From March 31st through April 2nd Alvirne FFA members competed at the 92nd New Hampshire FFA convention, held at the Mount Washington Hotel. The countless hours of practicing & studying over the past few months really paid off, with a number of placings over various events. Those events are:
Agricultural Mechanics – Coached by Ben Marshall
For the first time, Alvirne did a clean sweep of this event. Members include:
4th place – James Rowe
3rd place – Donovan Greenwood
2nd place – Parker Berube
1st place – Matt Rice
1st place team overall consisted of James Rowe, Donovan Greenwood, Matt Rice, Seamus Alukonis
Animal Welfare – Coached by Corie Bliss & Jenny Beaudry
Novice Division
3rd place – Katie Amidon
2nd place – Erin Stevens
1st place – Nico Carlen
Experienced Division
1st place – Olivia Fraser
Creed Speaking – Coached by Ben Marshall
4th place – Victoria Scarbro
3rd place – Juliana Picone
2nd place – Matt Rice
Demonstration – Coached by Corie Bliss, Jenny Beaudry, and Ben Marshall
Sophomore Division
2nd place – Riley Devin
1st place – Donovan Greenwood
Junior Division
2nd place – Ava Noel
Senior Division
3rd place – James Rowe
2nd place – Seamus Alukonis
Employment Skills – Coached by Ben Marshall
Senior Division
3rd place – Matt Rice
Junior Division
3rd place – Elizabeth Bliss
2nd place – Erin Stevens along with 2nd place overall
Extemporaneous Public Speaking – Coached by Ben Marshall
1st place – Matthew Rice
Floriculture – Coached by Sue Hill
3rd place – Olivia Fraser
2nd place team overall – Members include Olivia Fraser, Shyann Bergeron, Taylor Montgomery, Ava Biskaduros
Forestry – Coached by Ben Marshall
Continuing their outstanding winning streak in New Hampshire for over the past ten years, the Alvirne FFA Forestry team did a clean sweep of the state taking all top four spots for the second year in a row.
4th place – Jakob Frieda
3rd place – Parker Berube
2nd place – Donovan Greenwood
1st place – James Rowe
1st place team overall included members Jakob Frieda, Scott Skirkey, Parker Berube, Donovan Greenwood, Parker Hilton, Jacob Rhyner, and James Rowe.
Impromptu Public Speaking – Coached by Ben Marshall
3rd place – Carson Collins
2nd place tie) – Robert Maucieri
2nd place (tie) – Julianna Picone
1st place – Victoria Scarbro
Prepared Public Speaking – Coached by Ben Marshall
4th place – Parker Berube
2nd place – Victoria Scarbro
Veterinary Science – Coached by Corie Bliss & Jenny Beaudry
The Alvirne Vet Science team did an outstanding job against very hard competition. Having won this event every year since 2012, they did a clean sweep of the event, taking all top 4 placings. Members include:
4th place – Ava Noel
3rd place – Katie Amidon
2nd place – Nico Carlen
1st place – Elizabeth Bliss
1st place overall team members included Ava Noel, Emma Kobs, Katie Amidon, Elizabeth Bliss, Nico Carlen, Carson Collins, Riley Devin, and Olivia Smith.
The New Hampshire FFA State Degree, the second highest degree an FFA member can receive, the highest being the American Degree, was also awarded at this past convention. In order to receive this degree, members must perform a minimum number of community service hours, have an active SAE, and have received their Chapter Degree. Working with their advisors Corie Bliss, Jenny Beaudry, and Ben Marshall, these following members received their State Degree and now wear the coveted gold chain lanyard. These members are:
-Victoria Scarbro
-Erin Stevens
-Matthew Rice
The 95th National FFA Convention is being held in Indianapolis, Indiana from October 26-29. Teams representing New Hampshire will be Agricultural Mechanics, Forestry, and Veterinary Science. In addition, Matthew Rice will be representing New Hampshire in Extemporaneous Public Speaking.
To top off Alvirne’s outstanding performance and representation at the FFA State Convention, for the first time in 15 years, an Alvirne FFA member was voted in as a state officer. State officers are the “faces of the state”, attending various chapter’s banquets, hosting workshops, travelling to retreats in Washington DC, and representing New Hampshire at National Convention. Alvirne FFA Vice President Matthew Rice, a 2nd year forestry student, was elected to the position of 2022-2023 New Hampshire FFA State President by a committee of fellow FFA members.