Debate team shines at National FFA competition

INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. - A Reardan High School team achieved fourth place during the National FFA's 97th National Convention and Expo here from Oct. 23-26.

The finish in the Agriculture Issues Forum came after the team won state championships earlier this year.

The Reardan team - comprising seniors Amelia Ray, 17, Aidan Chilson, 18, Bryson Flaa, 17, and recent graduate Rysen Soliday, 18 - competed against 39 other state champions as they advanced to the Final 4.

Team adviser Rick Perleberg expressed immense pride in the team's accomplishments.

"This is something these guys have been working on for almost 14 months," he said. "Our issue was about the North American model of wildlife conservation. It is fairly obscure, but it is widely applied throughout North America.

"We mashed that up with whether or not the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife is getting it right."

Missouri won the category, with Tennessee second and Idaho in third.

Washington, represented by Reardan, was fourth.

Perleberg praised the team's commitment to promoting awareness of issues affecting rural communities in Washington state.

"These kids really believe in it. Our approach is really to immerse yourself in it," he said. "They believe in this so much that they participated in the September WDFW meeting, composing public comments about necessary changes."

The organization has been at the forefront of discussions of wolf depredations in the region.

The competition consisted of three rounds, starting with preliminary heats involving five teams.

The Top 2 teams from each preliminary round advanced to the semifinals, where they faced off in rooms of four.

"We were in the same room as the eventual national champions," Perleberg noted.

"Their depth of knowledge and how they connected with the judges was impressive."

According to Perleberg, despite facing challenges, such as having to rewrite their presentation from five members to four due to a teammate leaving, the team showed resilience and determination.

"It is so much fun to watch them grow and get better," he said. "That is the part of my job that keeps my fire lit."

Having competed at the national level, the team is now looking forward to mentoring the next group of students.

"We are going to come back and try to win the national livestock competition," Perleberg said.

With more than 700,000 students participating in the National FFA Convention and Expo, the Reardan team's achievement highlights their individual talents and the strong support from their school and community.

"What I love about the kids from Reardan is how competitive they are," Perleberg said. "There is no better teacher than competition."