PHS students bring home state FFA honors

PALMER — Members of the Palmer Future Farmers of America Chapter returned from the recent state convention in Fairbanks hauling the bacon. Of the 25 members who participated, 21 qualified for the national competition.

Palmer claimed four first-place team events, one second-place and one third-place finish. Others placed individually also.

FFA adviser Don Berberich said he is optimistic about the chapter’s future.

“As a group, these students are mostly underclassmen, but they act very mature and have a lot of talent,” he said. “Our juniors and seniors have been excellent role models.”

He said a highlight of the trip was finding out his floriculture teams placed first and second, with sophomore Gabe Waldhaus taking top individual honors.

“Gabe placed second overall last year, two points behind team mate Ariel Olson. He trained these teams as much or more than I did,” Berberich said.

Other teams placing first were Agriculture Mechanics, anchored by seniors Chandler Putnam and Josh Gordon. Putnam also had the second-highest points in the individual category. Joseph Wallace chaired the first-place parliamentary procedures team. Palmer also had the third-place team, chaired by Gabe Waldhaus.

The Agriculture Issues Forum team also placed first. The team was organized by freshman Jake Cunningham. The challenge is to present both sides of a controversial topic and let the audience make up their own minds.

The Palmer team took on Pebble Mine as a topic and presented it using a skit based around a coffee-shop discussion between friends and customers. Team members had to research the topic in detail to be able to accurately answer judges’ questions.

Berberich said he was impressed with the group’s creativity and dedication.

“This team has been meeting once and sometimes twice a week preparing. Working with this team has been the most fun I’ve had coaching FFA,” he said.

Other successful students included freshman Sidney Howe, who placed second in the FFA Creed Speaking event. Freshman Shannon Foley placed third in Extemporaneous Public Speaking, a contest normally dominated by upperclassman. Sophomore Austin Nerup was recognized for his leadership potential when he was selected for the chapter leadership medal.

The Palmer FFA Chapter would like to thank the Mat-Su Farm Bureau, Northland Pioneer Grange No. 1, Rep. Bill Stoltze, and all the people who bought hundreds of cinnamon rolls for their generous financial support.

Palmer FFA State Convention winners:

FFA Creed — Sidney Howe, 2nd place; Extemporaneous Public Speaking — Shannon Foley, 3rd place; Parliamentary Procedures — 1st and 3rd place teams — Team A — Joseph Wallace, Charley Smith, Jasmine Speck, Jake Cunningham, and Edward Lewis; Team B — Gabe Waldhaus, Chris Cranfill, Shannon Foley, Asa Stryken, Sidney Howe, and Nick Gubitosa; Agriculture Mechanics — 2nd place, individual — Chandler Putnam; Welding — Asa Stryken, 3rd place; Agriculture Mechanics 1st place team — Chandler Putnam, Josh Gordon, Justin Conaster, and Asa Stryken; Ag Issues Forum — first place; Jake Cunningham, Sharita Casagranda, Chandler Putnam, Zoe Wonderling, Katerina Andreanoff, Nick Gubitosa, and Christopher Armstrong; Floriculture — 1st place Individual — Gabe Waldhaus; Palmer Team A, 1st place — Gabe Waldhaus, Sharita Casagranda, Tessah Stokinger, and Chandler Putnam; Palmer B, 2nd place — Zoe Wonderling, Sidney Howe, Shannon Foley, and Kyndle Kirbey; and, Chapter Leadership Award — Austin Nerup.