Elko County School District students are once again demonstrating what it means to learn by doing—and to excel while doing it.
This spring, students representing multiple Career and Technical Student Organizations (CTSOs), including FCCLA, FFA, SkillsUSA, and FBLA, delivered exceptional performances at their respective state competitions. Across the board, ECSD students earned top honors, state championships, and national qualifications, reinforcing the strength of the district’s commitment to preparing students for the future.
In FCCLA (Family, Career and Community Leaders of America), ECSD chapters saw remarkable success. Spring Creek High School alone had 20 students compete, with 14 qualifying for the national competition—a significant accomplishment that highlights both student preparation and program quality. West Wendover High School added to that momentum, earning multiple gold medals and sending 12 students to nationals, while students from Carlin and Elko High Schools also secured several gold medals across a range of events.
FFA (Future Farmers of America) results were equally impressive. ECSD students and teams claimed 22 of 27 state championships in Career Development Events—an extraordinary showing that speaks to the depth and consistency of agricultural education programs across the district. From livestock and poultry judging to agricultural mechanics, floriculture, and leadership events, ECSD students dominated the competition. Wells High School and Spring Creek’s Silver Sage chapter were especially strong, earning multiple first-place team and individual finishes.
In SkillsUSA, students demonstrated technical skill and craftsmanship in real-world trades, earning podium finishes in welding, carpentry, and construction-based competitions. Meanwhile, FBLA (Future Business Leaders of America) students showcased their business, communication, and leadership abilities, earning top placements in events such as parliamentary procedure, broadcast journalism, accounting, and public speaking. Wells High School and Middle School students brought home three first-place team awards and a first-place individual award. Elko High School also had several top-3 finishers, with individual and team placements.
Beyond the awards and accolades, what stands out most is the breadth of opportunity these programs provide. CTSOs give students the chance to apply classroom learning in competitive, real-world settings—developing not only technical expertise, but also leadership, collaboration, and problem-solving skills that translate far beyond high school.
Congratulations to ECSD’s CTSO students and advisors. You didn’t just compete—you led, performed, and represented your schools and community at the highest level.
A full list of this spring’s accomplishments is provided below.
FCCLA
Spring Creek FCCLA
We had 20 students compete, and I’m excited to share that 14 of them qualified for Nationals this year!
Events Placements:
1st Place High Gold-AI Intergration* Level 3 * Maison Morris
1st Place High Gold- Food Innovations* Level 3* Bryce Ferris & Jaden Rattazzi
1st Place High Gold- National Programs in Action FACTS Level 3 Brinlee LeDuc, Addison Savage, Dyllan Cauley
1st Place High Gold- Leadership* Level 2* Vivian Morrison
1st Place High Gold-Sustainability*Level 2*Aaron Gillespie
1st Place High Gold-Teach & Train Level 2 Raelynn Kempf
1st Place High Gold- Focus on Children*Level 2* Jimena Candelas, Dallis Gonzalez
High Silver-Teach & Train* Level 2* Miranda Scott
High Silver-Repurpose Redesign*Level 2*Sidney Anderson & McKenzie Miller
Silver*AI Intergration*Level 3* Cheyanne Wilcox
Silver*Interpersonal Communication*Level 3* Emma Storla & Kelsie Beer
Silver*Professional Presentation*Level 2* Taylor Douglass & Lydia Johnson
Bronze*Fashion Design*Level 2* Holly McClard
Carlin FCCLA
Mrs. Kayla Kinney was nominated jointly by the Carlin and Spring Creek chapter presidents and awarded the Nevada Spirit of Advising Award. The Spirit of Advising Award recognizes chapter advisers who are consistently faithful, often quietly working behind the scenes to ensure their students' success. She will receive official stage recognition alongside the other states and an award at the National Leadership Conference for her more than 10 years of dedicated service.
1st Place Gold-Personal Finance-Emily McNamara Level 3
1st Place Gold- Career Investigation-Mercedes Malone Level 3
1st Place Silver-Parliamentary Procedure-Azariah Gaylor, Alyssa Fladland, Sevan Schlosser, Jacy Jensen, Jhon Vicente, & Naleyah Romero Level 2\
3rd Place Gold- Professional Presentations- Mercury Denton- Level 3
Silver- Public Policy Advocate- Tarean Marta- Level 3
West Wendover FCCLA
West Wendover FCCLA absolutely dominated this week at State! We came home with five gold medals, two silver and one bronze and 12 members qualified for Nationals in Washington DC this summer!!!
Julia Peterson got Gold first place in Job Interview
Javy Covarrubias got Gold third place in Job Interview
Lindsey Wahlstrom got Gold first place in Fashion Design
Nikk Flores and Ivan Mendoza got Gold first place in Repurpose and Redesign
Oscar Chavez, Allan Childress and Aleixo Luna got Gold in Hospitality, Tourism and Recreation
Zavier Ruiz, Mary Scrowther, Bryan Alvarado and Cannon Carter got Gold first place in Parliamentary Procedure.
Derek Salazar got third place in Fashion Design
Alexis Chaplin and Rosalyn Maldonado got a bronze medal in Fashion Design
Elko High FCCLA
Bailey Stone, Cobie McKinnon - Gold in Hospitality and Tourism
Erin New Career Investigation - Gold in Career Investigation
FFA
22 out of 27 FFA Career Development Events State Champions are ECSD teams/individuals. If we didn’t get the gold, our students or chapters brought home silver or bronze in 3 more contests, and the other 2 we didn’t have any competitors in. Our students and advisors should be commended for the way they showed up and showed out this year for ECSD (like they do every year!)
Ruby Mountain (Elko High School)
Milk Quality - Lyric Bogue 1st high individual, Natalie Boster - 2nd high individual, Reagan Ragland, Julio Saldana-Ramirez, Cristian Cordero
Farm Business Management - 2nd place team - Natalie Boster – 3rd high individual, Ashley Berry, Reagan Ragland, Julio Saldana-Ramirez, Lyric Bogue
Poultry got 2nd high team in the state - Lyric Bogue - 3rd high individual, Genevieve Burwell, Reagan Ragland, Hailee Warner
Horse Judging - 3rd in the state - Taylor Preston, Ashley Berry
Livestock Judging - 2nd place team - Julio Saldana, Ashley Berry, Lyric Bogue, Taylor Preston
Duck Valley (Owyhee)
Best Informed Greenhand - 3rd place team - Brody Kelly, Paisley Crutcher, Uriah Tobey
Novice Horse Judging - 5th place, Paisley Crutcher - 4th high individual, Brody Kelly, Sadie Cummins, Decoria Strawbuck
Wells Chapter
Meat Evaluation and Technology- 1st Place Team -Isaac Gale- 1st High Individual, Marli Dahl - 2nd High Individual, Mason Noorda- 3rd High Individual, Aron Hansen, Marcus Uhart, Brynli Dahl
Farm Business Management- 1st Place Team - Isaac Gale- 1st High Individual, Carson Ballard- 2nd High Individual, Aron Hansen, Marli Dahl, Tripp Spainhower, Marcos Cobian
Senior Floriculture- 1st Place Team - Rietta Pearce- 1st High Individual Alta Atkin, 2nd High Individual Sarah Egbert, Reagan Brandt
Novice Floriculture- 1st Place Team - Josie Brodsho- 2nd High Individual, Shelby Bertalotto- 3rd High Individual, Dalli Pearce, Joslynn Vallejo
Best Informed Greenhand- 1st and 2nd Place Teams - Reese Livingstone- 1st High Individual, Maggie Neff- 2nd High Individual, Eliza Atkin- 3rd High Individual, Josie Brodsho 3rd High Individual, Natalie Dahl, Cassidy Runnion, Dusty Uhlig, RileyJo Glascock, Brynli Dahl
Soil/Land judging- 1st Place Team - Carson Ballard- 1st High Individual, Cassidy Runnion- 2nd High Individual, Mason Noorda- 3rd High Individual Alivia Smith, Colter Runnion, Dusty Uhlig, Stacia Hansen, Isaac Gale, Arabella Martinez
Extemporaneous Speaking - Carson Ballard- 1st High Individual
Novice Veterinary Science- 1st Place Team - Stacia Hansen- 2nd High Individual, Reese Livingstone- 3rd High Individual, Cassidy Runnion, Eliza Atkin, Baylor Williams, Jess Wright
Poultry Judging- 1st Place Team - Marcos Cobian- 1st High Individual, Shelby Bertalotto, Alivia Smith, Dalyann Coates, Maggie Neff, Dusty Uhlig, Natalie Dahl
Agricultural Mechanics and Technology- 1st Place Team - Easton Molsbee- 2nd High Individual Colter Runnion Marcus Uhart Cache Coates
Agricultural Sales and Service- 2nd Place Team, Stacia Hansen- 2nd High Individual, Alivia Smith- 3rd High Individual, Baylor Williams, RileyJo Glascock, Easton Molsbee
Senior Parliamentary Procedure- 2nd Place Team - Isaac Gale- High Chairperson, Carson Ballard, Colter Runnion, Marcos Cobian, Cassidy Runnion, Marcus Uhart
Environmental and Natural Resources- 2nd Place Team Cameron Livingstone- 2nd High Individual Gage Uhlig, Colter Runnion, Mason Noorda, Cache Coates
SILVER SAGE (Spring Creek)
Nursery and Landscape - 1st place team - Kourtney Smith, Kayla Jones, Ruby Buzzetti, Niabe Strozzi
Conduct of Chapter Meeting - 1st place team - Wiley Smith, Kinsey Piippo, Skyla Bishop, Jaylee Templeton, Sky Raynes, Memphis Cleland, Kiera Flanders
Ag Salees - 1st Place Team - Colton Loeppky, Carson Soloway, Madi Ahlvers, Ruby Buzzeit
Ag Marketing - 1st Place Team - Lacee Mangum, Payton Kemp, Dakota Kruckeberg
Parliamentary Procedure - 1st Place Team - Heidi Peters, Liv Hansen, Alivia Amerigian, Izzi Benavidez, Marley Cleland
Ag Issues - 1st Place Team - Aaron Gilespie, Aleigh Gilespie, Mynley Pickett, Kandic Santos, Braxton Hansen, Kylie Johnston, Alivia Amerigian
Employment Skills - 1st Place - Leah Smith
Creed Speaking - 1st Place - Jimena Candelas
Agriscience Fair - 1st Place - Zackary Shaefer
1st place for National Chapter Book, Reporter’s book, Program of Activities
Proficiency in Diversified Livestock Production - Leah Smith
Rangeland Management Team - 1st Place - Leah Smith, Colson Moore, Landon Lousignont,
Agricultural Mechanics - 2nd Place Team - Zackary Shaefer - 1st high individual, Carson Faroni, Lucas Ward, Colton Leeppky
Meat Evaluation - 2nd Place Team - Carson Faroni, Colsen Moore, Josh Sandretto, Saydee Ballenger
Environment and Natural Resources - 3rd Place Team - Leah Smith, Colsen Moore, Nathan Perry, Colby Horn
Agricultural Mechanics Novice - 3rd Place Team - Riccardo Gauzzi Broccoletti, Liam Wood, Wiley Smith, Jase Dekker
Vet Science - 3rd Place Team - Aly Baillie, Logan Huerta, Kourtney Smith, Bella Muratore
Floriculture - 3rd Place Team - Kayla Jones, Addy Judy, Hailee Merrill, Sierra Senecal
Floriculture Novice - 3rd Place Team - Niabi Strozzi, Mynley Pickett, Skyla Bishop, Makayla Benavides
Poultry Evaluation - 3rd Place Team - Emily Dawson, Mia Valdez, Dakota Kruckeberg, Sariah Knotts
Vet Science Novice - 3rd Place Team - Alexis Muratore, Eramias Bontrager, Sky Raynes, Jolene Landa, Aleigh Gilespie, Jimena Candelas, Kylie Koch, Lily Crossman ricu
Skills USA
Carlin
Amelya Doxey, Welding Sculpture - Silver (2nd place)
Leo Krantz - Welding Sculpture - Bronze (3rd place)
Elko
Willem Carpenter, Carpentry - 6th place
Spring Creek
5th and 6th in Teamworks Construction
West Wendover
Wells
Bronze Chapter of Distinction and Quality Chapter Award
Chapter Display - Bronze (3rd place)
Cache Coates - Carpentry - Silver (2nd place)
7th in Teamworks Construction
FBLA
Wells High School
Congratulations to Melanie Beardall for becoming the Eastern Region Vice President
First Place Team in Parli Pro Carson Ballard, Colter Runnion, Cassidy Runnion, Isaac Gale, Marcos Cobian
First Place Team in Broadcast Journalism- Avianna Delrio, Lizbeth Casas-Rivera, Rosalyn Sanchez
Third Place Team - Digital Video Production - Collter Runnion and Isaac Gale
Fourth Place Individual Intro to Public Speaking- Cassidy Runnion
Third Place Individual - Intro to Parliamentary Procedure- Cassidy Runnion
Wells Middle School
First Place: Exploring Marketing Strategies Hadley Denier and Gabriele Smith
Career Research - 1st Maria Santiago, 2nd Hadley Denier, 3rd Estrella Roque
Career Exploration - 3rd Estrella Roque, 4th Evalyn Sanchez
Exploring Business Issues - 2nd place Gabrielle Smith
Digital Citizenship - 4th place Evalyn Sanchez
Exploring FBLA - 2nd Dorothy Hill, 3rd Lillian Euedy, 4th Annaya Delrio
Exploring Leadership - 3rd Estrella Roque, 4th Annaya Delrio
Exploring Marketing Concepts - 3rd Annaya Delrio, 4th Mia Cropp
Spring Creek High
Donny Meza and Logan Smith got 2nd place in Graphic Design.
Khaiden Hubbard got 4th in Community Service Project.
West Wendover High
Cannon Carter, 4th place in Job Interview
Jockssan Contreras 2nd Place in Technical Support and Services
Elko High School
Introduction to Parliamentary Procedure - 1st place -Henry Worthy
Impromptu Speaking 2nd place -Katheryne Lopez
Public service announcement 2nd place Team - Andrew Nunez, Derek Valdez, Estevan Zuniga
Hospitality and Event Management 3rd place Team - Dominic Huerta, Abraham Gonzalez, Luis Romero
Parliamentary Procedure 3rd place team - Katheryne Lopez, Andrew Nunez, Luis Romero, Daniel Salazar, Henry Worthy
Accounting 2nd- place - Henry Worthy
Introduction to supply chain management - 4th place- Emiliano Pardo
Advanced Accounting 4th- Daniel Salazar
Technology support and services 4th place- Abraham Gonzalez
Introduction to Programming 4th place- Gavin Peterson