Rigby local Vincent Kisner wins FFA National Championship

RIGBY, Idaho (KIFI) – The Future Farmers of America (FFA) named Rigby student Vincent Kisner the National Champion for Agricultural Mechanics Design and Fabrication at the organization's national convention October 21- 24 in Indianapolis.

Vincent learned how to weld from his grandpa in his freshman year of high school and instantly fell in love with it. He worked with his grandpa all throughout high school welding a variety of projects, which ultimately gave him the portfolio he needed.

Vincent got into FFA from his sister and after not making it on the AG mechanics team his first year he applied he was determined more than ever to not just make it, but to excel.

"My sister approached me and she was like, 'You should think about doing FFA like try AG mechanics team. I think it may be a great opportunity for you,'" says Vincent. "I tried it and didn't make it. I wasn't that good at the time. As time went on I kept wanting it more and more somehow, so I was like, let's do this."

Kisner's biggest advice to people is to not let fear and a lack of knowledge slow you down. Just because you don't know how to do something that shouldn't stop you, he said.

"I see a lot of people scared to do something because they think they already have to know how to do it," says Kisner. "I went into welding and built my first trailer with like two weeks of knowledge."

Rigby's Veterinary Science Team was also named a National Champion, led by Emily Jossi in first place, Blake Jossi in second, Avery Oswald in fifth and Anna Warner in sixth nationally.

The Dairy Cattle Evaluation Team took second place nationally, including Halle Nicholes, Kalli Smith, Keylee Harris, and Charlene Rediske, who demonstrated comprehensive knowledge of dairy cattle management and industry standards, according to the school's news release.