Rogue River, Ore. — At the start of May, members from the Rogue River FFA Chapter traveled to Oregon State University in Corvallis to compete in the Milk Quality and Products Career Development Event. This specific FFA event challenges students, in a team of five members, to learn about milk quality concerns and defects, cheese production and history, dairy industry standards, and the difference between dairy and nondairy alternatives.

Oregon has over 26 Career Development Events where FFA members get the chance to apply classroom knowledge to real-life situations in these hands-on educational events. In 2024, we hosted 29 teams with over 118 FFA members from across the state of Oregon participating.

The team from Rogue River FFA has been working hard for the past two years and fell just short of their goal of winning the state level event a few times.

This year was different. They worked with their advisor and set their sights on winning the entire contest. On May 7, Rogue River FFA members Mason Schatz, Madisyn Hutsell, Finnley Perryman, Kaiden Richardson and Lily Jaramillo achieved their goal of becoming state champions in the Milk Quality and Products Career Development Event.

Not only did this hardworking team finally win the event, all five of the team members also finished in the top 10 individually! Mason Schatz placed first high individual.

Their consistent hard work earned them the privilege of representing Oregon FFA at the National FFA Convention this October in Indianapolis. They will compete against teams from across the nation in this single-day event.

But this isn’t just a story about a team winning — they also struck a side deal with their advisor, Nicole Bambino. They convinced her that if they were able to pull off the state level win they would be able to purchase two hamsters as team mascots.

They just welcomed Colby and Jack, the feisty hamsters, to their chapter as mascots.