Kentucky FFA Members Excel at National FFA Convention
Kentucky FFA Members Excel at National FFA Convention
Kentucky FFA was well represented at the 92nd Annual National FFA Convention, which was held October 30-November 2 in Indianapolis. Approximated 70,000 FFA members, advisors, and guests attended the Convention, which is the largest youth organization gathering in the United States.
Spencer County FFA won the Dairy Cattle Evaluation Career Development Event. Members of the Dairy Cattle Evaluation team included Kelly Baird, Madison Goodlett, Tyler Moehrke, and Casey Montgomery. Kelly Baird was the third high individual in the contest and the other team members received gold ratings. FFA Advisor Bland Baird served as coach of the Dairy Evaluation team. This is the tenth time since 2006 that Spencer County has won the national Dairy Evaluation CDE.
Augustus Cole Holt of LaRue County was named the national winner in the Forest Management and Products Proficiency contest. Cole’s award was based on his work in his father’s logging business. He also built a firewood business to reduce waste from the logging business. He is the son of Matthew and Cara Holt. His advisors are Misty Bivens and Chris Thomas.
Blake Quiggins of Hart County was named as one of four national finalists for the American Star in Agribusiness Award. Blake has developed a national reputation for grooming and fitting livestock for shows. This led to his purchase of a livestock show supply business with sales all at many major shows across the nation. Blake is the son of Tim and Wanda Quiggins. His advisors are Ashley Thomas and Shaun Murray.
Avery Barnes and Karley Furnish of Harrison County Middle School placed third in the Social Systems Division II of the National Agriscience Fair.
Sam Smith of Montgomery County placed in the top three in the National FFA Talent Contest.
Adair County Middle School FFA participated in the National Invitational Quiz Bowl Event on
October 29 and had two teams place in the top three. Lily Loy, Sarai Collins, Ellie Cheatham, and Lilee Wall placed 2nd in the event while Bode Richard, Mason Caldwell, and Wsson Burton placed third. Lily Loy was the 5th high individual.
Lily P’Pool of Trigg County placed fourth in the Creed Speaking Leadership Development Event. Lily made it through three rounds of competition which included reciting the creed and answering questions in front of a panel of judges.
Madison Southern FFA placed fourth in the Environmental Science and Natural Resources Career Development Event. Team members were Reagan Childers, Ansley Cornelius, Logan Kirby, and Hunter Bolin. Hunter Bolin was the seventh place individual in the CDE.
Spencer County FFA placed fifth in the Nursery Landscape Career Development Event. Jack Kennedy was the fourth place individual and Jackson Baird was the ninth place individual. Team members Brynn Cooper and Emily Collins received gold ratings.
McCreary Central FFA placed sixth in the Forestry Career Development Event. Kyle Privett was the third high individual. Other team members were Elisha Shepard, Ashlyn Slaven, and Sierra Coffey.
Locust Trace FFA place sixth in the Veterinary Science Career Development Event. Annika Weaver was the sixth place individual and Catherine Wharton was the ninth place individual. Other team members were Mara Flaherty and Kayla Riley.
Franklin Simpson FFA placed tenth in the Agronomy Career Development Event. Team members were Ashlyn Stinson, Kayla Shaw, Chadwick Bush, and Kenton Wilson.
Braedon Braedon Price of South Warren FFA advanced to the semi-finals and placed tenth in the Extemporaneous Public Speaking Leadership Development Event.
Alex Miller of Garrard County and Wayd Wood of McCracken County were in the top 15 in the National FFA Talent Contest. Cassidy Napier of Jessamine County and Journey McGuire of Rockcastle County also represented Kentucky in the National FFA Talent Contest.
Grace Clark of Franklin Simpson represented Kentucky as a National FFA Officer Candidate.
Boyle County was a National Finalist in the National Chapter Model of Innovation in the area of Growing Leaders.
Four Kentucky FFA members were selected as national proficiency award finalists in their respective areas meaning they were in the top four nationally. They were:
Joshua Griffin- Western Hills- Agricultural Mechanics Repair and Maintenance
Entrepreneurship
Hallie Griffiths- Green County- Dairy Production Placement
Hunter Jackson- Lyon County- Specialty Crop Production
Claire Vance- Hart County- Veterinary Science
Proficiency awards are based on a written application detailing the student’s accomplishments and learning related to his or her Supervised Agricultural Experience Program. National Finalists complete an in depth interview with industry leaders as part of the selection process.
Other teams/individuals competing in National Career Development and Leadership Development Events included:
|
CDE Area |
Rating |
Chapter |
|
Agricultural Communications |
Bronze |
LaRue County |
|
Agricultural Issues |
Silver |
Meade County |
|
Agricultural Sales |
Silver |
Madison Central |
|
Agricultural Technology & Mechanical Systems |
Bronze |
Whitley County |
|
Conduct of Chapter Meetings |
Gold |
Nicholas County |
|
Dairy Handlers |
Gold |
Skyla Lawless, Russell County |
|
Employment Skills |
Bronze |
Conner Holmes, Marshall County |
|
Farm Business Management |
Gold |
Spencer County |
|
Floriculture |
Silver |
Spencer County |
|
Food Science & Technology |
Silver |
LaRue County |
|
Horse Evaluation |
Bronze |
Muhlenberg County |
|
Livestock Evaluation |
Silver |
Cumberland County |
|
Marketing Plan |
Bronze |
Spencer County |
|
Meats Evaluation |
Silver |
Spencer County |
|
Milk Quality & Products |
Silver |
LaRue County |
|
Parliamentary Procedure |
Silver |
Boyle County |
|
Poultry |
Gold |
Graves County |
|
Prepared Public Speaking |
Bronze |
Landry Woodrum, Boyle County |
Twelve Kentucky FFA members placed in the top twelve in the FFA Agriscience Fair. They were:
Animal Systems Division 2- Colton Dawson and Jordan Arnett- Montgomery County
Environmental Systems Division 2- Andrea Newland and Anna Fraley- Fayette County Middle Schools
Food Products Division 2- Jasmine Barnes and Nathan Miracle- Fayette County Middle Schools
Plant Systems Division 2- Briana Bentley and Alexis Little- Royal Spring Middle School
Plant Systems Division 4- Logan Peters and Josie Kurtz- Spencer County
Power Structural and Technical Systems Division 4- Jacie Morton and Larissa Arnold- Montgomery County
The American FFA Degree was awarded to 115 Kentucky FFA members. This honor is the highest award the organization can bestow on a member.
Sixteen Kentucky FFA chapters were recognized in the National Chapter Contest. Bourbon County, Boyle County, Graves County, Locust Trace, Madisonville North Hopkins, Marion County, Spencer County, Taylor County, and Trimble County were recognized as National Three Star Chapters. Caldwell County, Harrison County, Henry County, LaRue County, Scott County, Seneca, and Union County were recognized as National Two Star Chapters.
Olivia Moore of Western Hills represented Kentucky in the National FFA Chorus.
Sara Hendricks of Nelson County, Luke Staude of Western Hills, and Avery Miller of McCracken County represented Kentucky in the National FFA Band.
Seneca FFA represented Kentucky in the National Hall of States.
Two Kentuckians received the Honorary American FFA Degree. They were: Darrell Billings- past Chair of the Kentucky FFA Foundation and Alissa Smith of the National Association of Agricultural Educators.
For a complete listing of National Convention winners, visit https://www.ffa.org/event-results/
For more Information Contact:
Matt Chaliff, Executive Secretary
502-564-3472