The combination of commitment, self-motivation and expertise coaching has resulted in a well-oiled TAHS FFA Livestock CDE machine. And that machine, steered by Carson Lanoue, Lawton Verlinde, Nolan Verlinde, Melaina Ankrum and Calie Johns, last week took home first place at the FFA State Convention.
“They have a lot of talent, and they’re easy to teach because they have some background with livestock,” said coach Jeff Knott, who has been coaching some of the kids who make up the team for four years. “These kids have it, we just needed a little bit of luck, and this year, we got the luck we needed in order to pull it off.”
They practice twice a week in the fall and take most of the winter off until February before resuming practice two or three times a week. That’s a lot work. So how does luck fit into this picture?
Knott said besides the skill required to reach the heights this team has this year, there is a bit of good fortune involved.
“There’s a committee that judges each class of livestock … and everybody doesn’t see livestock the same. It’s not black-and-white. You’re trying to place livestock as close as possible to what everyone else does, and they don’t always agree. It always takes a little bit of luck.”
Knott was a bit surprised at the outcome, but at the same time knows how hard the kids work. The team came up with a new format on giving their oral reasons and it worked out.
“I thought we’d be top three for sure, and I was blown away that we won it,” he said.
Knott wasn’t the only one a bit shocked from the first-place finish.
TAHS FFA CDE teams at State:
Livestock 1st- Carson Lanoue 3, Melaina Ankrum 12, Lawton Verlinde 37th, Nolan Verlinde 62, and Calie Johns. Coached by Jeff Knott
Soils 7th- Luke Millman 4, Jaxter Pfarr 32, Christian Fransen 55, Levi Duscher 102, and Owen Beier. Coached by Paul Skoglund
Milk Quality 8th- Nolan Carlson 30, Taylor Squires 34, Cohen Radke 38, Avaya Sagmoe 57, and Ethan Schreier.
Poultry Evaluation 9th- Elsie Knott 8, Caroline Lanoue 39, Sam Lightfoot 43, Ava Lightfoot 53, and Shelby Knott. Coached by John Lanoue
Ag Mechanics 11th- Elijah Lightfoot 25, Mavrick Snyder 52, Skylar Platt 56, and Trenton Johnson 90. Coached by Mark LaVoy
Companion Animal Science 12th- Danica Paulsen 24, Sierra Staufacker 54, Serena Muscatello 78, Jared Swenhaugen 193, and Troy Beier.
Farm Business Management 19th- Johnnie Fransen 21, Lauren Torkelson 82, Madelyn Elsen 120, Allie Duscher 152 and Avery Anderson. Coached by Tonya Duscher
Best Informed Greenhand 25th- Kynlie Bornitz 238, Oakley Bornitz 254, Adalynn Brey 167, Gage Caron 186, Mckenzie Erickson 158, Nolan Gervais 150, Andrew Hippe 264, Noah Johnson 338, Skylar Johnson 167, Aynsley Oeltjenbruns 186, Chelsea Torkelson 201, Oliver Torkelson 112, Jocelyn Walters 296, Izzy Wendorff 136.
Forestry 28th- Shelby Johnson 44, Andraela Oeltjenbruns 104, Brooke Swenhaugen 117, Kolbie Lanners 137, and Hallee Roggatz.
Dairy Cattle Evaluation 39th- Evelyn Buyck 84, Clara Buyck 63, Elizabeth Buyck 193rd, and Kamryn Burns 207. Coached by Jenna Buyck
Fish & Wildlife 42nd- Brayden Marron 76, Alexis Brey 157, Ryker Freeburg 158, Hailey Hubner 202, and Kaylin Brey. Coached by Ryan Paulsen
Agriscience- Elsie Knott-Animal Science Division 3 State Winner; advances to nationals
Proficiencies
• Eli Lightfoot: Ag Mech Repair and Maintenance-State Winner; advances to nationals
• Shelby Johnson: Outdoor Recreation-State Winner
• Lauren Torkelson: Outdoor Recreation-2nd place
• Brok Roggatz: Diversified Crop Production-2nd place
• Katelyn Ruppert: Vegetable Production-2nd place
• Brok Roggatz: Forage Production-3rd place
• Taylor Squires: Turf and Landscape Management-3rd place
• Clara Buyck: Beef Production-3rd place
Other Chapter Success:
4 State Degrees: Adam Hippe, Connor Lanoue, Elijah Lightfoot, Lawton Verlinde
5th ranked chapter in the state!
Models of innovation: Overall state winner!
Building Communities: 1st place — activity with helping with ‘Help Tuck Them In”
Strengthening Agriculture: Top 3 — activity with Coffee Connections in February
Choir: Makayla Erickson and Payton Daniels were in the state Choir
Foundation Ambassador: Hallee Roggatz and Ava Swenhaugen were selected to represent the state
