Missouri 2025 National Convention Results
- Record number of American Degrees with 5,162 nationally and Missouri with 757, #1 in the Nation.
- Record Attendance at the 98th National FFA Convention—over 73,000 members and guests.
- Missouri had 27,416 members from 369 chapters.
- The highest number of American FFA Degrees by state – 757 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.
Honorary American FFA Degree:
18 recipients from Missouri and 1 National VIP Award
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—
Dr. Mun Choi, President UM Systems-Columbia; Janet Adkison, Missouri Farm Bureau-Jefferson City; Brett Begemann, Retired COO of Monsanto/Bayer, St. Louis; Kate Lambert, FCS Financial, Chillicothe; Marie Davis, Northeast District Supervisor, Bowling Green; Dr. Andrew Clarke, University of Missouri, Columbia; Heather McKenzie and Nash McKenzie, Parents of Star Finalist, Boonville.
Current Instructors—
Tammy Bartholomew, Miami; Josh Bondy, Paris; Adam Brock, Higginsville; Darren Farmer, Polo; Kelly Lee, Braymer; John Osborn, Van Buren; Michelle Preslar, Fort Osage; Charles Simpson, Osceola; Kristy Sivils, Aurora; Sara White, Tuscumbia.
National VIP Award –
Keith Dietzschold, National FFA Board Member, Missouri Ag Ed Director, Jefferson City.
Chapter Recognition:
29 Chapters received the highest chapter rating awarded – 3 Star – (Ashland, Audrain Co. R-VI, Aurora, Boonville, Bowling Green, Brunswick, California, Carrollton, Carthage, Centralia, Chillicothe, Conway, Eldon, Eldorado Springs, Louisiana, Marshall, Montgomery Co R-II, Mount Vernon, Oak Ridge, Paris, Seneca, Slater, South Shelby, Sweet Springs, Tipton, Trenton, Troy, Union and West Plains)
8 Chapters received the second highest chapter rating awarded—2 Star – (Exeter, Farmington, Hollister, Mansfield, Monroe City, Nixa, Pleasant Hill, Savannah)
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 Building Communities division of the National Chapter Award Program. Paris and Centralia were 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.
9 Missouri FFA agriscience fair projects (with 16 participants) placed in the top ten in the nation. Those teams or individuals were:
| Jaden Decker & Jensen Decker | Centralia | Div. 4, Animal Systems | 3rd place |
| Athena Wilson & Jaxon Marsh | Pleasant Hope | Div. 4, Env. Services & NRS | 6th place |
| Alexis Peterman & Allie Yescas | Pleasant Hope | Div. 4, Food Prod & Processing | 10th place |
| Arwen Mehl & Kylee Agee | Pleasant Hope | Div. 6, Food Prod & Processing | 9th place |
| Kyra Keeling & Orrionna Mehl | Pleasant Hope | Div. 4, Plant Systems | 6th place |
| Lexi Perryman | Pleasant Hope | Div. 5 Power, Struc & Tech | 9th place |
| Brody Swindler | Carrollton ACC | Div. 3, Social Science | 7th place |
| Ethan Pearce & Samuel Alvarez | Milan | Div. 4, Social Science | 9th place |
| Isabel Morris & Lucy Conger | Rolla | Div. 6, Social Science | 4th 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.
- North Shelby FFA won this competition with team members: Domenic Williams (High individual), Cooper Belt (2nd high individual), Jayli Rosendale (3rd high individual) and Kale Pollard (4th 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.
13 National Finalist – top four in the nation based on their work based program.
- Agricultural Education—Lynn Dyer—Higginsville FFA—NATIONAL WINNER
- Agricultural Mechanics Repair & Maintenance – Entrepreneurship-
Casey Vannoy – North Shelby FFA—NATIONAL WINNER - Agricultural Mechanics Repair & Maintenance – Placement –
Mitchell Herigon – Boonville FFA—NATIONAL WINNER - Agricultural Services-Ent./Placement-
Chase Hall – Clopton FFA – NATIONAL WINNER - Diversified Crop Production – Entrepreneurship –
Madeliene Pollard – Lathrop FFA —NATIONAL WINNER - Landscape Installation – Ent./Placement –
Cordray Baker – Brookfield FFA—NATIONAL WINNER
- Proficiency Awards (all below were in the top 4 in the nation)
- Diversified Horticulture Production – Ent./Placement—Destiny DeLeon- Milan FFA
- Envir. Science & Nat. Res. Mgmt. – Ent./Placement– Alexa Groeber – Montgomery City FFA
- Fruit & Nut Production – Ent./Placement – Troy Zielstra – Brunswick FFA
- Goat Production – James Baker – Memphis FFA
- Specialty Crop Production – Ent./Placement – Abigayle Lett – Odessa FFA
- Swine Production – Entrepreneurship – Grant Oaks – Newtown-Harris FFA
- Wildlife Prod & Mgmt – Ent./Placement – Carter Bell – Rich Hill FFA
Talent, Chorus and Band:
Talent Show—Missouri was well represented this year on the talent stage.
- Emma Pitford—Clark Co. FFA
- Kimberly Keith—Chillicothe FFA
Chorus—Missouri had ten participants including:
Elizabeth Davidson, Ash Grove; Karina Lopez, Aurora; Gabriela Pedron, Aurora; Victor Sallas, California; Gracie Sappington, Dadeville; Lexi Brown, Fairfax; Riley Wilson, Boonville; Tony Jennings, Gilman City; Jayce Campbell, Eldon; Shyliah Robinson, Neosho.
Band—Missouri had thirteen participants in the National FFA Band including:
Abigail Rice, Brunswick; Cody Schneider, California; Addy Gaulke, Smithville; Taylor Lauer, Hermann; Fletcher Shoemaker, Oran; Jeremiah Leonard, Cabool; Gracie Billue, Salisbury; Kiersten Eads, Eldon; Molly Goos, Silex; Kathryn Farmer, Polo; Laramie Fenimore, Gallatin; Kyra Hester, Monroe City; Tanner Lorenson, Monroe City.
#SpeakAg Video Contest—West Platte FFA won this competition.
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:
- HIGH individual-Samuel Schwanke, North Shelby-Agricultural Mechanics
- 2nd place individual-Jared Johnston, North Shelby-Agricultural Mechanics
- 6th place individual-Quintin Wiedeman, North Shelby-Agricultural Mechanics
- 4th place individual-Adelynn, Elsberry-Agronomy
- 9th place individual-Ella Koch, Elsberry-Agronomy
- 6th place individual-Blaydn Buckwalter, Palmyra-Farm Management
- 5th place individual-Aiden Long, Neosho-Food Science
- 6th place individual-Mckenzie Noah, Neosho-Food Science
- 3rd place individual- Mackenzie Schmutzler, Savannah-Meats
- 8th place individual-Addison Neiderhouse, Savannah-Meats
- 10th place individual-Kaylee Farrell, Savannah-Meats
- 5th place individual—Adalyn Wiest, Neosho-Milk Quality & Products
- 4th place individual-Elliott Cooley, Green Ridge-Poultry Evaluation
- 9th place individual-Elyse Cooley, Green Ridge-Poultry Evaluation
CDE/LDE Participants or teams rankings are as follows:
- Ag Communications-Versailles-Silver
- Ag Issues Forum-Troy-5th place team, Gold
- Ag Sales – Tipton—10th place team, Gold
- Ag Mechanics –North Shelby— Winning Team
- (Team Members: Samuel Schwanke, Jared Johnston, Quintin Wiedeman, Kaden Hunolt)
- Agronomy – Elsberry— 4th place team, Gold
- Conduct of Meetings – Republic–Silver
- Creed – Madelyn Simpson, Kirksville–Bronze
- Dairy Cattle – Neosho–Silver
- Employment Skills-Christian Siegel, Columbia-Bronze
- Environmental and Natural Resources—Mr. Vernon—6th place team, Gold
- Extemporaneous Speaking –Kristin Waters, Norborne—Bronze
- Farm Business Management—Palmyra—6th place team, Gold
- Floriculture – Palmyra—9th place team, Gold
- Food Science – Neosho—3rd place team, Gold
- Forestry – Forsyth-9th place team, Gold
- Horse – Logan-Rogersville-4th place team, Gold
- Livestock – Braymer–Gold
- Meats – Savannah—4th place team, Gold
- Milk Quality – Neosho—8th place team, Gold
- Nursery/Landscape – Pleasant Hill—6th place team, Gold
- Parliamentary Procedure – Troy—Gold
- Poultry – Green Ridge—3rd place team, Gold
- Public Speaking –Makala Methvin, Bolivar, Gold (semi-finalist)
- Veterinary Science – Eldon, Silver
Missouri Agricultural Education Director and Missouri FFA Association State Advisor, Keith Dietzschold, was named Outstanding State Supervisor. He was honored by the National Association of Supervisors of Agricultural Education (NASAE) during the organization’s annual conference, held October 22 in Indianapolis, Ind. Each year, NASAE recognizes members who have made outstanding contributions to agricultural education.