October Meeting

During the October FFA meeting, Wells FFA hosted a costume contest, encouraging members to show off their creativity and school spirit. Ms. Shelly Doss was the guest speaker, delivering an engaging presentation on drug and alcohol awareness in teenagers, emphasizing the importance of making informed and safe choices. The meeting also covered key upcoming events, including final preparations for the National FFA Convention, local contests, and District Leadership Development Events (LDE) contests. Members discussed practice schedules and contest details to ensure everyone is well-prepared. Additionally, the profits from the recent Fresh Country fundraiser were reviewed, highlighting members' hard work and the support it provides for future FFA activities.

Mark your calendars for our next meeting on Monday, November 18th! We look forward to more fun, engaging activities, and further exploring all the opportunities Wells FFA has to offer.

Mark Your Calendars!

Livestock Shows

Emily Moday at the State Fair of Texas

Emily Monday showed incredible talent and hard work at the State Fair of Texas! Here’s a recap of her outstanding accomplishments: Market Show: Competed with a Cockerel pen against 108 other pens! Placed 1st in class with her Market Barrow Pan-American Show: 4th place with her Crossbred 4th place with her Yorkshire 1st place with her Hampshire Hampshire Breed Champion Junior Show: 3rd place in class with her Cross 3rd Overall with her Hampshire 3rd Overall with her Yorkshire We are so proud of Emily’s dedication and effort! Wells FFA continues to shine bright!

Tessa Benton at the State Fair of Texas

Big congratulations to Wells FFA member Tessa Benton for her outstanding performance at the State Fair of Texas Major Show! Tessa earned Best of Variety and Best Opposite with her Lynx Rex Buck, and Best Opposite with her Lilac Doe. We are so proud of her dedication and hard work with her rabbits!

Central Invitational:

Our Radio Team, featuring SkylarJo Smith, Colby Choate, and Carmyn Dement, placed 3rd with an informative discussion on poultry production in Cherokee County!

A big shoutout to Karen Fernandez, who placed 2nd in the Spanish Creed Speaker contest, where she flawlessly recited the FFA creed in Spanish and answered questions about its meaning.

Our Greenhand Quiz Team—Kinsley Collins, Jayden Redd, and Jaxson Moody—also competed and showed off their FFA and agriculture knowledge!

We’re so proud of all our members for their hard work and dedication!

Wildlife Contest & Hay Judging :

Cooper Collie, Travis Goodwin and Jared Williams

These boys placed 2nd at the county contest, which allowed them to advance to regionals, where they placed 10th in Area 9. We are incredibly proud of their hard work and dedication as they represent our school at higher levels of competition!

Caleb Choate, Landon Gresham and Drake Wallace

The Hay Judging Team performed admirably, placing 10th as a team at their recent contest. Their hard work and commitment to honing their judging skills are evident, and we’re proud of their accomplishments! Great job, team!

SAE Spotlight

This year, Wells FFA is proud to showcase one of our outstanding juniors, Skylar Smith, and her dedication to the Beef Cattle Supervised Agricultural Experience (SAE). Skylar has been showing cattle for two years now, gaining hands-on experience and invaluable skills in livestock management, showmanship, and the responsibilities of cattle care. For her SAE project, Skylar is working with both a steer and a heifer, representing her commitment to mastering the techniques required for both show and market animals.

Skylar’s project this year includes preparing her animals for both the majors and county show circuits. This means early mornings, long days, and plenty of hard work to ensure her steer and heifer are in top shape.

Be sure to cheer her on as she heads to the majors and county shows this season!

Classroom Spotlight

This month, Mr. Smith’s Introduction to Agriculture Mechanics students have been busy building practical and fun projects for our campus! They recently completed sets of washer boards and cornhole boards for Ms. Wilcox’s Grade Level Incentive Days. These games are bound to add some friendly competition and excitement during the events, with students putting their skills to the test while constructing them.

The class has also started a project that gives back to the school community—replacing worn-out boards on the benches at the baseball field. This hands-on task teaches students essential woodworking and carpentry techniques, all while improving our campus facilities. We look forward to seeing their completed work and the impact of their skills around the school.

Karen Fernandez

Karen Fernandez, a dedicated senior in her fifth year of FFA, is looking forward to an exciting year of growth and connection within the organization. Eager to get more people involved, Karen wants others to see that FFA is about much more than showing animals—it’s about leadership, community, and personal development. Her favorite contest, the Spanish Creed, reflects her pride in both her heritage and the core values of FFA. One of her most treasured memories is playing card games with friends in the lobby at the National Convention, where she experienced the camaraderie and friendships that make FFA so special. As she approaches her final year, Karen is committed to making a lasting impact on her chapter and inspiring others to embrace all the opportunities FFA provides.

Wells Garden

Mrs. Smith received fantastic news regarding the garden grant she submitted through Texas Farm Bureau. Her application has been approved, and the planning and building phase will begin soon! The goal of this project is to engage students in the 8th grade Principles of Agriculture Science and Life Skills programs, giving them hands-on experience in growing and maintaining a garden. In addition to the educational benefits, the garden will help provide extra produce for donations to the local food pantry, fostering community support and sustainability.

Stay tuned for updates as we begin this enriching journey!

A Journey of Learning, Connection, and Inspiration

This year’s National FFA Convention in Indianapolis was an unforgettable experience for Wells FFA, filled with hands-on learning, new friendships, and memories that will last a lifetime. Our journey was packed with enriching stops that deepened our understanding of agriculture and strengthened our bond as a chapter.

We kicked off the trip with a visit to the Caterpillar facilities in Peoria, IL, where our officers explored impressive machinery and saw how Caterpillar supports the agriculture industry. This unique experience set the tone for the days ahead, building our excitement for the convention.

Upon arrival, we attended the opening session and embraced this year’s theme, “Engage!” The expo center was a highlight, where we explored innovations from exhibitors and learned about career opportunities in agriculture. Later, we celebrated with friends at a pumpkin patch and bonfire, connecting with chapters from East Chambers, Central, Crockett, and Williston, FL (Mrs. Smith’s alma mater!). Surrounded by FFA members from across the country, our group shared stories and built bonds that made the trip even more meaningful.

One of the highlights was our visit to Fair Oaks Dairy and Pig Farm, where we gained a firsthand look at modern dairy and swine production. Our members were fascinated by the farm’s robotic milking parlor and inspired by the dedication it takes to produce quality products sustainably. We wrapped up the day with a fantastic dinner at Harry & Izzy’s Steakhouse, where we celebrated our shared passion for agriculture.

As we headed home, we made a stop at Lambert’s Cafe in Sikeston, MO, for a lively dining experience with Central FFA. Known for tossing hot rolls across the room, Lambert’s was the perfect way to end our journey. This fun atmosphere and great food left us with one final memory to cherish.

Reflections from Our Members:

For Karen, this was her first—and possibly last—National FFA Convention, and it was a week she’ll never forget. “It was amazing. Meeting people from all over the U.S. who share the same interests was so cool. I think my favorite memory was at the pumpkin patch and bonfire. I never thought I’d go to a pumpkin patch, but it was so fun interacting with people from around our area. I’ll forever remember this week!”

Travis also had a memorable experience. “This week I learned how to milk a cow with a robot and saw how swine production works. I met people from different states, bought some new things, and even got to go to a fancy restaurant. It was awesome!”

For Carmyn, seeing the scale of the convention was awe-inspiring. “We experienced what it was like to be in a room with over 50,000 FFA members! Our group learned about dairy and swine production, and we got to see cute piglets. We dressed up as minions and had a blast, even if we got some funny looks. I’ll never forget this trip and all the laughs with my fellow officers.”

Emily said that one of the best parts of the week was meeting FFA members from all across the United States, as well as the Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico. Making new memories with old friends and connecting with members near and far made the convention even more memorable for her. She cannot wait to come back to recienve her American Degree after graduation.

Returning to Wells, TX, we’re bringing back new knowledge, stronger bonds, and a renewed commitment to our chapter’s mission. Thank you to everyone who made this trip possible—the memories and inspiration from this week will carry us forward for years to come!

Ryan Harris: American Degree Recipient

Ryan Harris, a dedicated FFA member from the Class of 2023, committed his high school years to FFA—and his passion has continued beyond graduation. During his time at Wells High School, Ryan raised and showed livestock, served as an officer, and competed in numerous LDE and CDE teams.

This past National Convention Ryan was awarded the highest award a member can earn, the American Degree. Only 1% of FFA members achieve the prestigious American Degree, with this year only 1,479 members receiving this honor nationwide. Ryan’s hard work and commitment earned him this significant recognition, a reflection of his dedication to the FFA values and his agricultural pursuits.

When asked what advice he would give to current FFA members aiming to earn their American Degree, Ryan encourages them to "join FFA, go all in, and do everything to the best of your ability. Don’t do things halfway and give it your all. I was thrown into random events at times, but I always did my best. If you’re going to do it, go all out."

Ryan also shared how FFA has shaped his skills in leadership, communication, and agricultural knowledge, emphasizing the importance of mentors. "My dad was my mentor—he supported me the entire time I was in FFA and in everything I did". His story serves as a reminder of the value of dedication, hard work, and the positive impact of mentorship in FFA.

Pictures from National Convention

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