Come see the Speech and Drama Team perform their pieces in the cafeteria. This is a great opportunity to see their talent and hard work and to support the Bruins.
On January 11-13, three members attended the Montana FFA Fusion Career Summit in Billings. Madalyn H. participated in the Blue Track, where she gained personal growth skills and explored career options. Summer S. was in the Gold Track, where she practiced things like resume writing and job interviewing. Badger H. participated in the State FFA Officer Candidate Track, where he learned more about vying for and potentially holding a state FFA officer position.
While the FFA members were participating in Fusion, Mrs. Hoppe attended the CASE Animal Health & Vet Science training at the Billings Career Center. Many skills were practiced to help prepare teachers in leading their students through those same skills later on. For example, as seen in the picture, Mrs. Hoppe and the other participants learned different types of sutures. Hopefully this will be a course that she can offer at some point!
On Monday, January 19th, nine FFA members attended the Yellowstone Leadership Districts in Judith Gap.
· The team of Badger H., Cayden H., Ciella W., Olivia T.T., Journey B., and Haven K. placed 1st in Parliamentary Procedure, qualifying for state!
· Olivia T.T. placed 2nd in Prepared Public Speaking with her speech titled The Standard American Diet, also qualifying for state.
· The team of Badger H., Liberty T., Madalyn H., Summer S. placed 5th in Ag Sales, qualifying for state.
Members also participated in Extemporaneous and Creed Speaking.
In addition to competing and traveling, FFA members are preparing for National FFA Week at the end of February and planning the final months before attending the state FFA convention.
Thank you!
During the second week of December, I (Lori Hoppe) attended the National Association of Agricultural Educators (NAAE) convention in Nashville, Tennessee. In addition to attending the convention for workshops, sessions, and professional networking, I rounded out my time in the inaugural INFLUENCE program. Earlier this year, I was one of 12 agricultural education professionals from across the country selected to "develop our leadership and advocacy skills while setting us on the path to building and sustaining influence within our local community, school, state agricultural teachers' association, other state organizations, and at regional and national levels" (NAAE). The program kicked off in March at the National Policy Seminar in Washington D.C. and concluded at NAAE in Nashville with every participant, including myself, presenting our individualized intentional influence plan.
While in Nashville, I spent time at the Gaylord Resort, attended the NAAE Celebration of Innovation Dinner at the Country Music Hall of Fame. was able to see a Country Christmas performance at the Grand Ole Opry, and made many other extraordinary memories! Also, I was able to spend time with many of my ag teacher friends from all over the US as well as make new ones. I'll forever be grateful for the ag ed family I've developed over my career! Additionally, my husband Dean was able to join me in Nashville, which makes only the second major trip we've taken together (the last one was in 2007).
I'm thankful for our current and previous school superintendents for allowing me to be a part of this INFLUENCE program; their support is pivotal in attending professional development like this. I also greatly appreciate the two parents, Heidi Saunders and Sara Taylor, who took our FFA chapter to an important district competition while I was in Nashville. I am also grateful for the two wonderful substitutes plus a community volunteer that kept my classroom moving forward while I was gone for a week. As it is often said, it takes a village! ~Mrs. Hoppe
