Two Imperial FFA teams make cut for nationals

    Imperial FFA made its name known once again at the Nebraska State FFA Convention.
    Like last year, two teams came out of last week’s convention as state champions, and will compete at nationals this fall.
    Imperial FFA member Morayah Cupp was also a state proficiency champion. After additional judging this summer, she’ll move on to nationals if she’s in the top four in Ag Services proficiency.
    Imperial’s parli pro and marketing plan teams, the same national-qualifying teams as last year but with new members, are headed to nationals Oct. 26-29 in Indianapolis. Both are coached by ag instructor Jeremy Vlasin.
    Vlasin wasn’t even sure he was going to field a parli pro team this year.
    Just four team members—six are needed—had committed 24 hours before classes were finalized last fall, Vlasin said. He requires all team members to take the ag class that covers parli pro.
    After encouraging two members to consider it, he had a full six-person team in that class—Brooke Schilke, Kathya Aragon, Walker Mollendor, Mason Tyerman, Kylee Wiest and Brayan Cazares.
    “I didn’t beg kids to do it. I approached these two to consider it, but told them life will not get easier,” Vlasin said.
    That’s because of the additional study and time he requires from his parli pro team.
    At state last week, Vlasin said the team gave one of the best final demonstrations he’s seen, but they were 10 seconds over the time limit, meaning a 20-point deduction.
    “Had it been two seconds, I wouldn’t have worried. But 20 seconds is a big chunk to make up,” he said.
    They must have impressed the judges, because they still came out state champion in a field of 24 teams, eight of which were in the finals.
    Seward finished second, while Stuart was third.
    Vlasin was a lot more confident of a first place finish after watching his marketing plan team’s presentation.
    The marketing plan competition is designed to target a business and find ways in which to add value.
    The team chose Markenna Terryberry’s succulent plant business. They presented ways for the business to expand its sales in boutiques locally and across the state, as well as getting into the Farmers Markets in Lincoln and increase its seasonal sales to year-round with an emphasis on seasonal and holiday arrangements.
    Terryberry is on the team with Remington Yaw and Jaiden Hill.
    “The girls did really well, they answered questions well” and gave a good presentation, Vlasin said.
    “I told them afterwards if they didn’t win, a really good team was going to nationals to represent Nebraska,” he said.
    “I was proud of how they did.”
    Cupp won the Ag Services proficiency area at state with her business, Moe’s Mobile Coops.
    FFA Advisor Jason Speck said her proficiency will be judged against the winners from the other 49 states this summer. If it receives a gold and is in the top four, she’ll also be in Indianapolis this fall.
Three State Degrees
    The Imperial chapter had three CCS seniors receive the State Degree—Matalie Wallin, Morel Jurado and Terryberry.
    The member’s individual Supervised Ag Experience is a big factor in earning the degree.
    Jurado works for Wilson Cattle Company; Wallin works for Star Unlimited, raises chickens and sells eggs; and Terryberry operates her succulent plant business-Succulents and Company by Grow in Grace.
    Here are the full Imperial team results from the convention:
    Parliamentary Procedure—State Champion Gold; Kylee Wiest, Mason Tyerman, Kathya Aragon, Walker Mollendor, Brooke Schilke, Brayan Cazares
    Marketing Plan—State Champion, purple; Markenna Terryberry, Remi Yaw, Jaiden Hill.
    Ag Services Proficiency—State Champion Morayah Cupp
    Conduct of Chapter Meetings—State Runner-up Gold; Conner Tyerman, Westyn Mendenhall, Malachi Christensen, Jasmine Johnson, Tessa Smith, Navy Havel, Beau Weiss, Peyton Owens
    Ag Technology & Mechanics—Westyn Mendenhall, red;
Conner Tyerman, Morel Jurado, Ryan Bernhardt
    Agriscience—Westyn Mendenhall, Evan Tomky, Carson Terryberry, Conner Tyerman
    Agronomy – White; Remi Yaw, Blue; Markenna Terryberry, red; Matalie Wallin, white; Kendall Prior
    Floriculture—Jordan Jablonski, Peyton Owens, Abby Spicer, Jecca Yaw
    Junior Livestock Evaluation—Peyton Owens, blue; Jason Nelson, Alec Johnson, Myla Brown.
    Senior Livestock Evaluation—Peyton Dubas, white;  Jordan Jablonski, Jaiden Hill, Kathya Aragon
    Hall of Chapters—Morel Jurado, Madelynn Hanes
    Jr. High Quiz Bowl—3rd place; Tate Teply, Carter Kuenning, Alex Nelson, Kadence Wallin, Miranda Spady
    Jr. High Quiz Bowl—Tied for 5-8th; Tessa Smith, Navy Havel
Jayme Gittlein, Parker Terryberry, Odessa Zadina
    People in Ag Poster—State Gold, Avery Beemer