Johnson-Brock FFA Achieves Four State Champions at State Convention

Members of the Johnson-Brock FFA had many successes at the 2026 state convention. It was Wednesday through Friday, March 25 through 27 in Lincoln.
Agricultural Issues Team 
Katelyn Melvin, Charlotte Metschke, Layla Miller, Hannah Griener and Hailee Griener were state champions among 10 state finalist teams. Their topic was Solar Farms: What will it take to make rural communities shine?
Food Science Team 
Charlotte Metschke, Vivian Gerdes, Delani Sharples and Addison Grotrian were state champions among 36 teams with 144 individuals.
Team Product Development
First. Purple ribbon to Charlotte Metschke, third place overall,  tied first in Customer Inquiry, tied 10th Food Safety, photos, tied third General Knowledge examination and tied first Triangle Test. Blue ribbon to Gerdes, tied first in Customer Inquiry, tied 10th in Food Safety, photos, tied 12th Aromas and tied first Triangle Test. Red ribbon to Sharples, tied first in Customer Inquiry and tied 12th Aromas. Grotrian, tied first in Customer Inquiry.
Livestock Management, Poultry Division: Noah Metschke, Ayla Eggers, Quentin Behrends, Emily Bohling, Dierks Caspers and Oliver Everett were state champions among 49 teams.
Agriscience Fair 
Food Products and Processing: Brantley Robbins, Division 1 state champion; Ella O’Neill, Division 2 state runner-up and Addison Volker and Quinlee Sayer, Division 4 state runner-up.
Environmental and Natural Resources: Sophie Hunter and Emma Wakulinski, Division 2 state runner-up; and Noah Metschke and Elliott Brommer, Division 4 state runner-up.
Plant Systems: Caleb Hodges and Caspers, Division 4 third place; and Mia Benight and Leighton Edwards, Division 4 fourth place gold rating.
Animal Systems: Jasmine Cherney, Division 4 Silver rating.
Junior Public Speaking
Melvin, fifth of 36 state competitors and a gold emblem on An American Crisis: The U.S. Labor Shortage and the Role Immigrants Play.
Employment Skills
Charlotte Metschke, ninth of 36 state qualifiers and a gold emblem.
Agricultural Biotechnology 
Charlotte Metschke, Layla Miller, Sharples and Gretchen Anthony, ninth of 22 teams and 88 individuals and a red ribbon. Purple ribbon to Charlotte Metschke, eighth overall and tied fifth on written examination. Blue ribbon to Layla Miller, 13th overall and tied sixth identification. White ribbons to Sharples and Gretchen Anthony.
Agriscience 
Quinlee Sayer, Noah Metschke, Volker and Coy Behrends, 15th and top 10 percent among 141 teams and 551 individuals and a blue ribbon. Tied third in team dissection practicum. Blue ribbons to Quinlee Sayer and Noah Metschke. Red ribbon to Volker. White ribbon to Coy Behrends.
Farm and Agribusiness Management
Melvin, Layla Miller, Caleb Bohling and Gretchen Anthony, 16th and top 27 percent among 59 teams and 235 individuals and a red ribbon.
Team Consulting Practicum
Second. Purple ribbon to Melvin, 16th overall and tied first in Family Living Expenses, tied fourth in Income Taxes, tied fifth in Budgeting and tied ninth in Analyzing the Agricultural Business. Red ribbon to Layla Miller, tied first in Family Living Expenses. White ribbon to Caleb Bohling.
Agricultural Technology and Mechanics
Brayden Holthus, Tucker Everett, Craig Anthony and Caleb Bohling, 19th, top 32 percent among 60 teams and 239 individuals and a red ribbon. Blue ribbons to Brayden Holthus and Tucker Everett, tied 10th in electrical wiring. Red ribbon to Craig Anthony. Caleb Bohling tied sixth in machinery practicum.
Welding
Quentin Behrends, Johnny Bohling, Esmeralda Guhde Egger and Brommer, 21st, top 35 percent among 60 teams and 60 individuals per area and a red ribbon. Blue ribbon to Johnny Bohling, 14th. Red ribbons to Quentin Behrends and Guhde Egger.
Environmental and Natural Resources
Quentin Behrends, Tate Hawley, Calvin Benham and Guhde Egger, 24th, top 32 percent among 77 teams and 308 individuals and red ribbon. Blue ribbon to Quentin Behrends. Red ribbon to Hawley. White ribbon to Benham.
Junior Livestock Evaluation
Eggers, Johnny Bohling, Noah Metschke and Oliver Everett, 27th, top 45 percent among 60 teams and 239 individuals and white ribbon. White ribbon to Eggers, perfect score on performance Simmental bulls and Duroc breeding gilts. Johnny Bohling perfect score on Simangus heifers. Noah Metschke perfect score on Market Lambs 2. Oliver Everett perfect score on Duroc breeding gilts.
People in Agriculture
Arya Marburger gold rating and Peri Sayer silver rating.
Agricultural Quiz Bowl
Chase Miller, Reid Niss, Peri Sayer and Marburger.
Nebraska FFA Foundation Mission True Blue
Melvin was recognized on her preparation in sharing her experiences and the impact of the FFA.
Nebraska Farm Bureau Foundation Connecting Chapters
The chapter was recognized on for participation.
Nebraska FFA Foundation I Believe in the Future of Agriculture Sponsorship Engagement
The chapter earned fifth, was recognized and received a sponsorship dinner for participating in sponsor engagement by completing engagement activities throughout the year.
There were a number of other activities throughout the three days.
How Ribboning Works
Members in the top 10 percent earn a purple ribbon, the top 25 percent a blue, the top 40 percent a red and the top 50 percent a white. The remaining 50 percent do not ribbon.