By MARIANA ORTEGA

The Questa FFA chapter is off to a great start this year, with members already earning impressive awards and opportunities to compete.

One exciting achievement is Brisa Lara qualifying to compete at the National FFA Convention in the Spanish Creed Speaking Contest. Her accomplishments show both her hard work and dedication. Lara placed 3rd at the state contest last year, just one out of the opportunity to compete at Nationals. The first week of school, Mrs. Adams received word that one of the competitors ahead of Lara would not be able to compete, moving her to that spot. Nationals will be held in Indianapolis Oct. 20-23.

FFA members also had the opportunity to participate in the Taos County Fair, showcasing their many projects and dedication to their FFA chapter. Jessi Jackson earned the Heritage Buckle. The 4-H Heritage Buckle Contest is a youth essay competition where members write about their agricultural background and family heritage. Winners receive a custom belt buckle and a junior association membership. Jackson also won Reserve Grand Heifer honors, and a Showmanship award for her steer project. Darren Trujillo earned first place and Best of Show for his button quail project, while Mia Ramos earned first, second, and Best of Show awards for her Netherland Dwarf rabbit project. All 3 members did an amazing job of showcasing their livestock projects.

Members also submitted welding and metal work projects, doing exceptionally well. Darren Trujillo earned first place for his Mule Deer Shed and fire pit, as well as first place and best of show alongside Atreyu Segura for their firewood rack. Kaylei Cordova earned first-place for her horseshoe turtle art and second place for both her deer shed and fire pit. Cordova and Juan Cisneros also received 2nd place for their firewood rack. Giana Young earned second place for her horseshoe-art cross, and Cisneros won third place for his elk shed. Other projects that showcased and placed 1st and 2nd were feeders made by members Juan Cisneros, Darren Trujillo, Diego Ortega, and fellow welding classmates Atreyu Segura, Noah Mandonado, and Matthew Vigil.

Not to be forgotten, Jolene Segura submitted a drawing for the 2026 Fair book Cover Contest and won. Her art work was displayed on the cover of the Fair book and she received a $50 gift card for her efforts.

On August 27th, FFA officers, Mariana Ortega, Mia Ramos, Matthew Gallegos, Frankie Archuleta, Allison Segura, Jolene Segura, and Kaylei Cordova joined peers from across the state this week for the annual Chapter Officer Leadership Training (COLT) conference.

The event serves as a training ground for elected FFA student executives. Through specialized workshops and collaborative team-building exercises, student leaders develop critical skills in public speaking, strategic planning, and professional communication.

The primary objective of COLT is to empower these student officers to effectively manage their local FFA chapters. Participants leave with concrete goals, comprehensive action plans, and a unified vision to guide their school agricultural programs and community outreach initiatives for the upcoming academic year.

The Questa FFA Chapter is off to an amazing start, making this school year one to be proud of. If you are interested in supporting this group or looking for more information about how this organization might help the community please contact our advisor, Clara Adams.

Mariana Ortega is the Chapter Reporter for the Questa FFA.