For the first time in the history of the Tillamook FFA Chapter, the Agricultural Sales Team proudly represented their school and community on the national stage at the 2024 National FFA Convention & Expo in Indianapolis, Indiana. The team participated in the National Agricultural Sales Career Development Event (CDE), which evaluates students’ abilities to apply their sales skills in real-world situations.
The team demonstrated outstanding skill and preparation, earning a Gold Emblem as a team and a top-14 finish, out of 43 teams. Individual student accolades include:
- Peyton Rawe was 6th (out of 172 participants) receiving a Gold Emblem Award.
- Bridget Allen earned a Gold Emblem Award.
- Abby Blackburn received a Silver Emblem Award.
- Brynnen Blaser was awarded a Silver Emblem Award.
Participating in this event at the national level marks a significant achievement for the chapter and reflects the hard work and dedication of the team members and their advisors.
“Competing at nationals is not an easy feat,” said Brooklyn Bush, one of the Tillamook FFA Advisors. “This team worked so hard and learned so much. It was an honor to represent our chapter and state. It feels great to know that our efforts paid off, and we couldn’t have done it without the support from our wonderful community.”
One of the other Tillamook FFA Advisors, Hayden Bush added, “These achievements are a testament to the dedication of the team, and their coach Brooklyn, as well as the strong support network from our school and community. These ladies worked extremely hard for over three years for this moment. Some of them competed in this event for over five years total. We couldn’t be prouder of what they have accomplished.”
This year’s event simulated selling Kubota Skid Steers and related implements. To prepare, the team worked directly with Kayla Rulifson at Boyd’s Implement Service to learn the ins and outs of these machines. The team would like to give a heartfelt thank you to Kayla for being such an integral part of their success at nationals. The Tillamook FFA Chapter is always grateful for the opportunity to network with and serve the community.