Missouri 2024 National Convention Results

•  Record National Membership Announced – 1,027,273 from 9,235 chapters. 
• Attendance at the 97th National FFA Convention—71,954 members and guests. 
• Missouri has 27,044 members from 365 chapters. 

• The highest number of American FFA Degrees by state – 663 recipients – Missouri ranks 11th in overall FFA membership.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:

12 recipients from Missouri 

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. 

Friends of Missouri FFA—Dean Christopher Daubert, CAFNR, University of Missouri, Brad Driskill, State Fair Community College Agriculture Director, Bradley Schad, CEO, Missouri Corn Growers Association, Eric Volmer, Senior Director of Field Services, Missouri Farm Bureau, Cyndi Young-Puyear, Director of Brownfield Ag News & Learfield Ag, Erin Glarner, Director, Industry Relations, American Soybean Association. 

Current Instructors—Kerriann Brandt, Monroe City, Matthew Pendergrass, Doniphan, Amanda Reid, Concordia, Ellen Romero, Russellville, Martha Schreiman, Santa Fe, Devin Garland, Wellington-Napoleon. 

Chapter Recognition:

 29 Chapters received the highest chapter rating awarded – 3 Star – (Ashland, Aurora, Boonville, Bowling Green, California, Canton, Carthage, Centralia, Eldon, Exeter, Galena, Marshall, Mexico, Montgomery Co R-II, Mount Vernon, Neosho, Nixa, Osceola, Paris, Pettis Co. R-V, Rich Hill, Seneca, Slater, Sweet Springs, Trenton, Troy, Union and West Plains) 

8 Chapters received the second highest chapter rating awarded—2 Star – (Brunswick, Carrollton, Eldorado Springs, Farmington, Madison, Richmond, Tipton, Van-Far) 

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. 

The Osceola FFA Chapter was in the top three in the nation within the Strengthening Agriculture division of the National Chapter Award Program. Centralia was in the top ten within the Strengthening Agriculture division of the National Chapter Award Program. 

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. 

• 7 Missouri FFA agriscience fair projects (with 10 participants) placed in the top ten in the nation. Those individuals were:
  • Animal Systems – Division 3 – Jaden Decker—Centralia FFA—9th place 
  • Animal Systems – Division 4 – Isabel Morris & Lucy Conger – Rolla FFA – 4th place
  • Environ Services/NRS – Division 3 – Athena Wilson-Pleasant Hope FFA – 10th place
  • Food Products – Division 3 – Brie Daily – Osceola FFA—6th place
  • Food Products – Division 4 – Loraine Arciniegas & Maddyson Alexander – Pleasant Hope FFA—3rd place
  • Power, Structural & Tech Sys.—Division 4—Gracie Pulley & Addison Rogers—Pleasant Hope FFA – 2nd place
  • Social Systems – Division 3 – Ellie Samek-Bolivar FFA—3rd place

National FFA Endorsed Activities:

National FFA is partnering with other organizations to create a variety of National FFA Endorsed Activities. National FFA staff has vetted these opportunities to ensure relevance and quality. Recognition will not take place at national convention, however it can be held in a similar timeframe as the National FFA Convention. 

• FFA Quiz Bowl Invitational Milan FFA won this competition for the second year in a row with team members: Jara Sanchez, Kendra Sayre, Daniel Cast Aneda, and Ethan Pearce. 

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 44 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. 

 8 National Finalist – top four in the nation based on their work based program.

•  Agricultural Education—Hayley Gruenewald—Silex FFA 
• Agricultural Mechanics Repair & Maintenance – Placement – Jacob McElhaney – Atlanta FFA 
•  Diversified Crop Production – Entrepreneurship – Aiden Matthew Plenge – Clark Co. FFA 
• Equine Science – Entrepreneurship – Alexis Mullins – St. James FFA 
• Goat Production – Lauren Hammett—Ashland FFA 
• Grain Production – Tyler Fenner – Sweet Springs FFA 

National Winners: 

• Diversified Horticulture Production – Entrepreneurship/Placement—Ava Bullard- Ashland FFA—NATIONAL WINNER 
• Dairy Production – Entrepreneurship –Cade Claycomb—Trenton FFA—NATIONAL WINNER 

Talent, Chorus and Band:

Talent Show—Missouri was well represented this year on the talent stage. 

• Emma Pitford—Clark Co. FFA earned a spot in the top 15 talent acts. 

Also performing on stages in venues around the National Convention:

• Rob Wollgast—Elsberry FFA 
• Tony Jennings—Gilman City FFA 
• Kennedy Parrish—Green City FFA 
• Ivory Schoonover—Nixa FFA 
• Kason Fuller, John Malter, Judd Malter Cody Marshall & Morgan Skidmore—Smithville FFA
• Chorus—Missouri had eleven participants including: Mary Davidson, Ash Grove; Karina Lopez, Aurora; Gabriela Pedron, Aurora; Logan Pinkham, Belton; Victor Sallas, California; Gracie Sappington, Dadeville; Lexi Brown, Fairfax; Liam Hansen, Mount Vernon; Leeanna Brown, Rich Hill; Quin Staten, Tarkio.
  
• Band—Missouri had six participants in the National FFA Band including: Carissa Simagna, Aurora; Abigail Rice, Brunswick; Jeremiah Leonard, Cabool; Cody Schneider, California; Lela Hartschen, North Harrison; Preston Ethridge, Poplar Bluff.