Award Winners 2022-2023

Career Development Events 2023

Competitions conducted at the State FFA Convention and based on individual and/or team performance in areas related to agriculture and natural resources. 2023 Event Results:

Agribusiness/Farm Business Management

First Place Team: Caribou HS FFA

Second Place Team: Ashland FFA

Third Place Team: Mars Hill HS (CAHS) FFA

First Place Individual: Carter Craig, Ashland HS FFA

Second Place Individual: Grace Routhier, Ashland

Third Place Individual: Bradley Berry, Ashland

Agricultural Sales

First Place Team: Mars Hill HS (Team 1)

Second Place Team: Mars Hill Junior (Team 1)

Third Place Team: Mars Hill HS (Team 3)

First Place Individuals: Kassidy Blackstone, Mars Hill HS

Second Place Individual: Carson Cushman, Mars Hill HS

Third Place Individual: Abigail Howlett, Mars Hill HS

Agricultural Technology & Mechanical Systems

First Place Team: Presque Isle FFA

Second Place Team: Caribou FFA (Team 1)

Third Place Team: Caribou FFA (Team 2)

First Place Individual: Jesse Taggett, Caribou FFA

Second Place Individual: Trisan Yeater, Presque Isle FFA

Third Place Individual: Josiah Kierstead, Presque Isle FFA

Agriscience Fair

First Place Individual: Samantha Edgecomb, Presque Isle FFA

Second Place Individual: Bailey Davenport, Presque Isle FFA

Third Place Individual: Dylan Fuller, Presque Isle FFA

Creed Speaking

First Place Individual: Lane Carmichael, Presque Isle FFA

Second Place Individual: Hannah Shaw, Mars Hill FFA

Third Place Individual: Jamie McKay, Easton FFA

Dairy Cattle Evaluation (Virtual)

First Place Team: Presque Isle FFA (Team 1)

Second Place Team: Caribou FFA

Third Place Team: Presque Isle FFA (Team 2)

First Place Individual: Erinn Kelly, Presque Isle

Second Place Individuals: Brooke Emerson, Presque Isle

Third Place Individual: Maddilyn Brazier, Presque Isle

Discussion Meet

First Place Individual: Micah Calhoun, Ashland HS FFA

Second Place Individual: Ben Howes, Ashland HS FFA

Third Place Individual: Violet Gregg, Presque Isle FFA

Employability Skills

First Place Individual: Nickie Deschaine, Mars Hill HS

Second Place Individual: Brooke Emerson, Presque Isle FFA

Third Place Individual: Ellie Calhoun, Ashland HS FFA

Environmental & Natural Resources

First Place Team: Caribou FFA

Second Place Team: Easton FFA (Team 1)

Third Place Team: Easton FFA (Team 2)

First Place Individual: Kenzie Legassie, Easton

Second Place Individual: Evan Silsbee, Caribou

Third Place Individual: Nate Guerrette, Caribou

Floriculture

First Place Team: Caribou FFA

Second Place Team: Mars Hill Junior HS

Third Place Team: Mas Hill HS

First Place Individual: Maggie MacLearn, Ashland HS

Second Place Individual: Maddilyn Atkinson, Mars Hill Jr. HS

Third Place Individual: Haley Mayne, Caribou

Forestry

First Place Team: Ashland HS (Team 1)

Second Place Team: Ashland HS (Team 2)

Third Place Team: Presque Isle

First Place Individuals: Dylan Stedman, Ashland HS FFA

Second Place Individual: Kaden Rosi-Carney, Presque Isle FFA

Third Place Individual: Ben Howes, Ashland FFA

Horse Evaluation

First Place Team: Mars Hill JR HS FFA

Second Place Team: Mars Hill JR HS FFA

Third Place Team: Presque Isle FFA

First Place Individuals: Eva Koppes, Mars Hill JR HS

Second Place Individual: Samantha Edgecomb, Presque Isle

Third Place Individual: Maggie Mahan, Mars Hill HS

Introductory Extemporaneous Public Speaking

First Place Individual: Jamie McKay, Easton FFA

Second Place Individual: Jules Hummel, Ashland MS FFA

Third Place Individual: Millie Craig, Ashland MS FFA

Introductory Prepared Public Speaking

First Place Individual: Maddilyn Atkinson, Central Aroostook Junior HS FFA, Mars Hill Jr.

Second Place Individual: Aidan Kinney, Central Aroostook Junior HS FFA

Middle School Quiz Bowl

First Place Team: Central Aroostook Junior HS FFA (Kellen McCrum, Dylan McKeen, Jack Hentosh, Will Whited)

Nursery & Landscape

First Place Team: Caribou

Second Place Team: Fryeburg Academy

Third Place Team: Mars Hill HS

First Place Individual: Dakota Fox, Fryeburg Academy

Second Place Individual: Jillian Zigler, Caribou and Brooke Emerson, Presque Isle

Third Place Individuals: Maddilyn Atkinson, Mars Hill Jr. HS

Prepared Public Speaking

First Place Individual: Delaney McKeen, Mars Hill HS

Second Place Individual: Nickie Deschaine, Mars Hill HS

Third Place Individual: Savannah Dyer-Hallett, Mars Hill HS

Safe Tractor Driving

First Place Individual: Mitch Turner, Caribou FFA

Second Place Individual: Jesse Taggett, Caribou FFA

Third Place Individual: Lane McCrum, Mars Hill HS (CAHS) FFA

Veterinary Science

First Place Team: Presque Isle FFA (Team 3)

Second Place Team: Caribou

Third Place Team: Presque Isle FFA (Team 1)

First Place Individual: Maddox Michaud, Presque Isle FFA

Second Place Individual: Mia Arcott, Presque Isle FFA

Third Place Individual: Abram Jackson, Presque Isle FFA

Best Spirit Chapter - 2023 State Convention

Award presented to FFA Chapter whose members exhibit the highest level of enthusiasm, good sportsmanship, friendliness and courtesy during the course of the Maine FFA State Convention. 2023 Recipient:

Central Aroostook Middle School/ Mars Hill Jr High School FFA

Honorary Maine FFA Degree Recipients - 2023

Award presented to members of Maine’s agriculture and natural resources community who have demonstrated a high level of commitment and service to the Maine FFA Association. 2023 Recipients:

Ms. Lydia Kieffer-Till, University of Maine Presque Isle
Mr. Dwight Littlefield, Maine Department of Education
Mr. Graham Berry, Maine FFA Alumni
Ms. Kaley Norsworthy, Maine FFA Alumni

Proficiency Award State Winners - 2023

Monetary and honorary awards are based on student accomplishments outside of the classroom in an area related to agriculture and natural resources. Students compete in area of placement (where work is done as an employee) or entrepreneurship (where student initiates and oversees own activity). Candidates must complete extensive applications documenting their goals, progress, hours and earnings (if any). Winners receive a check for $250 and proceed to the national level for further competition.

Agricultural Mechanics Design and Fabrication: Chance Sawyer, Ashland FFA
Diversified Livestock: Cailin Brown, Ashland FFA
Equine Science: Haley Mayne, Caribou FFA
Outdoor Recreation: Ellie Calhoun, Ashland HS FFA
Poultry Production: Carter Craig, Ashland FFA
Service Learning: Micah Calhoun, Ashland HS FFA
Agricultural Services: Nickie Deschaine, Mars Hill HS (CAHS) FFA

Maine FFA Chapter Advisor of the Year - 2022-2023

Award presented to a stellar chapter FFA advisors upon nomination by home chapter and selection by state FFA officer review committee.

Mr. Scott Moir, Caribou FFA

Maine FFA Outstanding Chapter Officer - 2023

Award presented for superior service to a Maine FFA student chapter officer in recognition of his or her accomplishments following nomination by home FFA chapter advisor and selection by state FFA officer review committee.

Micah Calhoun, Ashland HS FFA

State FFA Degree Recipients - 2023

Recognition presented annually to those student FFA members who have demonstrated exemplary commitment to and accomplishments in the Maine FFA Association, and who have completed required application.

Brady Berry, Ashland H.S. FFA
Ellie Calhoun, Ashland H.S. FFA
Inyas Janoch, Ashland H.S. FFA/ Caribou FFA
Ben Howes, Ashland H.S. FFA
Brinleigh Kingsbury, Mars Hill HS
Haley Mayne, Caribou FFA
Abram McCrum, Mars Hill HS
Rylee Pierce, Mars Hill HS
Anabel Wadsworth, Ashland FFA

State Stars -2023

This award is based on superior accomplishments by students with advanced outside-of-the-classroom activities related to agriculture and natural resources. Winners at the state level receive $300 and the chance to proceed to national competition.

Agricultural Placement: Ellie Calhoun, Ashland HS FFA
Agriscience: Micah Calhoun, Ashland HS FFA
Agribusiness: Nickie Deschaine, Mars Hill FFA

Guerrette Scholarships -2023

This award is based on superior accomplishments by students interested in pursuing post-secondary education in agriculture or a related field. Winners at the state level receive $1,000.

Micah Calhoun, Ashland
Nickie Deschaine, Mars Hill HS

Washington Leadership Conference Scholarship Award - 2023

This award, covering registration costs of $940 for this high quality, one-week leadership training conducted in the summer by the National FFA Organization, is presented to a limited number of students completed thorough and well-considered applications addressing their reasons for attending this event.

Brinleigh Kingsbury, Mars Hill HS (CAHS) FFA
Hannah Shaw Mars Hill HS (CAHS) FFA

Maine.gov