Big Springs FFA members attend national convention

Four members from the Thermopolis Middle School Big Spring FFA chapter traveled to Indianapolis for the National FFA Convention at the end of October.

Mac McCumber was named a finalist this year in the Animal Systems Division 1 Agriscience research contest. The National FFA Agriscience Fair is a key competition that is part of the annual National FFA Convention & Expo held Oct. 23-26 in Indianapolis.

To qualify, FFA members working as individuals or teams in grades 7-12 are required to conduct a scientific research project pertaining to the agriculture industries and win their state's FFA agriscience fair. While at convention, Mac was named second in the nation for his research on hatch rates of chicks using different incubators. This makes four years in a row that a Big Springs member has placed second in the nation for their research project.

In addition to McCumber's success, three additional members attend the convention to represent the chapter on the national stage for the National Chapter Award. "The National Chapter Award Program is designed to recognize FFA chapters that actively implement the mission and strategies of the organization. These chapters improve chapter operations using the National Quality Chapter Standards (NQCS) and a Program of Activities (POA) that emphasize growing leaders, building communities and strengthening agriculture. Chapters are rewarded for providing educational experiences for the entire membership," said advisor Becky Martinez.

The Big Springs chapter received a two star rating as a national chapter. They are the first middle school chapter in the state of Wyoming to receive this honor, just two years after being chartered.