Lander FFA student elected to state office; judging teams score high

(Lander) – Judging teams and individuals from the Lander Valley High 
School chapter of the Future Farmers of America (FFA) earned state 
honors at the recently concluded Wyoming State FFA Convention in 
Cheyenne.

Being elected to a state FFA office is one of the highest honors a 
Wyoming FFA member can hold, according to LVHS Ag Instructor and FFA 
Chapter Sponsor Mike McConnell. Lander’s Odessa Oldham was named First 
Vice President and will serve the organization until the 2011 state 
convention.  Officers are responsible for planning the next year’s 
state convention, helping with state leadership camp, attending 
chapter banquets, and carrying out chapter visits across the state, 
McConnell said.

The Lander FFA also had a retiring 2009-2010 state officer, Jared 
Oldham, who served as Second Vice President. Following his graduation 
from LVHS, Jared has been attending Casper College where he remains 
active on the Livestock Judging Team there.

Overall, the LVHS Farm and Ranch Management Team placed second in 
state competition, the Horse Judging Team placed third, the Meats 
Evaluation Team came in eleventh and the Livestock Judging Team was 
twelfth. Individually, Desiree Lozier placed as the third high overall 
horse judger and Natalie Basolo placed as the second high individual 
on the Farm and Ranch Management written test.

Lander FFA members Basolo and Rilee Erickson competed in the Prepared 
and Extemporaneous Speaking contests, respectively, demonstrating 
knowledge and confidence, according to McConnell.

State FFA Degree recipients included Odessa Oldham, Michelle Kearl, 
and Brieanna Ingram. . Odessa Oldham also received the Regional Star 
FFA Degree.

The Lander FFA teams included:

• Meat Evaluation Team. This competition involved identifying 40 
retail cuts, placing 6 classes, and completing yield and quality 
grading. The Meats Judging team consisted of Natalie Basolo, Meredith 
Rinker, and Freddy Armajo.

• Farm Mechanics Team. Team members had to complete a group shop 
activity, as well as a written test. The Mechanics team consisted of 
Frank Enos, Clay Espinosa, and Brandon Frazier.

• The Livestock Judging team consisted of Clay Espinosa, Rilee 
Erickson, Justin Daniels, and Shana Lyons.

• The Farm and Ranch Management team consisted of Natalie Basolo, 
Brieanna Ingram, Odessa Oldham, and Branden Houser.

These events test FFA members knowledge of desirable horse and 
livestock characteristics and their ability to give an oral set of 
reasons, their ability to solve various farm and ranch management 
problems and their skill at presenting a prepared or extemporaneous 
speech in front of a panel of judges.

“I am honored to serve as a State FFA Officer,” Odessa Oldham said. “I 
will do my best to serve the FFA and motivate as many members in FFA 
and the community to better the future for our younger generations.” 
Oldham said she plans to attend Casper College.

McConnell was the keynote speaker during the fourth session of the 
annual event. After touching on several topics, including his own FFA 
experience, and advice to “surround yourself with the right people,” 
McConnell concluded his speech by telling Wyoming FFA members to 
“stick to your dreams, fight for what you believe in, always keep an 
open mind, voice your opinions, and you might just change the future.”

When not in competition, Lander’s FFA chapter members attended 
workshops put on by the Wyoming State FFA officers and the UW 
collegiate FFA.