Canyon View senior elected FFA state treasurer, highlighting stellar showing by Falcons at state

Shaden Tanner of Canyon View High School at the Utah state FFA convention, Layton, Utah, March 11, 2022 | Photo courtesy of CVHS FFA club, St. George News / Cedar City News

CEDAR CITY — A Canyon View High School senior has been elected to serve as Utah’s FFA state treasurer.

Candidates for state office await announcement of results at Utah state FFA convention, Layton, Utah, March 11, 2022 | Photo courtesy of CVHS FFA club, St. George News / Cedar City News

Shaden Tanner was elected by his peers during the state FFA convention held March 10-11 at the Davis County Convention Center in Layton. He is one of six state officers who will represent Utah at the national level during the coming 2022-23 school year.

Formerly known as Future Farmers of America, the organization’s official name is now National FFA Organization. Founded in 1928, it is now the largest youth organization in the country, with nearly 750,000 members. Utah has approximately 8,000 registered members in 90 chapters statewide, most of which are affiliated with high schools.

Canyon View High School teacher and FFA adviser Tiffani Knowles said her school’s chapter has grown from just six members in 2017 to 99 today.

Knowles said Tanner’s election marks the fourth straight year that a state officer has come from Canyon View, and the sixth since the school’s chapter was started in 2014. Tanner joins previous state officers from CVHS (in chronological order) Nicole Hopkins, Weston Adams, Kaylee Hopkins, Wytney Larson and Kenadee Stubbs.

Knowles said Tanner first got involved in FFA because his older sister was active in the club. 

Shaden Tanner of Canyon View High School was elected state treasurer for 2022-23 at the Utah state FFA convention, Layton, Utah, March 11, 2022 | Photo courtesy of CVHS FFA club, St. George News / Cedar City News

“His freshman year, his sister got him into it and he just took off,” Knowles told Cedar City News, adding that she has watched Tanner go from being quiet and introverted to much more outgoing and confident.

“I mean, he’s just night-and-day different compared to what he was four years ago,” she said, “It’s been quite the change, and it’s been really cool to watch.”

“Shaden raises rabbits and chickens, but he doesn’t come from a farm,” Knowles added. “He doesn’t really have any farming background at all, but he is on our state dairy team and takes pride in that, representing our chapter at the state level for dairy cattle evaluation.”

Tanner told Cedar City News that he plans to hold off on starting college for another year while he focuses on his FFA responsibilities, which include a trip to the national convention in Indianapolis in late October.

Meanwhile, he said he’s planning to take a few business classes online to get started on his post-secondary studies.

Tanner said he’s planning on majoring in business management but also likes the idea of teaching.

“So I might go into ag education and be a teacher of ag education and an FFA adviser,” he added.

Knowles described the reaction that she and her students had when Tanner was announced as the winner of the state treasurer election.

Canyon View High School FFA members with award certificates at the state convention, Layton, Utah, March 11, 2022 | Photo courtesy of CVHS FFA club, St. George News / Cedar City News

“Our whole officer team that was there was just bawling, because we were so happy for him, just jumping and screaming and crying,” Knowles said. “I’m so proud of my kids and what they accomplished. And just seeing them turn into good citizens and good people who give back to the community, is all I could ask for.”

“With COVID, they haven’t had an in-person convention the last two years,” she added. “Having everybody back together this year was so much more emotional. And all the ag teachers to be back together with their students, was just that much more meaningful.”

Several other Canyon View students also won awards and recognitions at the recent state convention, Knowles added. A few highlights:

  • Seven CVHS students received state FFA degrees, namely Chanley Adams, Shaden Tanner, Elena Puckett, Ivy Holyoak, Kelsey Buhler, Garrett Elliott and Kortney Maloney.
  • Hallie Shortt placed among the top five in the state in the creed speaking competition.
  • Canyon View’s chapter also received a $1,000 Utah Seedling Grant.

“Seeing the kids show so much love and support for their peers is beyond rewarding, and I am beyond blessed to be called their ag teacher and FFA adviser,” Knowles added.

To see more posts about state officers and recent awards, visit the Utah FFA Facebook page.

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Copyright St. George News, SaintGeorgeUtah.com LLC, 2022, all rights reserved.

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