Gussie Cook walked confidently into the room where two judges waited to hear her spiel as a contestant in the FFA Ag Sales competition Wednesday.

Gussie, who’ll turn 18 on Dec. 28, is a senior FFA member whose presentation showed the confidence and poise of an experienced competitor.

She spent about 20 minutes pitching her product, Pet Flex cohesive bandages, to volunteer judges, Adam Kerns of Haines and Kyle Ransom of Richland.

Other agricultural sales and job interview contests were taking place throughout The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints building on Hughes Lane beginning at 9 a.m.

One hundred and fifty students from these Northeastern Oregon schools competed: Baker, North Powder, Union, Pine Eagle, Cove, La Grande, Imbler, Elgin, Wallowa, Enterprise and Joseph.

The LDS Church is a back-door neighbor to Baker Technical Institute, which is housed in the northwest wing of Baker High School.

The FFA program is part of the Agricultural Pathway included in the BTI career and technical training offered by the school district.

During Wednesday’s competition, Gussie touted her product as one that doesn’t constrict movement, is easy to tear and is offered in a latex-free version for people with allergies, making it superior to other similar products. And it is usable by people as well as animals.

“Girls use it for headbands,” she added, to the amazement and amusement of her judges.

Gussie said she uses the tape to contain her long brown hair and especially appreciates that the tape doesn’t pull and cause her pain when she removes it.

In 2016-17, Gussie served as the Baker FFA chapter’s secretary. This year, her schedule, which also includes volleyball and softball in addition to her FFA responsibilities and preparation for college, didn’t allow her to serve as an officer. She talked about her FFA experience while waiting among other competitors in a church hallway for her chance to impress the Ag Sales judges.

This year she will take her desire to continue serving her community to the 4-H program, where she will begin volunteering as a junior sheep leader helping Angela Robb with her club.

Competition Results

The Baker FFA Chapter took first place in the advanced Agriculture Sales Career Development Event in Baker City Wednesday.

North Powder FFA placed second in the Greenhand event for newcomers.

The top six competitors in each event move on to the next level, Bibiana Gifft, Baker FFA adviser, stated in an email to the Herald.

The competition also included a Job Interview event that drew 22 participants. Baker and North Powder FFA chapters also qualified one student each who will advance in that contest. Raimey Brown of North Powder placed second and Duncan Mackenzie of Baker placed third.

Here’s how students from Baker FFA and North Powder FFA chapters placed in their practicum areas:

Advanced

First in sales: Gussie Cook, Baker.

First in prospecting: Quinn Coomer, Baker.

Second in Prospecting: Preston M., North Powder.

First in telephone: Alicia Maldonado, Baker.

Third in telephone: Lexie Harrell, Baker.

Second in advertising: Delaney Van Arsdall, Baker.

Third in advertising: Alayne Bennett, Baker.

Third in customer relations: Samuel P. North Powder.

Third in Sales: Darby Ingram, North Powder.

Greenhand

First in telephone: Bailey Cole, North Powder.

Second in sales: Kenzie Leggett, North Powder.

Second in customer relations: Keanna Bingham, North Powder.

See more in the Dec. 18, 2017, issue of the Baker City Herald.