Imperial FFA returns from nationals with silver medals

■ Editor’s note: Watch next week’s issue for a story on Imperial FFA member Morayah Cupp’s proficiency placing at nationals. She also earned the American FFA Degree.

Both Imperial FFA teams that traveled to the national convention last week returned home with some of the top performances in their disciplines.
Parli pro members Kylee Wiest, Kathya Aragon, Brooke Schilke, Walker Mollendor, Mason Tyerman and Brayan Cazares just missed making it to finals.
The National FFA Parliamentary Procedure LDE tests students’ ability to effectively communicate ideas during a meeting. Components included a general knowledge exam of parliamentary law, a 10-minute demonstration of parliamentary procedure, oral questions, written minutes of the demonstration as well as a team problem-solving activity.
The group had prelims Thursday morning and found out that evening it had advanced to the semifinals.
The top 12 semifinalists were divided among two rooms with the top two teams from each room advancing to finals.
Although Imperial didn’t advance to the finals, teams from its room finished first and fourth.
Gold medal winning teams were first Lafayette FFA, Florida; second Gilmer County FFA, West Virginia; third Troy FFA, Missouri; and fourth Winnfield FFA, Louisiana.
After watching both performances, Imperial FFA advisor Jason Speck said both presentations went really, really well and he believes Imperial was right at the top of the silver medal teams.
Joining Imperial as a silver medal teams were Galt-Liberty Ranch FFA, California; Fruitland FFA, Idaho; Cisne FFA, Illinois; North Putnam FFA, Indiana; Greenwood FFA, Pennsylvania; LaVernia FFA, Texas; and Cheyenne High Plains FFA, Wyoming.
With Imperial going three times in the last four years, Speck said it’s common to see the same schools or advisors, whether it be in parli pro or marketing plan as Imperial had this year.
Marketing plan team members were Markenna Terryberry, Remington Yaw and Jaiden Hill.
The National FFA Marketing Plan CDE helps students practice and sharpen skills in marketing through the development and presentation of a marketing plan. The plan may focus on the introduction of a new agricultural product, supply or service or on improving marketing of an existing product, supply or service.
Imperial FFA’s marketing plan further developed Terryberry’s succulent SAE. The plan looked to expand the business into 25 boutiques across the state by years 3-5 of the business.
Initial research for the marketing plan included calls to 30 boutiques around the state and most of the work was completed last school year.
With Terryberry and Yaw at college while Hill is a high school senior, presentation practices were mostly done over zoom. The group was able to meet face to face a couple weeks ago, which Speck feels is important for the chemistry of the team.
Speck felt the team’s first presentation was its best and the judges’ comments reflected that. After a 15-minute presentation, there was a five-minute question and answer period.
Questions from the judges include the plan’s target market and expansion time line, which Speck said the team handled well.
Out of the 35 teams, 18 were seeded into four rooms with the top plan from each room moving on to finals.
Natchitoches Central FFA of Louisiana placed first followed by Edmond FFA, Oklahoma; James Madison-San Antonio FFA, Texas; and Montezuma FFA, Iowa.
Imperial FFA finished with a silver, as did Elk Grove FFA, California; White County FFA, Georgia; Normal FFA, Illinois; Hamilton Southeastern FFA, Indiana; Paola FFA, Kansas; Buffalo FFA, Minnesota; Park City FFA, Montana; Eaton MVCTC FFA, Ohio; Sandy FFA, Oregon; Manheim FFA, Pennsylvania; Mount Juliet FFA, Tennessee; Lind-Ritzville FFA, Washington; and Casper FFA, Wyoming.