Hot Springs FFA Members Compete in District Agronomy and Mechanics Competition

Over 50 FFA members from across Montana's Western District gathered at Hot Springs High School to showcase their skills in agricultural and mechanical challenges.

Mar. 19, 2026 at 12:00am

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More than 50 Future Farmers of America (FFA) members from across Montana's Western District gathered at Hot Springs High School last week to compete in the district's Agronomy & Mechanics competition. Members from the Hot Springs FFA chapter participated in both the mechanics and agronomy events, with Odin Max taking the top individual spot in mechanics and the Hot Springs team finishing third overall in that category. The agronomy competition saw Stevensville take first place, while Hot Springs placed fifth out of the five teams competing.

Why it matters

The FFA competition provides an opportunity for students to showcase the agricultural and mechanical skills they've developed through their high school agricultural education courses. Performing well at the district level qualifies teams to advance to the state competition, which can open doors for students in terms of scholarships, leadership roles, and future career opportunities in the agricultural industry.

The details

The mechanics competition included exercises in areas like trailer wiring, carpentry, small engines, welding, plumbing, and machinery identification. Odin Max of the Hot Springs chapter had the top individual score in mechanics with 191 points. The Hot Springs mechanics team finished third overall with 504 points, behind Stevensville (515 points) and Kalispell (506 points). The agronomy competition tested students' knowledge of plant and seed identification, soils, insects, diseases, and general agricultural concepts. Stevensville took first place in agronomy with 1,278 points, while Hot Springs placed fifth out of the five teams competing with 365 points.

  • The competition was held last week at Hot Springs High School.
  • The state FFA competition is scheduled for March 31 to April 4 in Great Falls.

The players

Odin Max

A member of the Hot Springs FFA chapter who took the top individual spot in the mechanics competition with 191 points.

Lanet Jakabosky

A member of the Hot Springs FFA chapter who placed 121st in the agronomy competition with 147 points.

Samson Jakabosky

A member of the Hot Springs FFA chapter who placed 25th in the agronomy competition with 115 points and 29th in the mechanics competition with 140 points.

Kaewe Ilac

A member of the Hot Springs FFA chapter who placed 27th in the agronomy competition with 103 points and 40th in the mechanics competition with 116 points.

Bill DeTienne

A member of the Hot Springs FFA chapter who tied for 4th place in the mechanics competition with 173 points.

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What they’re saying

“State qualification is based on team scores and each of Montana's FFA districts is able to send a certain number of teams to state in each event. For today's event, our district is allowed to send six teams in each event to state, so both our mechanics and agronomy teams have qualified to go to state.”

— Justin Wright, Hot Springs FFA Chapter Advisor

“FFA makes a positive difference in the lives of students by developing their potential for premier leadership, personal growth and career success through agricultural education.”

— Justin Wright, Hot Springs FFA Chapter Advisor

What’s next

The Hot Springs FFA chapter's mechanics and agronomy teams have qualified to compete at the state FFA competition, which is scheduled for March 31 to April 4 in Great Falls.

The takeaway

The FFA competition showcases the valuable agricultural and mechanical skills that students are developing through their high school agricultural education programs. Performing well at the district level can open up opportunities for students to compete at the state level and potentially earn scholarships or leadership roles within the FFA organization, which can help set them up for future success in the agricultural industry.