Galt FFA Duo wins the State FFA Talent Show
By Viviana Velazquez, Bear River FFA Chapter Reporter & 2025 State FFA Conference Press Corps Member
Courtney Brouwer and Elliott Kramer, sophomores from Galt FFA, took center stage at the 2025 California FFA State Leadership Conference with a powerful piano and violin performance that earned them the top spot in the FFA State Talent Show. The duo performed Zach Bryan’s “I Remember Everything,” blending classical instrumentation with emotional vocals to wow the crowd and judges alike.
“When we found out we had won, it was surreal and exciting,” Brouwer and Kramer shared. “We were grateful just to participate, so winning was such a cool experience that we’ll always remember.”
Brouwer and Kramer’s musical collaboration began when one of their agriculture teachers encouraged them to try performing together during their freshman year. Since then, they’ve discovered how well their talents complement each other. They’ve become great friends and continue to pursue their passions since they met two years ago. However, their personal stories started long before then. Courtney learned the piano at the bright age of seven. Elliott picked up the violin at the early age of five.
Though the duo auditioned last year and didn’t make it past the video submission, they returned stronger this year, being motivated, experienced, and determined. With support from their ag teachers and chapter members, they carefully selected their song and rehearsed for two months leading up to the conference.
“Naturally, we were nervous before stepping on stage,” they admitted, “but the second we got up there, the nerves disappeared and it was all excitement.”
Beyond the competition, both students see FFA as a key part of their musical journey. “Being part of FFA pushed us to practice more and perform in ways we wouldn’t have without this opportunity,” they said. The two are already looking ahead to future performances and can’t wait to take their talents to the national level.
Their advice to others? “If you’re thinking about competing in State Talent, do it. It’s a super fun way to get involved with the convention and share your talents with a huge audience.”
They truly followed their advice, just doing it without overthinking. In fact, Brouwer and Kramer only prepared one song at first, never imagining they would actually win. That's why when they were announced as the winners, they had to quickly learn and rehearse their second piece, “All of Me” by John Legend.
What started as a long shot turned into a whirlwind of preparation, excitement, and ultimately one of the most meaningful high school memories. Their story is a reminder that sometimes taking the chance, even without having it all figured out, can lead to something unforgettable.
