Colfax FFA recognized with awards at state convention

COLFAX – Colfax Future Farmers of America (FFA) won numerous awards in the virtual 2021 Washington State FFA Convention on May 13-15.

In the Agricultural Sales Career Development Event (CDE) members demonstrate sales skills in the service industry. The 2021 sales product was Miracle-Gro organic nutrition products.

Colfax had three teams placing in the top eight in the state, and five individuals gaining Top 10 recognition.

Team 1 is the 2021 Washington FFA state winner and represents Colfax at the National FFA convention in Indianapolis in late October.

Sidney Appel had the top overall individual score, with Kari Largent placing third, McCoy Nelson placing fifth, and Cora Shindler in ninth.

Team 2 enjoyed a third-place finish, which included teammates Delaney Imler, Nathan DeAvila, Tess Lewis, and Derek Repp. Delaney was the tenth-place high individual in the contest as well.

The third Colfax team was awarded sixth in state and had Cadence Monson, Tucker Senter, Tanner Senter and Drew VanTine on the team.

Two Colfax FFA teams competed in the State Potato Evaluation CDE.

"This event consisted of grading russet potatoes, identifying blemishes and organizing seed classes," stated Colfax FFA junior Nathan DeAvila. "It was different doing this event online since we normally would do this in-person at Moses Lake, but we still enjoyed participating!"

Colfax FFA Team 1 is the overall state winning team and consisted of team members Sidney Appel, Sydney Berquist, Ayden Miller, Kolby Slate, and Kennedy Schmidt.

Colfax FFA Team 2 is the sixth place team overall with team members Abree Aune, Nathan DeAvila, Cody Inderrieden, Cadence Monson, and JP Wigen.

Three Colfax FFA members placed in the Top 10 overall, with Slate the second-high individual. Sidney Berquist was not far behind placing third individually, while Miller placing sixth.

The Colfax FFA is sending three Proficiency Award applications to the national level as State winners.

2020 Colfax High School graduate Cotton Booker is the Agriculture Communications proficiency winner based on his auctioneering talents as part of his Supervised Agriculture Experience (SAE) project. This is his second time winning a state proficiency award, as he was the Ag Services winner in 2020.

Cora Shindler won the Specialty Animal Production proficiency award for her honeybee operation.

McCoy Nelson's application was sent to the national level in the Diversified Crop Production category, recognizing his efforts during spring farm work and the harvest season.

During the final evening session of the state convention on May 15, Sydney Berquist was recognized as a top four State Star Farmer finalist and featured in a video showing her work with her sheep flock and feedlot duties at Union Ranch.

Kari Largent was named the 2021 Washington FFA Citizenship Award Essay Contest winner.

Colfax FFA members Gunnar Aune and Cole Baerlocher completed their year of service to the organization as Washington State FFA Officers.

"Congratulations to all participants in this year's FFA events and thank you to all parents and community members who have supported our local FFA chapter and agriculture program this school year," stated chapter treasurer Cora Shindler.

For a full list of awards and honors, please visit the Colfax FFA Facebook page where there are images and posts about all competitors throughout the spring.