Local FFA students attended the FFA state convention last week. Pictured is the first place award winning MVHS Soils Judging Team l to r Brianna Davis, Trista Palmasano, Klint Cardinal and Kaley Sproul.

By Kenna McMurray

Moapa Valley Progress

Moapa Valley High School Alumnus Alyssa O’Toole was retired last week as the Vice President of the Nevada State FFA at the FFA state convention held March 15-19 in Reno, Nevada. At the retirement ceremonies, O’Toole gave an inspiring speech to an audience hundreds strong from throughout the state about her experiences as a state leader over the last year. She also retired her state officer jacket and accepted a new one in a moving ceremony.

O’Toole’s vacancy will be filled, coincidentally, by another Moapa Valley chapter member, Kaley Sproul, who was elected to the position and inducted in a separate ceremony at the same convention. As State Vice President, Sproul will travel around the state, visiting various chapters as well as carrying out many other duties on a state level.

The state FFA convention takes place every year and is a week-long competition and learning forum for all FFA members throughout the state. Competitions take place for everything from horse judging and dairy judging, to job interviews and public speaking, with all schools competing head to head regardless of school or chapter size.

Moapa Valley had a very strong showing at the convention. This years local winners include sophomore Klint Cardinal and senior Kaley Sproul, for first and second place, respectively, in soils judging and sophomore Kenna McMurray for a 3rd place title in public speaking.

Although awards were only given for the top three places in each event, other strong finishers were also recognized. Sophomore Klint Cardinal was noted for a 4th place finish in both Extemporaneous Speaking and Job Interview, freshman Makenzie Bush had a great 6th place finish in horse judging, and the floriculture team also had an impressive 4th place finish.

Although the soils competition was actually held earlier this year, winners were recognized during awards at the state convention. With their first place win, the soils team will be traveling to the National competition later this year.

In addition to competitive events, the annual state convention also includes leadership seminars and team building activities. FFA is considered to be the largest youth organization in the world and is widely recognized as one of the premier leadership building programs in the world. For more information on FFA, please contact Craig Wolfley at Moapa Valley High School.