The Wenatchee High School FFA Chapter outshone the competition on May 13-17 earning a Silver Rating out of 160 FFA Chapters in Washington.

The Wenatchee chapter earned multiple awards, highlighted by a first place for the highest donation to the March Of Dimes Foundation, fourth place for the Chapter Scrapbook competition, sixth place for The Food Science and Technology team. Top individual winners for The Food Science and Technology team was sophomore Hannah Kiehn, sixth place; and junior Alura Hottinger, seventh place;  the First Year Member CDE placed seventh, the team consisted of freshmen Emily Carroll, Kailie Wulf, Marjie Sabo, and Vanessa Figueroa; the Agriculture Sales team consisting of juniors Alura Hottinger, junior Abby Davison, Avery Adams, and senior Bethany Symonds placed eighth and the Farm Business Management CDE placed 14th consisting of seniors Paige Fowler, senior Travis Manhon, and juniors Eric Briley and juniors Roy Matthynssens.

“State convention went really well. Wenatchee walked across the stage quite a few times for various recognitions, representing Wenatchee High School very well,” science teacher and FFA adviser Matt Asplund said.

WHS graduate Julia Spangler was elected as the Washington state FFA President to serve for the 2015-16 school year. As the state president, she will serve the members of Washington State and act as an ambassador for agriculture and agricultural education.

“When they called my name I was very emotional and I was very happy. It was a very good emotion, but at the same time I can’t even really describe what was going through my head or how I felt. I just hugged everyone and high fived everyone and then ran down to the stage and I was crying but I was so happy,” Spangler said.

The National FFA Organization is the largest youth organization in the world with more than 500,000 students and with more than 7,200 chapters in all 50 states, the Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico. The Washington State FFA Association is comprised of approximately 7,500 members in 160 active chapters.

“We are proud of the achievements of the kids both at State and from throughout the school,” Asplund said.