State FFA Commodity Tour
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July 26, 2023
Pictured L to R: Back Row: Gunnar LaHaug – Sentinel from Ronan, Ayla Yoder – Parliamentarian from Plentywood, Emily Coles – Secretary from Roundup, Jake Chulyak – President from Big Timber, Summit Browning – 1 st V.P. from Gardiner, Lance Rutledge – Treasurer from Big Sandy, Shaun Billingsley – 2 nd V.P. from Missoula and Haley Rigler – Reporter from Livingston. Front Row: Miles City Agronomy Team members. Ian Zook, Jesse Isaacs, Tristan Hould, Milo Isaacs
The National FFA Organization plays a large role in the lives of students across the State of Montana. This program first started in 1928 and has since spread across all 50 states and 5 territories. Chartered in 1930, the Montana Association has a membership of over 6,500 students, representing 109 chapters. The FFA Motto is "Learning to Do, Doing to Learn, Earning to Live, Living to Serve" and members practice this every day. Students have numerous opportunities to learn about potential careers, serve their communities, and develop skills that will last a lifetime. One special opportunity that took place recently was the Agriculture Commodity Tour. Students traveled by van over 2,000 miles, visiting Idaho, Oregon and Washington, stopping at various locations along the way. The eight members of the State FFA Officer Team as well as the 2nd Place Agronomy team from Miles City hit the road on July 9th, led by State Advisor Mr. Jim Rose and Miles City FFA Advisor Mr. Travis Isaacs.
The first stop of the trip was at Columbia Grain in Clarkston, Washington, where the group took a very interesting tour of their facility. Members found it interesting to see the transport of grain on such a large scale. As agriculturalists, it is important for us to understand what happens to our grain after it is harvested. The tour at Columbia Grain gave us a unique perspective and new respect for what goes on behind the scenes.
Rose is a big advocate for the Agriculture Commodity Tour and has seen the great impact it has on students. One of his favorite parts of the trip is visiting the Wheat Marketing Center in Portland, Oregon. He has found it is very interesting and it gives the students a unique perspective of the wheat industry.
According to Foundation Director or Operations, Kelsey Proue, "The best part of the trip is the opportunity for members to see first-hand the magnitude of Montana agriculture on a global scale". This trip provides unique opportunities for students to learn about the agriculture industry as well as potential careers. Very few people get the privilege to get a behind the scenes look at the many Ag businesses in the Pacific Northwest and watch Montana commodities being transported out of our state to feed people all over the world.
Perhaps the student's most talked about stop was made at Shaver Transportation in Portland. This family- owned business is one of just a couple that operate barges and tugboats on the Columbia River System. The students also spent about 3 hours touring United Grain in Vancouver, WA. Additionally, the group visited the Ocean Spray Cranberry processing plant in Markham, WA, Bonneville Dam and the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation. Finally, time was spent at a beach in Oregon, and a hike to Multnomah Falls. For many, this was their first time seeing the ocean.
This experience was generously sponsored by the Montana Wheat and Barley Committee and Columbia Grain.
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