November 4, 2025

Hughson High School FFA students returned from the National Competition in Indianapolis on Saturday after a whirlwind tour. The Livestock Judging team, Travis Harkrader, Pearl Bunch, Grace Curry and Kate Cooper, flew out on October 22 with Kelly Larson, Mike Curry, and Brandon Machado to practice along the way, while a group of six additional FFA students left on October 28.

The team began in Manhattan, Kansas, to work out with Kansas State Livestock Coach and then Nathan Club Lambs on October 23, followed by a workout with Hobbs Club Lambs in Newton, Kansas. On October 25, the team crossed into Missouri to work with Blaine Rodgers Cattle Company in Savannah. On October 26, in Illinois, they worked with the American Royal Livestock Show and then the Kansas State Livestock Team in Lawrence, Kansas. On October 27, they worked with Whitcomb Lambs in Bloomington and then Prairie View Farms Cattle Ranch. During the final practice day, they did a workout in Lafayette, Indiana, with cattle and a workout and tour at Upperhand Genetics in Roanoke, Indiana.

After one day of rest, the Livestock Competition took place on October 30 with an award ceremony the next day.

“The students were excited to compete. They have put in hours of work to get here and just kept saying ‘we are ready’.” FFA Advisor Kelly Larson said.

The Livestock Judging Team began during the 2023-2024 school year under the leadership of and won the State Championship in May 2025. And while Hughson FFA found there was a previous Livestock Judging Team that disbanded in 1982, this is the first Hughson FFA Livestock Judging Team to have won the State Championship and competed at the National level.

The team has spent hundreds of hours practicing. To compete, students must judge 12 classes of four animals – pigs, sheep, goats, and beef cattle – and have 12-15 minutes to determine how they think each class would be most productive in a breeding or market scenario. For four of those classes, the team must give their reasons for why they have judged placement the way they did. The contests may take six to seven hours.

And how did they do?

Hughson High School FFA Livestock Judging Team placed sixth in the nation, and Grace Curry was the Third High Individual in the nation, only three points from the first-place winner.

“This sport is not one that is well known, but it is one that opens a ton of opportunities for students who have a desire for leadership, public speaking, and agriculture,” Mike Curry said. “There are college opportunities for students who participate in this and who work hard and succeed. We are already seeing some of that come to fruition with this first team.”

The team placed sixth placed overall, competing against teams from 45 states with a total of 180 contestants. Just 34 points separated the top 6 teams out of a possible 3,250 points per team.

Curry was also recognized during the award session as a national finalist this year for the Swine Production-Placement Agricultural Proficiency Award. The competition began with a sectional-level application, followed by regional and state levels, with each win leading them closer to the national competition. Three state finalists are interviewed to select the State Winner. The State Winner’s application is then forwarded to the National level. The 20+ page application includes written answers, photographs that document her involvement with the project, and records to validate the hours spent working at Small Town Genetics.

The team also placed Second High Team in Questions, Fourth High Team in Reasons, Fifth High Team in Sheep and Goats, Sixth High Team in Cattle, and Eighth High Team in Hogs. Curry placed Third High in Hogs, Fifth High in Reasons, and Eighth High in Sheep and Goats.

Travis Harkrader, Pearl Bunch and Curry earned Gold Awards. Harkrader placed Sixteenth High Individual and Thirteenth High in Hogs, and Bunch placed Sixth in Sheep and Goats. Kate Cooper earned a Silver Award.

National Convention – an Educational Adventure

Traveling with FFA advisors Kristin Maciel and Madison Flake, six Hughson FFA students took educational tours of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway and Museum and the Ozark Fisheries, the largest Koi and Goldfish Breeders in the US. The group attended the Opening Session of the FFA Convention. On October 30, they took educational tours at the Indianapolis Zoo with the behind-the-scenes tour of their aquatic center, and went to Risin’ Creek Dairy Goat Farm and Creamery to see their operation and enjoyed samples of goat milk, goat cheese, lotion and soap products. Next, they went to Joe Huber's Family Farm for a tour and a homestyle dinner.

On October 31, the students spent the day at the Convention Center attending workshops, the college and career expo and cheering on Hughson High School’s Livestock Judging Team at the sessions. They also toured Anderson’s Apple Orchards and, according to Maciel, “had the best BBQ Dinner.”

On the final day of the convention, Hughson students attended the American Degree Session, where Hughson High School graduates Lauren Clark and Lillian Agueda received their American Degrees and then flew back to California.

Over 73,000 people attended the 2025 National FFA Convention, with 13,000 students participating in workshops. Each year, students from Hughson High School’s FFA program attend. For many, the trip represents one of the major highlights of the FFA career and time at Hughson High School.