INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. — FFA members in 15 states can now register for the 2013 FFA Chapter Challenge presented by Monsanto.

The 2013 FFA Chapter Challenge, a third-year program now available to more than 3,800 FFA chapters and 265,000 FFA members and sponsored by Monsanto, challenges FFA members to make meaningful connections with local agriculturists with a new twist.

FFA chapters will now compete in one of two contests with the FFA Chapter Challenge: option one requires FFA members to interview and document local agriculturists who then vote for a chapter, and option two requires FFA members build a portfolio of agriculturist and community member interviews, develop a social media plan and film a video promoting agricultural awareness. Two FFA chapters, one from each contest area, will win the grand prize to attend October’s 86th National FFA Convention & Expo in Louisville, Ky.  

Before FFA chapters are eligible for the program, they must register online. FFA members in Alabama, Arkansas, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Louisiana, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Nebraska, Tennessee, Texas and Wisconsin are eligible in 2013.

Other prizes will be awarded to each state’s top ten FFA chapters in either category for the FFA Chapter Challenge. Those prizes, a line of credit for use on FFA expenses such as supplies or national convention registration fees, range from $2,500 to $100.  As a sponsor of the program, Monsanto will provide more than $300,000 in incentives.

Winners will be announced in early April.

DENVER, Colo. — The Southern Wells FFA Livestock Judging Team, of Poneto, Ind., won first place at the National Western Round-up Livestock Judging contest in Denver, Colo., on Jan. 12. Bringing back the first place hardware were team members Jayde Sills, Jackson Johnson, Justin Penrod, and Jordyn Sills. They won the contest by scoring an outstanding 2260 points setting a National Western record for largest margin of victory, 85 points ahead of the second place Kansas team.  

Collectively the team won the cattle, swine, sheep, and reasons divisions and placed second in goats. The team had three members in the top six overall individually. Jordyn placed first individually overall by winning the sheep, swine, and reasons divisions. Jayde tied for second overall winning the cattle and goat divisions. Jackson was sixth overall placing ninth in cattle, ninth in swine, and fifth in reasons. Justin placed 18th overall and ranked seventh in cattle, ninth in swine, and 14th in reasons.  

The team spent several days in preparation for the contest in Denver. They traveled to Casper, Wyo., for sheep and cattle practice at the Burch Ranch and Casper College. The team evaluated cattle and toured Magnum Feed Yards. Participation in the Colorado State University judging workshop was the final preparation for the contest. 

Southern Wells represented Indiana at this national contest by winning the state event last May.  This is actually the second win in Denver. Southern Wells FFA sponsored  the 4-H team that won in 2008. Jayde was a member of that team. Randy Mounsey, livestock judging coach, and the team members are extremely grateful for the encouragement and financial support from local businesses as well as members of the community.  

FFA and 4-H members learn leadership and career skills by participating in judging CDE  (Career Development Events). They study specific technical information, make decisions based on the information and verbally justify their decisions. FFA membership is open to all students of agriculture education.