The National FFA Organization plays a large role in the lives of students across the State of Montana. This program first started in 1928 and has since spread across all 50 states and 5 territories. Chartered in 1930, the Montana Association has a membership of over 6500 students, representing 111 chapters. The FFA Motto is “Learning to Do, Doing to Learn, Earning to Live, Living to Serve” and members practice this every day. Students have numerous opportunities to learn about potential careers, serve their communities, and develop skills that will last a lifetime. One special opportunity that took place recently was the Agriculture Commodity Tour. Students traveled by van over 2000 miles, visiting Idaho, Oregon and Washington, stopping at various locations along the way. The eight members of the State FFA Officer Team as well as the 2nd Place Agronomy team from Belgrade hit the road on July 7th, led by State Advisor Mr. Jim Rose and Belgrade FFA Advisor Mr. Kyle Gavin.
The first stop of the trip was at Columbia Grain in Clarkston, Washington, where the group took a very interesting tour of their facility. Members found it interesting to see the transport of grain on such a large scale. As agriculturalists, it is important for us to understand what happens to our grain after it is harvested. The tour at Columbia Grain gave us a unique perspective and new respect for what goes on behind the scenes.
According to Rose, “the best part of the trip is the opportunity for members to “see first-hand the magnitude of Montana agriculture on a global scale”. This trip provides unique opportunities for students to learn about the agriculture industry as well as potential careers. Very few people get the privilege to get a behind the scenes look at the many Ag businesses in the Pacific Northwest and watch Montana commodities being transported out of our state to feed people all over the world.
Perhaps the student’s most talked about stop was made at Shaver Transportation in Portland. This family- owned business is one of just a couple that operate barges and tugboats on the Columbia River System. Additionally, the group spent about 3 hours touring United Grain in Vancouver, WA.
Finally, the group visited a Cranberry Farming Operation, Ocean Spray Cranberry processing plant in Markham, WA, Bonneville Dam and Three Mile Canyon Farms which farms 93,000 acres and milks 36,000 head of cows twice a day. In addition to the agriculturally focused tours, the group also spent an afternoon at a beach in Oregon, and hiked up to Multnomah Falls. For some, this was the first time seeing the ocean.
This experience was generously sponsored by Columbia Grain.
Pictured L to R: Alexa Smieja from Belgrade, Grace Mosher – Reporter from Shepherd, Ryan Bal – Sentinel from Park City, Emma Lou Slivka – Secretary from Winifred, Sierra Mauland – Treasurer from Big Timber, Reagan Long – 1st V.P. from Shields Valley, Jordan Leach – President from Conrad, Rom Hiner – 2nd V.P. from Harlowton, Grace McPherson – Parliamentarian from Fairview, Kaylee Reid from Belgrade, and Ella Young from Belgrade.