Fairmont students place at state FFA and qualify robotics team for Worlds

Fairmont Area High School students and mentors reported successes at recent FFA and robotics competitions during the May 26 school board meeting.

Nick Peas, a Fairmont High School teacher and FFA advisor, told the board that 21 students attended the Minnesota State FFA convention; chapter teams — including poultry, livestock judging and horse — competed, and student competitors placed in the gold category (top third). Peas described the travel logistics, chaperone support and student growth, and said seven students attended nationals this year (three attended both nationals and state).

Sam Belman, head mentor of the high‑school robotics program, and student leaders Hannah Greece, Elias Monroe and Katie Simpson summarized an accomplished season for Team 2847: second place at the Lake Superior Regional, a strong showing at the Cedar Falls (Iowa) regional, qualification for the Minnesota State High School League championship and an invitation to compete at the Worlds championship in Houston. Student speakers emphasized that robotics fills gaps in engineering and computer science offerings and creates pathways into technical careers.

Belman and students thanked community sponsors including 3M, the American Legion, Valero and Kaylor Automation for financial and in‑kind support. The board praised the students’ communication skills and noted a recent pilot “signing day” to celebrate seniors committing to engineering and technical programs.

"Joining Fairmont Robotics this past summer has been genuinely life‑changing for me," one student said, describing the program’s impact on college and career plans.