Ava Severson of Osmond among state FFA medal winners
LINCOLN Awards were pre -
sented to 36 FFA members for their speaking skills and knowledge of cooperatives during a special awards ceremony on Thursday, March 26. The FFA Cooperative Speaking Event is held during the State FFA Convention which was March 25-27 in Lincoln.
Each contestant in the Cooperative
Speaking Competition was judged on a six- to eight-minute prepared speech
on a topic dealing with cooperatives and their benefits to the local, state and national economies. Participants were selected for the competition at district contests throughout the state over the past several months.
The competition is sponsored by the Nebraska Cooperative Council Education Foundation in an effort to help develop leadership skills and increase understanding of the coop- erative system. This year marks the 75th consecutive year that the council or its education foundation has sup- ported the Nebraska FFA Association.
Six students advanced to the finals. Claire Holoubek from the Clarkson FFA Chapter took top honors in the 2026 competition and received a tro-
phy, first place medal, and $500 Visa gift card from the Nebraska Coopera tive Council Education Foundation.
Second place went to Ryan Eilers of the Arthur County FFA Chapter along with a medal and $250 Visa gift card. Third place went to Farris Swinton of the Pender FFA Chapter who received a medal and $125 Visa gift card. Rounding out the finals were: fourth place, Lauren Meister of the Aquinas FFA Chapter; fifth place, Kyptan Scheideler of the Ord FFA Chapter, and sixth place, Cynthia
Ozenbaugh of the Bruning-Davenport FFA Chapter.
Among those who also received medals in the competition was Ava Severson of Osmond, who received a silver medal.
Rocky Weber, NCCEF president, indicated that “The council is proud to provide support for these students as they develop their leadership and communication skills while at the same time learning about the value cooperatives bring to Nebraskans all across the state.”
