Big Springs FFA students attend National Convention

Thermopolis Big Springs FFA sent four state champion students to the2023 FFA Nationals Awards ceremony at the Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, Indiana on October 31 through November 5.

Clint Kimes and Tyler Morris shared the award for ninth in the nation in Environmental Resources for their fishing lures experience. Morris said, "We went around the county, and we tested a couple of different fishing lures, and we figured out what works better and why it worked the best."

Together they tried a variety of baits in a couple of specific areas including Wedding of the Waters, 8th Street Bridge, the pedestrian bridge, boat docks, and Green Eye. The attempted baits include worms, spinners, flies, power bait, and minnows. They also attempted different colors of the baits as well.

Ultimately, they learned that the best lure was the panther martin lure with a rainbow trout pattern on it. Kimes and Morris first presented at the local FFA and then made some adjustments to their project. Then they moved onto State Fair and in the midsummer they learned they were going to Nationals and had a Zoom call with the judges.

Ava Dafoe conducted an experiment in Plant Systems Division 1 testing different ph levels in soil while trying to grow cilantro, seeing how tall and healthy the plant grew. Dafoe started off by testing the phs of different soils. The soils were neutral, acidic, and alkaline. She then planted cilantro seeds and grew them over the course of three weeks, where she measured the heights and to see if they had any leaves. She originally planned the experience for five weeks, but her plants froze in week three. The end results of her experiment shows the best type of soil was acidic.

Dafoe qualified for nationals and was in the top ten in the country. She had to prepare a speech and do an oral presentation. Dafoe ended up placing ninth in the nation in Plant Systems, Division 1, as a middle schooler with no partner.

Alec Martinez did an experiment based on the tenderness of meat and how cooking methods and aging methods affect that. Martinez visited the University of Wyoming's meat lab and they tested three different steaks, including rib eye, top round and eye of round. They cooked all the dry aged steaks in an oven until they reached 160 degrees Fahrenheit internally, which is well done. They took them out and almost immediately they cut it into strips, cutting it with the grain. They cut it into one centimeter thick strips and then put the strip against the fiber into a slice shear force machine. This machine measures the tenderness or how tough the meat is in kilograms. Martinez learned that the tenderloin cooked in the oven was the most tender and the least tender was the bottom round that was cooked in the oven. Martinez placed second in the nation in Food Products and Processing Systems Division 1.

Big Springs FFA advisor Becky Martinez described the process and said, "In September, they had to do a virtual interview with basically three experts in that specific field. It was a 15 minute interview where they asked them questions about their project. And so when we went to nationals, everything had already been scored. They didn't have to present, they just went and got to walk the big stage. While they were on stage, they announced 10th through first place. There are six different categories in the competition, with six divisions in each category for each grade. The kids compete against kids of their own age." Division 1 is a single student or without a partner.

Becky Martinez explained how the process of the FFA competition combined a variety of different skills or fields of work. She said, "This culminates in things. It brings the science that they do in science class. In language arts, they have to write a long paper. I bet their papers are probably 13 pages long... Then we bring in the public speaking part of it and presenting because they have to actually talk to people and be able to explain it as well. It's multi subject areas that we're bringing in together which I think is really cool that it's not just an ag thing, but it's really showcasing the kids and what they can do."

When it comes to Becky Martinez seeking to motivate her students to achieve more in FFA, she said, "If they have a passion, something that they are excited about, then that's what we should do their experiment about. We will dig and find some experts and give them the ability to do it. We have a foundation that will give $200 grants to kids. So money shouldn't be 'I can't do that because I can't afford it.' We really try to break down the barriers of why they might say they can't. And if they are interested, then I am excited to help them with it. They grew so much from the first paper that these students turned into what they submitted to nationals. It was fantastic to see their growth."