other things, like sports. It has its challenges. Coordinating practice schedules is tough. It can be done though. It takes a disciplined kid,” Groene said. 

Groene said there are 62 FFA chapters in Wyoming with over 4000 members. 

Kids from across the state will gather in Cheyenne April 9-12 for Wyoming State FFA Convention. Agriscience fair and CDE Awards will be presented along with state degrees. There will also be a Career Fair April 10.

Some results were available at print time as Eastern Wyoming College made a social media announcement Wednesday afternoon.

“Congratulations and thank you to all the teams that participated in the agronomy contest at Eastern Wyoming College yesterday,” the agriculture department said. “We were excited to have the largest group we have ever had for agronomy; seven schools were represented by 21 students. Your winners were as follows: high individual overall – Trevor Campbell, Casper; high individual written exam – Bo Baumgartner, Southeast; high individual ID – Trevor Campbell, Casper; high individual pest – Trevor Campbell, Casper; high team overall – Southeast FFA, Bo Baumgartner, Hadley Evans, Ayden Shimic and Emmett Coxbill, advisor: Shane Buchholz.