NEWS

Roeder’s passion for science, animals points to vet school

Scott Thompson
sthompson@greatfallstribune.com
Benjamin Roeder earned a perfect 4.0 grade-point average while balancing life on the family’s sheep ranch and numerous other activities. He wants to become a veterinarian.


He was more than up to the challenge. Benjamin Roeder challenged himself like no other at Choteau High the past four years, taking more advanced placement classes than anyone else in the school.

He carries a perfect 4.0 grade-point average and scored a 32 on his ACT while balancing athletics, service clubs, student leadership, church duties and working on the family’s sheep ranch.

“He best exemplifies the kind of individual who will have success at whichever endeavor he chooses to pursue,” wrote Choteau Principal Nate Achenbach in his nomination letter.

Roeder is one of the Great Falls Tribune’s 10 Academic All Stars, seniors from northcentral who have excelled both in the classroom and in their communities.

Roeder gives a lot of credit to the teachers at Choteau and at Greenfield School, where he graduated eighth grade with just one other student.

“It really helps to have teachers who care and take the time to help you out,” he said.

Benjamin Roeder, 55, pressures the Conrad quarterback last fall. He played both offense and defense and was second team for both in the Northern 1B his senior year.

At Greenfield School, he was used to a very small class sizes and a lot of individual attention, so it was a bit of an eye-opener when he started in Choteau.

There was a constant, though: “Really good teachers,” he said.

He said he never felt in danger of losing his 4.0 in part because of those teachers’ investment in his education, although he did say that AP calculus was his most challenging course. “I’m probably more wired toward English and science,” he said.

Ben’s voice really comes to life when he starts talking about the sheep. The family, including father, Brent, a county extension agent, and mother, Tracie, a county librarian, raises purebred Targhee sheep.

He said there are not many in the state raising them.

“It’s a tight-knit community, and I’m really proud to be part of it,” he said.

Ben Roeder and his sister Caroline had quite a night at the 2016 Montana State FFA Convention. Ben received the state proficiency award in sheep production, the top honor for a young sheep producer. Caroline received the Montana Star Greenhand Award, the top honor for a freshman in FFA.

Roeder’s passion for animals and love for the sciences have made him aspire to become a large-animal veterinarian.

He plans to attend Montana State University, where he received a presidential scholarship, in the fall and major in animal science with a minor in agriculture business while also taking pre-veterinarian classes before going out of state to get his doctorate in veterinarian studies.

He won’t be out of state long if he gets his way.

“I love Montana. I love this part of the state, and I’ll come crawling back if I have to,” he said.