2026 National Convention Results
Record number of American Degrees with 5,816 nationally and Missouri with 740, #1 in the Nation.
Attendance at the 99th National FFA Convention—over 72,152 members and guests.
The highest number of American FFA Degrees by state – 740 recipients – Missouri ranks 12th 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.
Honorary American FFA Degree – 13 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— Greg Rotert, University of Missouri-Columbia; Rachel Kagay, Gallup Strengths Coach, Maysville; Beth Dampf, FFA State Chorus Director, California; Dr. Bryon Wiegand, University of Missouri-Columbia; Taylor Tuttle, Missouri Dept. of Agriculture, Jefferson City; Jonathan Ernst, Bayer Education, St. Louis.
7 Teachers receiving Honorary American Degree –
Jessy Rueterdahl, Macon; Alicia Corson-Peters, Fatima; Gary Morris, California; Clint Johnson, Lakeland; Mary Leykamp, Montgomery City; Amanda Sullivan, Montgomery City; Chad Cook, Monroe City.
26 Chapters received the highest chapter rating awarded – 3 Star – (Ashland, Audrain Co. R-VI, Aurora, Boonville, Canton, Carthage, Centralia, Chillicothe, Climax Springs, Eldorado Springs, Elsberry, Farmington Nixa, Odessa, Paris, Republic, Savannah, School of the Osage, Seneca, Slater, Sweet Springs, Tipton, Trenton, Troy, Union and West Plains)
10 Chapters received the second highest chapter rating awarded—2 Star – (Bolivar, Bowling Green, California, Carrollton Area Career Center, Hollister, La Monte, Louisiana, Montgomery co. R-II, Russellville, Santa Fe)
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 Centralia FFA Chapter was in the top ten in the nation in the Growing Leaders division of the National Chapter Award Program.
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.
Individuals earning spots in the top 10 individuals also receiving a gold rating are as follows:
7th place individual-Cooper Belt-North Shelby-Agronomy
8th place individual-Domenic Williams-North Shelby -Agronomy
6th place individual-Kolten Gilmartin-Hillcrest -Environmental and Nat. Resource
5th place individual-Joseph Mahsman-Palmyra, Farm Business Mgmt.
7th place individual-Grae Helland-Ashland-Floriculture
9th place individual-Blake Cossey-Ashland-Floriculture
3rd place individual-Adalyn Wiest-Neosho-Food Science
7th place individual-Ryan Saffle-Forsyth-Forestry
8th place individual-Carter Williams-Forsyth-Forestry
4th place individual – Chloe Bruce-Fair Play-Meats
5th place individual – Mekenzie Evans-Fair Play-Milk Quality
3rd place individual – Emma Bourgeous-Carthage-Nursery
2nd place individual – Lania Morgan-Neosho-Poultry
8th place individual – Colby Mcgehee-Neosho-Poultry
CDE/LDE Participants or teams rankings are as follows:
Ag Communications-Liberal-7thplace team, Gold
Ag Issues Forum-Centralia-3rd place team, Gold
Ag Sales – Chillicothe—Silver
Ag Mechanics –Hermann-10th place team, Gold
Agronomy – North Shelby- 3rd place team, Gold
Conduct of Meetings –Troy-Gold
Creed – Katherine Branham, Nevada–Bronze
Dairy Cattle – Fair Grove–Silver
Employment Skills-Mailey Alber, Pierce City-Silver
Environmental and Natural Resources—Hillcrest—Winner (team members-Logan Tipton, Kaden Creed, Kolten Gilmartin, and Michael VanBeek, Gold
Extemporaneous Speaking –Bella Baker, Atlanta–Gold
Farm Business Management—Palmyra—4th place team, Gold
Floriculture – Ashland—3rd place team, Gold
Food Science – Neosho—2nd place team, Gold
Forestry – Forsyth-5th place team, Gold
Horse – Ashland – 7th place team, Gold
Livestock – McDonald County – Silver
Meats – Fair Play —5th place team, Gold
Milk Quality – Fair Play—4th place team, Gold
Nursery/Landscape – Carthage—4th place team, Gold
Parliamentary Procedure – Troy—3rd place team, Gold
Poultry – Neosho—3rd place team, Gold
Public Speaking – 4th Place– Abby Dahlbeck-East Prairie
Veterinary Science – School of the Osage, Gold
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. • 14 Missouri FFA agriscience fair projects (with 23 participants) placed in the top ten in the nation. Those teams or individuals were:
Gracie Pulley Pleasant Hope Div. 5, Animal Systems 7th place Jaden Decker & Jensen Decker Centralia Div. 6, Animal Systems 4th place Chason Satterfield & Vincent Conger Rolla Div. 4, Environ. Services & Nat. Res. Sys. 8th place Ellie Samek & Garrett Samek Bolivar Div. 6, Environ. Services & Nat. Res. Sys. 5th place Sarah Ahart Tuscumbia Div. 3, Food Products & Processing Systems 6th place Alea Dawson & Kloie Richardson Pleasant Hope Div. 4, Food Products & Processing Systems 6th place Loraine Arciniegas & Maddy Alexander Pleasant Hope Div. 6, Food Products & Processing Systems 9th place Kyra Keeling & Darci Orbin Pleasant Hope Div. 4, Plant Systems 7th place Athena Wilson & Jaxon Marsh Pleasant Hope Div. 6, Plant Systems 9th place Henry Patterson Tuscumbia Div. 3, Power, Structural & Technical Sys. 9th place Alexis Peterman & Kaitlyn Trujillo Pleasant Hope Div. 4, Power, Structural & Technical Sys. 6th place Isabel Morris & Lucy Conger Rolla Div. 6, Power, Structural & Technical Sys. 2nd place Brody Swindler Carrollton ACC Div. 3, Social Science 10th place Kylie McRoy & Grace Tucker Farmington Div. 6, Social Science 8th place
FFA QUIZ BOWL INVITATIONAL
North Shelby FFA won this competition with team members: Maren Yoder (High individual), Toby Copenhaver (2nd high individual), and Scarlet Yoder (3rd high individual)
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.
• 10 National Finalist – top four in the nation based on their work based program. Agricultural Mechanics Repair & Maintenance – Placement – Tyler Fleming – Ashland
FFA—NATIONAL WINNER
Diversified Crop Production – Entrepreneurship – Lane Carter- Audrain R-VI FFA—NATIONAL WINNER
Equine Science –Placement – Hunter Skouby– Ashland FFA—NATIONAL WINNER
Fiber and/or Oil Crop Production-Ent/Placement – Larson Hall – Clopton FFA—NATIONAL WINNER
Fruit & Nut Production-Ent/Placement – Cole Schweizer – Savannah—NATIONAL WINNER
Proficiency Awards (all below were in the top 4 in the nation)
o Agricultural Communications – Ent./Placement—Montgomery Ross-Carrollton ACC FFA o Agricultural Mechanics Design & Fab.-Ent/Placement—Logan Pinkham-Belton FFA
o Dairy Production-Ent. – Jenna Brixey-Norwood FFA
o Envir. Science & Nat. Res. Mgmt. – Ent./Placement – Lillian Floyd-Belton FFA
o Grain Production – Ent./Placement – Marshall Kable – Centralia FFA
TALENT, CHORUS & BAND
Talent Show—Missouri was well represented this year on the talent stage.
o Emma Pitford-Clark County
o Rhett Sneed-Chillicothe
o Everly Moore-Higginsville
o Nina Eddy-Milan
o Leeanna Bell-Rich Hill
Chorus—Missouri had eleven participants including:
Victor Salas, California; Riley Wilson, Boonville; Tony Jennings, Gilman City; Jayce Campbell, Eldon; Shyliah Robinson, Neosho; Mack Spencer, West Platte; Matthew Fahrendorf, Pilot Grove; Alana Kimmons, Willard; Josephine Gifford, Licking; Jess Medlin, California; Eleanore Gray, California.
Band—Missouri had fifteen participants in the National FFA Band including:
Fletcher Shoemaker, Oran; Kathryn Farmer, Polo; Kierstan Phaff, Monroe City; Kiya Hester, Monroe City; Addy Gaulke, Smithville; Weston Eifert, Lincoln; Taylor Lauer, Hermann; Truman Corbett, Hamilton; Lorelai Hutson, Silex; Olivia Welter, Stewartsville; Will Leabo, Santa Fe; George Perry, School of the Osage; Katherine Graeve, Cass Career Center; Zephyr Soice, Clark Co; Quintin Starks, Clark Co.