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FFA Dairy Team headed to Nationals
McCOOK Neb. — A talented group of FFA students from McCook High School is gearing up for an exciting journey to the National FFA Convention in Indianapolis on Oct. 21. This prestigious event will feature the team competing in Dairy Judging after clinching the state championship at the Nebraska State Fair.
On Sept. 9, dairy judging team members presented their achievements and experiences to the McCook Public Schools Board of Education. Senior Taylor Ruggles expressed the team’s pride in their accomplishment, saying, “We went to the state fair for dairy judging, which none of us have ever done before. We had about three practices, went down there, and then ended up state champions, which was really cool for us.”
The team’s success is partly due to Ben Smith from Rams Horn Dairy’s guidance. Smith helped them prepare for the state competition. Smith will accompany the students to Nationals, along with some parents and their Ag/FFA teacher, Savannah Hauxwell.
During the state competition, the students participated in a comprehensive three-part contest that tested their skills and knowledge. “We judged six classes of cows, then we had three sets of reasons, and then we did a team scenario,” Ruggles explained. The contest also included a presentation and a challenging 50-question written exam.
Braceton Hauxwell, another team member, noted many students’ familiarity with judging. “A lot of it is just kind of common knowledge for Ag kids here, especially for me and Taylor because we’ve been judging since we were seven years old,” he stated.
Hauxwell reflects on the impact of FFA in his life, highlighting personal growth and leadership development. “I’ve been around it my entire life with my older siblings.
They were both in it pretty heavily, and I guess so were my parents,” Hauxwell shared. “I used to be a shy person. I never wanted to talk to kids. Some of my favorite events are parliamentary procedures, which involve meetings with all my friends.
There have been many leadership events; we’ve gone to conferences and organized our own events. Essentially, it’s all about making the best better.”
In discussing FFA’s reach, Hauxwell emphasized that not all FFA members come from traditional farming backgrounds. “Cason, one of our teammates, has a dad who works in New Holland and helps on a farm, but he wasn’t born into agriculture,” he noted. “He’s just as much an ag kid as the rest of us. I think that’s a big misconception.”
As the team prepares for its national debut, the excitement and determination among the McCook FFA students resonate throughout the community.
Their achievement reflects their dedication to agriculture and the spirit of leadership and teamwork fostered by the FFA organization.