REDMOND, Ore. — Lisa Charpilloz Hanson, director of the Oregon Department of Agriculture, told FFA students that she believes in their knowledge, passion and talent to safeguard the state’s farmlands, boost the agricultural economy and support their communities.

Agriculture is evolving rapidly, but the teens are honing skills to thrive in a dynamic landscape, she said.

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“You — you — are the future of the agricultural industry. The challenges we face in our world today require solutions, and I’m confident that each of you are up to the task,” Charpilloz Hanson said, as she stood before a sea of about 2,900 blue jackets.

Charpilloz Hanson was the featured speaker Friday at the 96th annual Oregon FFA State Convention. The theme of this year’s event was “Be the Greatest.”

The convention opened on Thursday and continued through Sunday at the Deschutes County Fair & Expo Center in Redmond, Ore.

Open heart, open mind

Charpilloz Hanson said the passion and commitment of the students fill her with hope, and noted that some teens already were tackling complex agricultural challenges.

She urged them to take full advantage of the convention, expanding their horizons by meeting members from other chapters, watching career development events and showing up to sessions with an open heart and an open mind.

“Challenge yourself to leave this convention with more connections and knowledge than you came with,” Charpilloz Hanson said.

Charpilloz Hanson also talked about being an FFA mother, proud of her two daughters achieving their goals.

She said she brought her “mom bag” to the convention, with extra black socks for guys, pantyhose for girls and a snack for those needing an extra boost of energy.

“This weekend is bound to be one you will remember,” Charpilloz Hanson said.

FFA degrees and awards

Friday night also saw nearly 375 students get their state FFA degrees, and several awards.

Kay Jones of Sandy, Ore., was the winner of the prepared speaking competition, and spoke about misleading “Product of the USA” labeling on meat.

The state star in agriscience was Jose Armenta from Baker, Ore., who conducted an experiment on the influence of magnetic fields and coffee grounds on plant growth.

Crae Campbell of Pendleton, Ore., was the star for agribusiness. He operates Pony Tracks Leather Co. and spends 30 to 40 hours per week as a leather maker and business owner.

The star in agricultural placement was Spencer Seus, of the Lost River FFA chapter, a fourth-generation farmer with a passion for agricultural mechanics and specialty crop production.

Gavin Bakker of Cove, Ore., was the star farmer and focuses on sheep production. Bakker’s flock has grown from six ewes to 19, and he invested almost 4,000 hours in his project area.

Oregon FFA has about 120 chapters and roughly 16,600 members.