C-R FFA Dairy Evaluation Team Earns Gold Rating and Places Seventh at National Convention
Eleven Cobleskill-Richmondville FFA students traveled to Indianapolis, Indiana, from October 18-24 to attend the 99th National FFA Convention, joining nearly 70,000 FFA members from across the country for a week of competition, leadership development, agricultural education, and new experiences.
A highlight of the competition was the C-R FFA Dairy Evaluation Team’s outstanding performance at the national level. The team earned a Gold Team Rating and placed seventh nationally. Team members also earned individual honors: senior Jacob Enyart received a Gold rating, senior Olivia VanEvera and sophomore Rubie Cooke each earned Silver ratings, and 8th grader Logan VanEvera received a Bronze rating.
For the students, the achievement reflected months of preparation, teamwork, and dedication. Chapter President Olivia VanEvera described the excitement of waiting for the results alongside her teammates.
“Looking around at my team and seeing everyone’s reactions made it 10 times better, as we were all so excited and proud of ourselves,” Olivia said. The eleven attending students were chapoeroned by retired Ag teacher, Deb Fletcher, who cheered them on every step of the way. Olivia said, “There was one moment I will forever cherish. We were waiting for results all sitting in a row and me next to Mrs. Fletcher. She told me, ‘Wherever you guys end up as a team, remember I, as well as Mr. Ferreira, and the whole state are so proud of you!’ To that I responded I had already won... I told her I was so extremely proud of how far this team had come and to do it alongside my brother was a truly unforgettable experience!”
For Olivia, the experience carried additional meaning. A senior, she attended her third National FFA Convention alongside her younger brother, Logan, an eighth grader attending for the first time. “Being able to share my last convention with my little brother is a little bittersweet, but as I pass my gavel down to him as president, my heart is so full to know he is following in my footsteps and growing into an amazing young man who I am so proud of! Competing on the same team for my last time, and hopefully his first of many, is something I wouldn’t have changed for the world.”
Logan also enjoyed the opportunity to experience the convention with his sister. “It was cool attending Nationals with my sister...Being able to go with her for my first time was really special.”
Beyond the competition, students explored opportunities in agriculture, connected with other FFA members, and learned about the many paths available through the organization. The convention featured more than 350 agricultural career opportunities, along with workshops, new technologies, businesses, colleges, and special guests.
One workshop that stood out to sophomore Rubie Cooke was “See It, Solve It, Share It.” Students reflected on needs in their communities and developed ideas for how their FFA chapters could make a difference. “The workshop really caught my attention because it required us to reflect on our community and identify a need that we saw needed to be addressed,” Rubie said. “We then reflected on our FFA chapter and developed ideas for how we could help our community.”
The group’s travels also included several memorable stops. In Nashville, Tennessee, students visited the Country Music Hall of Fame, where they explored memorabilia from well-known country music artists and recorded a music-video-style performance together. In Plain City, Ohio, they visited Select Sires, a leading bovine genetics organization, to learn about the collection process and the work that takes place before products reach farms. Other stops included Mammoth Cave and Scene75.
The convention also offered students a chance to see the broader FFA community in action. Olivia said one of her favorite parts of attending Nationals is seeing members from across the country proudly wearing their blue jackets and representing their schools, families, and communities. “I love seeing where people are from on the backs of their jackets and sitting in a crowd of over 70,000 FFA members during sessions,” she said. “It’s an opportunity to proudly represent not only New York or the Cobleskill-Richmondville FFA Chapter, but also our community, friends, and family on the national level.”
The trip included another significant milestone for the chapter: C-R FFA alumnus Kealy Schilde (Class of 2024) earned the American FFA Degree, one of the organization’s highest honors.
For Rubie, the experience reinforced just how much FFA can offer students willing to try something new. “FFA has taught me so many life skills, including public speaking, leadership, and confidence,” Rubie said. “I would never be where I am today without the experiences and amazing people FFA has given me.” She encourages other students who are considering joining FFA or competing to take the opportunity and step outside their comfort zones. “You never know where it will take you or who you will meet along the way.”
The C-R FFA Chapter extends its thanks to Agriculture Teacher Mr. Ferreira for providing students with the opportunity to compete and participate in FFA; Mrs. Fletcher for chaperoning and supporting the chapter; Kevin Ziemba for helping prepare the Dairy Evaluation Team for the national competition; and the families, community members, and four sponsors who helped cover the team’s expenses.
C-RCS is so proud of its students’ accomplishments and grateful for the support that helped make this national experience possible!
Dairy Evaluation Team
Rubie Cook
Jacob Enyart
Logan VanEvera (8th Grader)
Olivia VanEvera
General Attendees
Caylee Faulkner
Sophia Faulkner
Brody Gallagher
Logan Hayes
Andrew Hughes
Madelynn Ponte
Connor Testa