Paintrock FFA given Gold Chamber Award

The Paintrock FFA chapter attended the Wyoming State FFA Convention in Cheyenne, April 7-11. During this year’s convention, our chapter brought home many great achievements ranging from chapter awards to individual awards. Our President and Vice President, Nicholas Olmstead and Varissa Olsen, walked the stage as chapter representatives to receive our gold chapter award. The officer team worked hard throughout the summer and school year planning and carrying out community service and educational activities to earn this award.

The chapter brought seven total teams down to the state convention with two teams placing top six in the state. We brought teams in Poultry, Livestock, Marketing Plan, Greenhand Quizbowl, Ag Mechanics, Horse, and Environment and Natural Resources (ENR). The poultry team, consisting of Nicholas Olmstead (team captain), Camden Schriner, Bridger McGinnis and Andrew Sawyer, placed second overall with Nick being the second high individual in the state. Our Environment and Natural Resources team, made up of Ridge Lewis (team captain), Alan Landis, Bridger McGinnis and Dawson Scott, placed 5th high in the state.

Our Paintrock seniors have also been working hard to achieve their state degree. For five years they have been attending and helping organize chapter events as well keeping records of their own projects and community service. The State FFA Degree is the second highest individual degree a person can achieve in FFA. In order to receive it, members must complete monetary and time investment requirements in addition to community service over the course of their enrollment in agriculture education classes. This year the Paintrock FFA Chapter had seven students earn this award. Our 2026 recipients were Varissa Olsen, Johnna Clifford, Brooklynn Paxton, Nick Olmstead, Camden Schriner, Bridger McGinnis and Ridge Lewis.

In addition to our time competing at State Convention, we also participated in leadership workshops, a career and vendor fair, the Friday night dance and a few tours. We got to walk around the Capitol building and had the opportunity to operate some heavy machinery during our RDO Equipment tour. All in all, it was a successful trip.