Colorado FFA Association
Colorado Vocational Agriculture Teachers Association
Colorado FFA Foundation
CVATA/ FFA HEIFER WRANGLE CONTEST
Updated 11/2015
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Participants will be selected from electronic applications submitted by the due
date of November 15. (There is no catch at the NWSS.) The applicant must be
a first or second year member in a Colorado Agriculture Education program
and be an active member of that FFA chapter.
Each participant must agree to exhibit their heifer at the next Colorado
State Fair.
It is agreed and understood the ownership of the heifer shall be in the name of
the student.
The Colorado FFA Foundation will issue a check to the student in January
during the NWSS meeting. The participant, along with their FFA advisor,
and parents, have until March 1st following the selection of participants to
select a heifer at least 12 months of age of their choice. The heifer is to be
weighed March, May and July to monitor growth. Those weights are to be
passed on to sponsors and committee members.
The participants are required to write one letter by the tenth of each month
beginning in February until the second state convention in June when they
complete their exit interview. The participant will write a letter every month
and send a copy to the sponsor, and email copies to the following CVATA
Fairs and Show Committee, and the Colorado FFA Foundation, c/o Don
Thorn. This letter should be in the form of a progress report on the heifer. One
copy of each letter must be on file with the chapter advisor. Each participant
will receive their sponsors name and address at the NWSS.
The local FFA advisor and/ or Parents must be present at the Colorado State
Fair to assist the participant with exhibiting the heifer.
Participants will be required to provide a copy of their AET record book and
personal scrapbook to be reviewed by the CVATA Fairs and Shows
Committee at two State FFA Conventions and Colorado State Fair. The
personal scrapbook of the heifer wrangle project should include copies of
letters to sponsors from the student and advisor, photographs, ribbons and
awards, health certificates, registration information, weight/ scale tickets and
any other important papers or events.
The CVATA Fairs and Shows Committee reserve the right to inspect the
heifers at any time.
All participants must continue to be enrolled in agriculture education after the
heifer is selected and before the heifer calves. Should student not continue to
be in a Colorado Ag Ed program or are not in good standings within the
Colorado FFA Association or Colorado 4H program the student will be
considered in violation of the program requirements and asked to return or
reimburse to the Colorado FFA Foundation the Heifer Wrangle award amount
of $1500.
Colorado FFA Association
Colorado Vocational Agriculture Teachers Association
Colorado FFA Foundation
ADVISOR RESPONSIBILITIES
 Quarterly reports and photos documenting progress and visitations.
 Communicate with committee
 Guide student in selection, breeding, calving, as well as making sure it is a valid
learning experience.
 Assure delivery of record book and scrapbook to State Fair and Convention.
 Assure that the participant has entered the Colorado State Fair.
STUDENT RESPONSIBILITIES (Please initial beside each point indicating your
understanding of responsibility)
 Show heifer in their local county fair and the designated show at the
Colorado State Fair.
Initials

Write and send monthly letters and pictures to sponsor by the 10th of each
month:
a. Copy to the sponsor
b. Copy to the CVATA Fairs and Shows Committee Chairman of Heifer
Wrangle
c. Copy to Colorado FFA Foundation, c/o Don Thorn
d. Copy for your local FFA advisors records
e. One copy for your Scrapbook
f. Heifer’s breeder—optional
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Arrange for the heifer to be bred with the assistance of your local FFA advisor.
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Weigh heifers during the following months; March, May, July and send copies of
scale or weigh tickets to CVATA Fairs and shows committee Heifer Wrangle
chair. Keep additional copies for scrapbook.
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Keep an accurate AET record book and a scrapbook of the heifer wrangle project.
(Reviewed by Fairs and Shows committee at State Fair and 2 State Conventions
during the program years you were selected.)
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Provide for and BE INVOLVED in the proper humane care and treatment of the
heifer.
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All 1st and 2nd year heifer wrangle participants will be required to attend the State
FFA Conventions during their program years to be interviewed by Fairs and
Shows Committee members.
Initials
Initials
Initials
Initials
Initials
Initials
Colorado FFA Association
Colorado Vocational Agriculture Teachers Association
Colorado FFA Foundation
COMMITTEE MEMBER RESPONSIBILITIES
Correspond with the heifer recipients, advisors and sponsors.
a.
Assist the local advisor in assuring that the project is a valid learning
experience.
b.
Conduct reviews and interviews of the students and records at State
Conventions and Colorado State Fair
c.
Evaluate and advise to ensure and implement the rules of the
FFA/CVATA Heifer Wrangle. As printed in the Heifer Wrangle Rules and
Premium book of the Colorado State Fair.
SUGGESTIONS ON HOW TO WRITE LETTERS TO SPONSORS
By the 10th of each month, you will write your heifer sponsor a letter, which should be in the
form of a progress report on the heifer. A copy of this letter must also be sent to: CVATA Fairs
and Shows, CCCS - Ag Ed - Administrative Assistant, and your FFA advisor. A letter to the
breeder of your heifer would also be very acceptable.
A few suggestions for the contents of the letters follow:
1. In your first letter, express your thanks and appreciation for the sponsor’s interest in the
program and the help they are giving you in getting started in the livestock business.
Send a photo of yourself and the heifer on the day you pick her up. This picture will
begin the bond that will form between you and the sponsor.
2. Explain the first few days with your heifer, including the halter breaking process.
3. Indicate rations being fed, pasture, grain, hay, etc.
4. Indicate growth of animal in pounds. If you have no scale, estimate weight.
5. Describe any unusual happenings such as the sickness of the animal, etc.
6. Describe good management practices being followed in the raising of this heifer.
7. Include any prizes won at any fairs or shows.
8. Include interesting activities of your FFA chapter or Agricultural Education classes
9. Describe interesting incidents that have happened to you such as being on an FFA
judging team, making the honor roll in school, any sports you are involved in, etc.
10. Remember that the success of this program will depend a great deal on the impression
you make on the sponsor through these reports. Your letter may be informal, but should
always be courteous and show appreciation for the help our sponsor is giving you in
getting started in a breeding program.
11. Please have your FFA advisor read each letter before you mail it. The letters should
show proper use of grammar as well as interesting to the sponsor.
Addresses:
Colorado FFA Foundation
P. O. Box 1000
Greeley, CO 80632
See CVATA Fairs and Shows Committee list at end of application for current
address of Chairman of Heifer Wrangle.
Colorado FFA Association
Colorado Vocational Agriculture Teachers Association
Colorado FFA Heifer Wrangle Application
Applicant Name
Home Address
Home Phone
Email Address
FFA Chapter
Describe why you should be chosen for the FFA Heifer Wrangle:
Click here to enter text.
Describe the Time Investment to your SAE:
Click here to enter text.
Describe the Financial Investment to your SAE:
Click here to enter text.
Colorado FFA Foundation
Colorado FFA Association
Colorado Vocational Agriculture Teachers Association
Describe the Capital Investment to your SAE:
Click here to enter text.
Describe the Learning Outcomes and/or goals for your SAE:
Click here to enter text.
Colorado FFA Foundation
Colorado FFA Association
Colorado Vocational Agriculture Teachers Association
Colorado FFA Foundation
Please include a projected budget from the AET recordbook.
Steps to complete budget.
1. Add new SAE, title it “Heifer Wrangle”(you can change the name if chosen)
2. Once added you can develop a budget by clicking the “budget” link.
3. Print directly from that page using your browser.
Attach a letter from a parent in support of you applying
for the selected FFA program.
I have read the rules to the above selected program and agree to
abide by those rules if selected. I have also initialed the student
responsibilities above in the Program Requirements.
Student Signature: __________________________________
Parent Signature: ___________________________________
Advisor Signature: __________________________________
MAIL COMPLETED APPLICATION TO:
Colorado FFA Association
c/o Kenton Ochsner
9101 East Lowry Blvd
Denver, CO 80230
Colorado FFA Association
Colorado Vocational Agriculture Teachers Association
Colorado FFA Foundation
Heifer Wrangle/ SAE Grant selection rubric
The following items are present and completed: ( 5 points possible)
Checklist (10pts)
Parent Letter
Budget
Pictures/ if applicable
Points
possible
Advisor and student
Rate the following on a scale of 1 -10 points based on the quality of writing and if the question was
answered according to the prompt. 10 points being the best.
NEED FOR SAE/ HEIFER WRANGLE:
Member shows a distinct need for the program award based on financial, strong desire, or
unique circumstance. Member shows a clear and concise reasoning in their answer.
Member explains what they will do with award money and gives a brief description of
planned SAE.
Points
possible
Time Investment:
Member is very concise and realistic in their determination of time needed to invest in the
program. Also includes time needed to plan, implement, manage and care for the animals.
Includes time for the clerical elements included in the program requirements.
Points
possible
Financial Investment:
Provides a brief summary of the estimated budget. Includes estimated costs to purchase the
animals and estimated expenses that will incur during the program along with the source of
the funds.
Points
possible
Capital Investment:
Member describes the Capital Items that they own along with describing any use of existing
Capital Items that are not owned by the student but used for their program. If they are
leased/ rented that arrangement is stated and explained.
Points
possible
Learning Outcomes/ Goals:
Member lists at least three learning outcomes that are related to the Program type.
Member lists at least three goals that can be identified as "SMART" goals.
TOTAL POINTS
EARNED:
Points
possible
Colorado FFA Association
Colorado Vocational Agriculture Teachers Association
Colorado FFA Foundation
Advisor Checklist
Advisor must fill out the following check list in order for the application to be
complete.
Advisor Responsibilities Include:
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Complete Checklist
Assuring Member is in good standings at time of application and throughout program
Sign the application
Complete quarterly letters
Provide Picture of Facilities to be used for student SAE
Additional items may be present in complete program details.
Please complete the following checklist.
Member is in Good standings
Member is a 1st or 2nd year member
Member has 2.0 or higher GPA
Counselor Signature: _______________________
Do you feel the member has adequate financing to
support the Heifer Wrangle Program?
Does the student have adequate facilities to support the
Heifer Wrangle Program? Please include a picture of facilities
Application is complete
Advisor Signature: ______________________________
Colorado FFA Association
Colorado Vocational Agriculture Teachers Association
Colorado FFA Foundation
CVATA Fairs and Shows Committee Members
_________________________________________________________________________
Richard Gekeler- Fairs and Shows Chairman and Ag Mech Chairman
Kit Carson High School
102 5th Ave., P. O. Box 185
Kit Carson, CO 80825
rgekeler@rebeltec.net
School: (719)962-3219
Cell: (719)529-0734
________________________________________________________________________
Michael Forster- SAE Grant Chairman
Peetz High School
P. O. Box 39, 311 Coleman Ave
Peetz, CO 80747
forsterm@peetzschool.org
School: (970)334-2456
Cell: (970)520-6752
________________________________________________________________________
Emily Fickbohm
Deer Trail High School
350 Second Avenue
PO Box 129
Deer Trail, CO 80105
efickbohm@dt26j.org
School: (303)769-4421
Cell: (970)222-0461
________________________________________________________________________
Rheanna Melcher/ FFA Heifer Wrangle Chair
Walsh High School
301 N. California St.
Walsh CO, 81090
r.melcher@walsheagles.com
School: (719)324-5221
Cell: (719)353-2582