National Talent Finalists Shares a How to “Go Beyond”

By Guest Blogger Bodie Bice – Waseca FFA

            For Britton Fuglseth of the Fertile Beltrami FFA chapter, the FFA talent competition was a great way for her to “Go Beyond” dipping her toes in FFA. Fuglseth, a junior at Fertile Beltrami High School, only recently started performing in public before becoming a finalist for the National FFA Talent Competition.

“I really didn’t expect it to go as far as it did,” she said.

At the 88th Minnesota FFA Convention, Fuglseth gave a very compelling performance. She remembers the lights of everyone’s cell phones as a highlight. Fuglseth auditioned for the national competition after state convention, and successfully entered the contest.

With only six months until the 90th National FFA Convention in Indianapolis, Indiana, Fuglseth started to practice daily. When asked about her practice habits, she said: “Practice consisted of me 24 hours a day, seven days a week. I would be doing homework and singing. A lot of nights were spent at my church practicing the songs with the sound system.”

Practice wasn’t all great, however, as Fuglseth faced challenges. She cited vocal tiredness and memorization as the hardest things she faced on her road to Indy. Fuglseth credits her determination and drive to succeed as the key factors to her success.

On October 25, 2017, the 90th National FFA Convention opened for the public and Fuglseth was prepared. Clearing the first round, Fuglseth sang a riveting performance of Leonard Cohen’s “Hallelujah” during the second round. She earned a spot within the final three acts. Going into the final round, she was ready to have fun and nail her performance, and that she did finishing as a finalist with a very thrilling rendition of Adele’s, “When We Were Young.” The winner of the competition, Noah Davis, went on to compete on ABC’s American Idol this past winter.

Fuglseth’s last performance of the convention was in front of her biggest audience and venue to date as she performed at the American Degree Ceremony inside Lucas Oil Stadium. Fuglseth said she was tired and nervous to be in front of the giant audience, but she did great on her performance, with the exception of what she calls “a mess up on the lyrics.”

Throughout her journey of performing, she shared one of her favorite experiences was representing her home state. “I was proud to represent Minnesota!” she said. “I loved announcing proudly that I represented the state of Minnesota and then hearing everyone cheer.”

Today, Fuglseth is preparing for the talent competition at the 89th Minnesota State FFA Convention. A repeat trip to nationals is on the line. Fuglseth also says that doing this competition has also greatly impacted her FFA experience. Fuglseth is the 2018 - 2019 Minnesota Region I Reporter and has become more active in her own chapter. She credits FFA with bringing her friends that have become her second family and says: “FFA will forever hold a special place in my heart.”

Looking forward after FFA, Fuglseth plans on becoming an agricultural educator with her sights set on the University of Minnesota-Crookston as a possible place of enrollment. She plans on forever singing at church, local choirs, weddings and perhaps concerts of her own one day. She also loves to sing for pleasure as she says it is a stress reliever.

Fuglseth encourages her fellow FFA members to try the talent competition. She believes it helps improve public speaking ability and confidence, and is an eye-opening experience to the world of performing at the state and national levels.