Thirty-two Holdrege FFA members represented the Chapter at the 98th Nebraska State FFA
Convention March 25th-27th. Events and State Contests were held at Pinnacle Bank Arena and
University of Nebraska – Lincoln, East Campus. The State FFA Association developed a program
of keynote speakers, National FFA Officers, State FFA Officer retiring addresses, agricultural
industry tours and Career Expo. Several honors and awards were presented to the Holdrege
Chapter and members.
Holdrege FFA submitted its application for judging of the Chapter’s Program of Activities in the
National Chapter Awards. The Chapter was awarded a Premier Chapter Rating Award. The
award was presented to the Top 21 chapters in Nebraska out of 220 chapters. The application
will now move to the national level for evaluation. This is the 18th time in 19 years that the
Holdrege application has been named a Premier Chapter.  
Chapter members Claire Maloley, Aldyn Hadley, Curtis Eschen, Sunder Schemper, Cooper
Lindstrom, Clay Maloley, Jett Johnson, and Derrek Marquardt each earned their State FFA
Degrees.  The State FFA Degree is the highest degree that members can earn through the State
Association. Since 1940, one hundred forty-nine Holdrege FFA Members have earned the State
FFA Degree. 
Holdrege was represented by State Proficiency finalists in three areas. Senior Claire Maloley
was in 2nd place in Diversified Horticulture. Jett Johnson, also a senior, received 1st place in
Diversified Crop Production Placement. His application will be forwarded to the National level
for evaluation. Jett’s other proficiency in the Diversified Crop Production area received 3rd
place. 
In Leadership Development Events, the Parliamentary Procedure team of Claire and Clay
Maloley, Cael Schmidt, Haley Kunz, Jacob Moon and Jessie Bronson received a Bronze rating.  
Chapter Conduct of Meetings Team consisting of freshman Josie Ptacnik, Alexa Tilson, Cinch
Mooney, Cora Newth, Stormie Hudson, Madyson Weekley and Keana Ness competed against
thirty-six other teams and received a Silver Ranking.
The Ag Demonstration Team of Cooper Lindstrom, Jett Johnson and Micah Nelsen earned a
Silver Ranking for their processing of soybeans to soy oil and soy diesel and other by-products.
The Farm Business Management team of Claire Maloley, Derrek Marquardt, Cael Schmidt, and
Clay Maloley received the State Runner-up Plaque. Individually, Clay Maloley placed 4th, Derrek
Marquardt placed 11th, Claire Maloley placed 16th, and Cael Schmidt placed 23rd. 

Competing in Agriscience was the group of Josie Ptacnik, Keana Ness, Cora Newth, and Alexa
Tilson. The team submitted Agriculture Career Research portfolios, took individual tests
covering general agriculture knowledge. The team completed a hands-on practicum involving
dissection and identification of perch and fetal pigs.
The Ag Sales team of Aldyn Hadley, Reese Hodge, Kambyn Vaughn and Haley Kunz competed in
a Team Sales Planning process, individual testing and a sales practicum on generators
The Natural Resources team of Cole Eschen, Harley Wells, Carlos Mendoza, and Marcus May
competed in a contest involving identifying wildlife species, tool and equipment identification, a
general knowledge exam along with a team activity centered on soil and water management
practices. Macus May and Harley Wells both earned individual Red Ribbons.
The Meats Evaluation Team of MayCee Beat, Sam Holen, Liam Walker & Madyson Weekley
completed retail meat cut identification, carcass evaluation and grading and a meat industry
test.  Sam Holen earned Red ranking with freshman Liam Walker earning a white placing.
Senior Cooper Lindstrom and juniors Jessie Bronson, Jacob Moon and Katelyn Weekley
competed in the Senior Livestock Evaluation. They were given ten classes of animals to judge
and three sets of oral reasons to give. 
Claire Maloley, Jacob Moon, Derrek Marquardt and Conner Tilson competed in the Ag
Biotechnology. They were tested on a group activity involving Plant Breeding and genetics
calculations, equipment identification, and a written test on agricultural biotechnology trends
and knowledge. Derrek Marquardt placed 9th individually.
In the Welding CDE, senior Jett Jonhnson competed in MIG Welding. Clay Maloley placed 6th in
TIG Welding, Cooper Lindstrom competed in Arc Welding earning a red ranking and Cael
Schmidt competed in the Oxy Fuel Welding section. 
Holdrege FFA Chapter members will be concluding major activities for the school year with the
89 th Annual FFA Banquet on Sunday, April 12 th at the Phelps County Ag Center. The Chapter will
also be conducting their annual Plant Sales starting May 1st at the high school.