The Montgomery County Future Farmers of America will have numerous state qualifiers in this year’s Missouri FFA Convention, which is scheduled for April 23-25 at the University of Missouri-Columbia.

Recently, the chapter had three seniors who qualified for state competition in speaking. They are Avery Ridgely, Landon Pottebaum and Beckham Cothren.
Ridgley and Pottebaum finished second and third, respectively, in advanced public speaking and Cothren came in third in extemporaneous speaking at district competition to earn state berths. Ridgley and Cothren placed first and Pottebaum finished second in Area V competition to advance to districts. Pottebaum is the chapter’s president and Ridgley and Cothren share vice-president duties.

Also, six chapter members qualified for state in proficiency. They are Pottebaum (grain production), co-vice-president Gracie Cobb (agriculture communications), Dever Cope (beef production placement), Colby Ellis (nursery operations), Raylene Poston (diversified livestock) and Alexa Groeber (environmental sciences). They all finished first in their respective categories in area competition.

Three teams –forestry, livestock and agronomy – will also be in state competition. The forestry team of Landon Pottebaum, Reed Pottebaum, historian Lily Hillebrand and Owen Hillebrand finished seventh out of 24 teams in districts to earn a state berth. The livestock team of Lafe McCurdy, Dallas Hans, reporter Ann Rose and Max Angel placed 11th out of 26 teams in districts to qualify for state. The agronomy team of Cothren, Cobb, Ellis and Ava Rakers came in ninth  to win a trip to Columbia.

The nursery landscape team of Emma Cobb, Sullee Falloon, Kenley Wessel and Addie Schroer finished in a tie for ninth in districts, but after losing a tie breaker, the team will be the alternate to state.

Jonah Happe, Reed Pottebaum and Olivia Spurgeon are also going to state for their finishes in Area V competition. Happe and Pottebaum had a first-place secretary book and it will be displayed at state. Spurgeon had a first-place treasurer book and it will be displayed at state, also. Happe and Pottebaum share secretary duties and Spurgeon is the chapter’s treasurer.

The MCHS FFA chapter was selected as a Gold Emblem Chapter for the 2024-25 school year. The group will find out where it finished among the top 37 chapters in Missouri at the state convention.

Happe, Ridgley, Cope, Brayden Harris, Garrett Weekley and Landon Pottebaum will receive their state degrees at the state convention.

Last year, MCHS had nine members qualify for state in proficiency, three of them placed in the top two. Ridgley finished second in equine science entrepreneurship.

Also, MCHS had five teams compete at state in 2024, with its agricultural sales team turning in the highest finish at ninth place. Ridgley and Cothren were on that team.

Two members – Cothren and Cobb – finished in the top two in officer books in last year’s state competition. Cothren was first in digital scrapbook and Cobb came in second in treasurer book.