During the 91st annual National FFA Convention over 69,944 FFA members from across the nation came together to be inspired and to celebrate their accomplishments within their communities and state. Missouri was a shining star during the Convention. Chapters from across the state received numerous accolades and awards for their outstanding work within the state of Missouri.
Missouri received the highest number of American FFA Degrees by a state with 518 recipients. The American Degree is the highest degree that can be bestowed on a FFA member - less than one half of 1% receive the degree. As the highest degree achieveable in the National FFA Organization, the American FFA Degree shows an FFA member's dedication to his or her chapter and state FFA association. It demonstrates the effort FFA members apply toward their supervised agricultural experience and the outstanding leadership abilities and community involvement they exhibited through their FFA career. American FFA Degree recipeints show promise for the future and have gone above and beyond to achieve excellence.
The American Star Farmer Winner was awarded to Austin Stanton of Centralia FFA - MO. The American Star Farmer is awarded to the FFA member that demonstrates the top production agriculture supervised agricultural experience in the nation. The member must demonstrate outstanding achievement, active FFA participation and an exemplary scholastic record. Full story here.
The Honorary American FFA Degree is awarded to individuals who have provided exceptional service on a national level to agriculture, agricultural education, or FFA are eligible for the Honorary American FFA Degree. Additionally, teachers who have created high-quality agricultural education programs which inspire and motivate their students to strive for success are eligible.
The Honorary American FFA Degree was awarded to 9 Missouri recipients:
Colleen Abbott, Columbia; Hilary Black, Jefferson City; Doug Kueker, Lake Ozark; Jackie Lacy, Maryville; Charlli J. Baugh, Joplin; Jay Craven, Holden; Paul Crews, Glasgow; Kellil Nolting, Carl Junction; Kyle Whittaker, Marshfield.
The National Chapter Award Program is designed to recognize FFA chapters that actively implement the mission and strategies of the organization. These chapters improve chapter operations using the National Quality Chapter Standards (NQCS) and a Program of Activities (POA) that emphasize growing leaders, building communities and strengthening agriculture. Chapters are rewarded for providing educational experiences for the entire membership.
- Overall Top Chapter in the Nation - Marshall FFA - "Model of Excellence"
- Top Ten Chapter in the Nation - Paris FFA - "Model of Excellence"
- Top Ten Chapter in the Nation - Marshall FFA - "Premier Chapter Growing Leaders Division"
31 Chapters received the highest chapter rating awarded - 3 Stars: Ashland, Audrian Co. R-VI, Aurora, Blue Springs, Boonville, Braymer, Brookfield, Bucklin, Centralia, Chillicothe, El Dorado Springs, Eldon, Elsberry, Higbee, Marshall, Mount Vernon, New Franklin, Paris, Pleasant Hope, Sarcoxie, Seneca, Seymour, Sherwood, Slater, South Callaway, Sweet Springs, Tipton, Trenton, Troy, Union and West Plains
Career and Leadership Development Events Summary
FFA members focus on skill development and career preparation through participation in Career Development Events and Leadership Development Events. These competitive events develop individual responsibility, foster teamwork and promote communication while recognizing the value of ethical competition and individual achievement. Successful members expand their knowledge base by interacting with peers, teachers, as well as business and community leaders to gain a complete and comprehensive knowledge about specific career and leadership areas.
- 13 of 22 teams/individuals received Gold rating
- 12 members placed in the Top 10 Individuals in their respective CDE
- Agriculture Sales - Eldon FFA - silver rated team
- Agriculture Issues Forum - Eldon FFA - 4th place gold rated team
- Agronomy - Elsberry FFA - 4th place gold rated team
- Trevor Anthony - 5th high individual
- Conduct of Chapter Meetings - Troy FFA - gold rated team
- Creed Speaking - Kaitlin Kleiboeker, Pierce City FFA - bronze individual
- Dairy Cattle Evaluation - Butler FFA - silver rated team
- Dairy Cattle Handlers - Grant Dohle, Pleasant Hope FFA - silver individual
- Employment Skills - Jayla Wortman, Neosho FFA - bronze individual
- Environmental Natural Resources - Mount Vernon FFA - silver rated team
- Tristan Dennis, 9th high individiual
- Extemporaneous Public Speaking - Hattie Grisham, Eldon FFA - silver individual
- Farm Management - Slater FFA - 4th place, gold rated team
- Cassie Eddy - 7th high and Ben Borman - 10th high individuals
- Floriculture - Owensville FFA - 1st place - gold rated team
- Ella Wright - 3rd high, Kaylee Abney - 7th high, Abigail Koepke - 10th high individuals
- Food Science - Columbia FFA - silver rated team
- Ashley McKinley - 7th high individual
- Forestry - Stockton FFA - 10th place, gold rated team
- Horse Evaluation - Columbia FFA - 1st place, gold rated team
- Derek Strawn - 2nd high individual
- Livestock Evaluation - Nevada FFA, gold rated team
- Paxton Dahmer - 7th high individual
- Meat Evaluation - Paris FFA - 5th place, gold rated team
- Marlena Long - 10th high individual
- Milk Quality and Products - Wheaton FFA - 7th place, gold rated team
- Nursery/Landscape - Audrain County R-VI - 8th place, gold rated team
- Taren Clark - 6th high individual
- Parliamentary Procedure - Tipton FFA, gold rated team
- Poultry - Paris FFA - 9th place, gold rated team
- Public Speaking - Brenden Kleiboeker, Pierce City FFA, bronze individual
- 54 of 81 (67%) individuals received gold rankings (approximately top 10 percent of the CDE)
Agriscience Fair
The National FFA Agriscience Fair recognizes student researchers studying the application of agricultural scientific principles and emerging technologies in agricultural enterprises. The agriscience fair is for middle and high school students. Participation begins at the local level and progresses to state and national levels.
- 9 out of 21 agriscience fair projects placed in the top twelve in the nation
- 6 of 9 received a gold rating and placed in the top 5 in the nation
- Dylan Sparks & Izabella Kidwell - Troy FFA - 1st in Animal Systems Division 4
- Daryin Sharp - Bolivar FFA - 4th in Animal Systems Division 5
- Jenna Hahn & Collin Nichols - Troy FFA - 5th in Animal Division 6
- Isaiah Massey - Troy FFA - 4th in Environmental Services Division 5
- Preston McDowell - Tuscumbia FFA - 4th in Food Products Division 5
- Addison Burns - Gallatin FFA - 3rd in Plant Systems Division 5
Proficiency Awards
Agriculture Proficiency Awards honor FFA members who, through supervises agricultural experience, have developed specialized skills that they can apply toward their future careers. Nationally, students can compete for awards in nearly 50 areas ranging from agricultural communications to wildlife management (see areas below). Proficiency awards are also recognized at local and state levels and provide recognition to members that are exploring and becoming established in agricultural career pathways.
- 11 National Finalist - top four in the nation based on their work based program
- 4 National Winners
- Agricultural Sales Placement - Hank Hoeppner, Higginsville FFA
- Agriscience Research - Integrated Systems - Sara Gammon, Drexel FFA
- Dairy Production Entrepreneurship - Austin Freund, Concordia FFA
- Diversified Horticulture - Natasha Jenkins, Booneville FFA
- Environmental Science/National Resource Management - Cameron Gehlert, Linn FFA
- Equine Science Placement - Jacob Blank, Richland FFA - National Winner
- Forage Production - Hannah Strain, Rolla FFA - National Winner
- Goat Production - Riley Trade, Ashland FFA
- Grain Production Entrepreneurship - Jacob Dierking, Santa Fe FFA
- Specialty Crop Production - Grace Box, Neosho FFA - National Winner
- Swine Production Placement - Brenden Kleiboeker, Pierce City FFA - National Winner
National FFA Band
- 13 of approximately 100 members elected nationally:
Aubrey Bunge, Van-Far; Trace Chambers, Fayette; Cathryn Denny, Carl Junction; Haleigh Ferguson, Smithton; Emily Korff, North Callaway; Kimberly Niemeyer, Bowling Green; Tara Schnelting, Owensville; Avery Shultz, Memphis; Olivia Sloan, Salisbury; Luke Vaughn, Marceline; Jacob Wilson, Gallatin; Cory Word, Saxony Lutheran; Koltan York, Crocker
National FFA Chorus
- 16 of approximately 75 members selected nationally:
Ryan Altman, Winfield; Bethany Bailey, Gallatin; Emily Bilyeu, California; Sierra Bruse, Princeton; Trenton Gabirel, Worth County; Patience Lockhart, Nevada; Logan Lucas, Monroe City; Macie McNeely, Gallatin; Chloe Moss, Crocker; Dylan Murdock, Couch; Dallin Nield, Miller; Kylee Peters, Higbee; Connor Pfaff, Monroe City; Konner Sisseck, Nevada; Jill Stundebeck, Salisbury; Colin Wilburn, Van-Far.
National FFA Talen Performers
- 6 selected from Missouri:
Matthew Huchteman, Dadeville was selected as the 2nd place Talent in the nation.
Hall of States
- Represents agriculture in our state in the Expo Show – Cassville FFA
Source: Keith Dietzschold, MO FFA Executive Secretary | missouriffa.org
