Klamath Falls, Oregon – Members, families, staff and community supporters filled the room May 28 as Eagle Ridge New Tech High School’s FFA chapter looked back on a year that was still young in age, but already rich in growth, competition and leadership.
The banquet was more than an awards night. It was a clear sign of how quickly the program has taken root. Eagle Ridge New Tech FFA, which also includes Ponderosa Middle School students through the ERNTHS 8th Grade Exploratory CTE Wheel, celebrated members who stepped into a wide range of Career Development Events, from soils and food science to agricultural mechanics, environmental science, milk quality and production, meats evaluation, floriculture and parliamentary procedure.
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The results showed depth across the chapter. Eagle Ridge earned district championships in beginning and advanced soils, placed fourth in the state in environmental science and finished seventh in the state in milk quality and production. The environmental science team also earned Rookie Team of the Year honors, a major achievement for a chapter still building its foundation.
Students also found success at the Klamath County Fair. Senior Aden Jimenez earned Small Animal Sportsmanship and Reserve Champion Novice Rabbit Showmanship honors, while Noelle Perez was named Reserve Champion Novice Poultry Showman and Champion FFA Market Chickens. As a chapter, Eagle Ridge earned Champion Small Animal Herdsmanship.
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The evening also recognized individual effort. Ela King placed eighth individually at the state Food Science competition and sixth at districts in Floriculture. Aysha Hernandez placed fourth in the district Job Interview competition, and Christopher Hernandez placed fourth in Spanish Creed Speaking. The chapter’s FFA Information Test team swept the top three district individual placements.
Advisor Katharine Smith gave special attention to the graduating seniors, praising the energy they brought to the program. “This group of seniors wanted to do everything. We were on every trip, we were on every movement, you know, with everything we had,” Smith said.
Smith reserved especially strong praise for chapter co-president Ela King, who competed in several events while helping lead the chapter. “There’s not anything this girl cannot do,” Smith said, adding that King’s determination “has just been a driving force in this chapter.”
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Noelle Perez was praised as someone who “just shows up every day,” while Rose Purkhiser was described as a “hard worker.” Staff members Haley Aiken, Antonette Briones Morelos and Natalie Carpenter received Honorary Chapter Degrees for their support of students and the program.
The banquet closed with officer installation, as co-presidents King and Jimenez recognized next year’s president Jessica Schei and vice president Emma Moore. “Through cooperation, hard work, and dedication, you will succeed and the FFA will prosper,” Jimenez said.
King also offered a final charge to the new team: “May your year of service be marked by integrity, dedication, and a cooperative spirit. Seek harmony among your fellow officers and set high standards of leadership for all chapter members.”
