National FFA Convention Attendance over 68,000

Record National Membership Announced – 700,170

Missouri specific highlights below:

Highest number of American FFA Degrees by a state – 520 recipients –

The American Degree is the Highest Degree that can bestowed on a FFA member – Less than one half of 1% receive the degree.  As the highest degree achievable 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 recipients show promise for the future and have gone above and beyond to achieve excellence.

Honorary American FFA Degree – 7 MO recipients

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.

Jackie Carlson, Conception Junction; Scott Gardner (FCS), Chillicothe; David Higgins (DESE), Mountain Grove; Jill Nagel, (EAG Labs), Columbia; Diane Olsen (MFB), Jefferson City; Dr. Alan Wessler (MFA), Columbia; Jon Wilson, Gainesville.

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.

TROY FFA  was also recognized as the National Winner in the Premier Chapter – Building Communities Division within the National Chapter Award Program. This includes the body of work in the Building Communities Division of the Program of Work.

SWEET SPRINGS FFA was also recognized as a TOP TEN CHAPTER in the Nation in the Premier Chapter – Strengthening Agriculture Division within the National Chapter Award Program. This includes the body of work in the Growing Leaders Division of the Program of Work.

30 Chapters received the highest chapter rating awarded – 3 Star – (Ashland, Audrian Co. R-VI, Aurora, Boonville, Braymer, Bucklin, Carrollton, Centralia, Clark County, El Dorado Springs, Eldon, Elsberry, Exeter, Higbee, Marshall, Mexico, Monroe City, Montgomery Co R-II, Mount Vernon, New Franklin, Russellville, Sarcoxie, Seneca, Seymour, 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 25 teams/individuals received Gold rating

• 15 members placed in the Top 10 Individuals in their respective CDE
  • Agricultural Communications – Columbia FFA-5^thPlace-Gold rated team
    • Kate Thompson, 5^thhigh individual
  • Agriculture Mechanics – North Shelby FFA – 1^stPlace – Gold rated team
    • Youssef Fransis – 1^sthigh, Kirby Latimer – 2^ndhigh, Mason Uhimeyer – 3^rdhigh, and Grant Coe – 4^thhigh individuals
  • Agricultural Sales – Columbia FFA-10^thplace – Gold rated team
    • Madison Holmes – 8^thhigh individual
  • Agricultural Issues Forum – Centralia FFA – Bronze rated team
  • Agronomy – Skyline FFA — Gold rated team
  • Conduct of Chapter Meetings – Eldon – 2^ndplace – Gold rated team
  • Creed Speaking – John Miles – Marshall FFA – Silver individual
  • Dairy Cattle Evaluation – Billings FFA – Gold rated team
  • Dairy Cattle Handlers – Lila Wantland – Niangua FFA – Bronze individual
  • Employment Skills – Olivia Brune – Clopton FFA – Silver individual
  • Environmental Natural Resources –Pleasant Hope FFA – Silver rated team
  • Extemporaneous Public Speaking–Brenden Kleiboeker, Pierce City FFA – Silver individual
  • Farm Management – Hermann FFA – 7th place – Gold rated team
    • Lucas Bader – 8^thhigh individual
  • Floriculture – Palmyra FFA – 7^thplace – Gold rated team
    • Zachary Rosenkrans – 9^thhigh individual
  • Food Science – Cassville FFA – Silver rated team
  • Forestry – Forsyth FFA – 2^ndplace Gold rated team
    • Nathan Gray-2^ndhigh, Ashley Matthews-5^thhigh, and Bryce Collins-8^thhigh individuals
  • Horse Evaluation – Ozark FFA – Silver rated team
  • Livestock Evaluation – Pleasant Hope FFA — Silver rated team
  • Meat Evaluation – Cassville FFA – Silver rated team
  • Milk Quality and Products – Miller FFA – 7^thplace Gold rated team
    • Alexia Smith – 7^thhigh and Tori Parnell 9^thhigh individuals
  • Nursery/Landscape – Aurora – 9^thplace Gold rated team
  • Parliamentary Procedure – Troy FFA – Silver rated team
  • Poultry – Paris FFA – 6^thplace Gold rated team
    • Marlena Long – 9^thhigh individual
  • Public Speaking – Dakota Pemberton, Richland FFA – Bronze individual
  • Veterinary Science – Columbia FFA – 5^thplace Gold rated Team
    • Heather Snow – 8^thhigh individual

• 49 of 93(52%) individuals received Gold rankings (approx.. 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.
• 10 out of 21 agriscience fair projects placed in the top twelve in the nation
• 5 of 10 received a gold rating in the nation
  • Ashley Freiburger & Courtney Freiburger – Verona FFA – 5^thin Food Products Division 6
  • Alexis Wilkinson – Sikeston FFA – 3^rdin Plant Systems Division 5
  • Jay Hagemeier & Dane Culbertson – Troy FFA – 9^thin Power, Structural Tech Division 4
  • Allison Harris – Tuscumbia FFA – 3^rdin Power, Structural Technical Division 5
  • Gabe Simmons – Tuscumbia FFA – 3^rdin Social Systems Division 3

Proficiency Awards

• Agricultural Proficiency Awards honor FFA members who, through supervised agricultural experiences, 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.
• 10 National Finalist – top four in the nation based on their work based program
• 2 National Winners
  • Agricultural Education – Elizabeth Brooks – Ashland FFA
  • Agricultural Processing – Teresa Yoder – Trenton FFA
  • Agriscience Research – Animal Systems – Jacob Toombs – Bolivar FFA
  • Agriscience Research – Integrated Systems – Addison Burns – Gallatin FFA
  • Dairy Production Entrepreneurship – Jared Parrigon – Sarcoxie FFA
  • Diversified Livestock Production – Amelia Liebhart – Bucklin FFA – NATIONAL WINNER
  • Equine Science Entrepreneurship – Griffin Holliday – Centralia FFA
  • Grain Production Placement – Brock Aylward – Memphis FFA
  • Nursery Operations – Kylynn Mallen – Cameron FFA – NATIONAL WINNER
  • Vegetable Production – Ethan Hilgedick – Ashland FFA

National FFA Band– 16 of approximately 100 members selected nationally:

Jena Schwartze, Vienna; Yanci Aschwege, Galena; Gavin King, Pierce City; Olivai Sloan, Salisbury; Tara Schnelting, Owensville; Chloe Moss, Crocker; Christine Kussmann, Burnswick; Samantha McNealy, Warrenton; Cory Word, Saxony Lutheran; Kimberly Niemeyer, Bowling Green; David Welter, Stewartsville; Aubrey Bunge, Van-Far; Annabell Morris, Bronaugh; Christopher Ochoa, North Platte; Hayden Schapeler, Rich Hill; Layla Beyer, Slater

National FFA Chorus– 7 of approximately 75 members selected nationally:

Connor Pfaff, Monroe City; Logan Lucas, Monroe City; Ryan Altman, Winfield; Grace Williams, Winfield; Colin Wilburn, Van-Var; Macie McNeely, Gallatin; Sydney Stundebeck, Salisbury.

National FFA Talent Performers – 4 selected from Missouri

Kaitlin Caldwell, South Shelby; Owen Kloeppel, Vienna; Zach Evans, Richland; Ashlee Martin, Green Ridge

Hall of States — Represents agriculture in our state in the Expo Show – Centralia FFA