COLUMBUS, Ohio — The 95th National FFA Convention and Expo will take place Oct. 26-29 in Indianapolis. Join the Ohio FFA Foundation in cheering on FFA members and chapters for their hard work and accomplishments representing Ohio this year.
You can keep up with the National FFA Convention & Expo wherever you are this week. RFD-TV will provide live gavel-to-gavel television coverage of all convention sessions. General sessions and other events also will be broadcast live on FFA.org and FFA social media platforms, along with event replays and highlights.
See a schedule for the week here.
National Agriscience Fair Finalists
The agriscience fair is for middle and high school students interested in the application of scientific principles and emerging technologies in agricultural enterprises. Here are Ohio’s finalists:
Animal Systems Division 1
Alivia Elliot, Ridgemont
Animal Systems Division 2
Prezley Furer & Kamryn Kiser, Ridgemont
Animal Systems Division 4
Sadie Swepston & Ellie Doles, Zane Trace
Animal Systems Division 5
Julia Schuurman, Millcreek-West Unity
Environmental Services and Natural Resource Systems Division 1
Jackson Dewitt, Global Impact
Environmental Services and Natural Resource Systems Division 3
Anna Spohler, Global Impact
Environmental Services and Natural Resource Systems Division 4
Addison Hensel & Taylor Hollinger, Ridgemont
Environmental Services and Natural Resource Systems Division 5
Mikalyn D’Amore, Anthony Wayne
Food Products and Processing Systems Division 1
Ruth Eckstein, Ridgemont
Food Products and Processing Systems Division 2
Chloe Stamm & Bailey Blevins, Felicity-Franklin
Food Products and Processing Systems Division 3
Delana Damman, Pettisville
Food Products and Processing Systems Division 4
Kailee Adkins & Kendra Detillion, Zane Trace
Food Products and Processing Systems Division 6
Emma Robertson & Emily Hardewig, Felicity-Franklin
Plant Systems Division 1
Connor Eckstein, Ridgemont
Plant Systems Division 2
Jonathan Cromer & Mason Jay Howard, Ridgemont
Plant Systems Division 3
Ella Richer, Pettisville
Plant Systems Division 5
Audrey Pinger, Felicity-Franklin
Power, Structural and Technical Systems Division 1
Masen Jolliff, Ridgemont
Power, Structural and Technical Systems Division 2
Mason Swavel & Owen Kearns, Ridgemont
Power, Structural and Technical Systems Division 5
Abigail Getz, Global Impact
Power, Structural and Technical Systems Division 6
Rianna Quinn Mueller & Jacob Lansing, Blanchester Great Oaks
Social Science Division 1
Kaytlin Billenstein, Ridgemont
Social Science Division 3
Kaelyn Saylor, Ridgemont
Social Science Division 4
Emma Puckett & Abigail Garland, Talawanda-Butler Tech
Social Science Division 5
Loryn Elsasser, Ridgemont
Social Science Division 6
Nicholas Wacha & Ronald Bischoff, Anthony Wayne
Congratulations to the 440 Ohio FFA members who earned their American FFA Degree!
American Star Award Finalists
National FFA annually recognizes FFA members who rise to the top with the American Star Awards. These members have gone above and beyond in their attitude, involvement, community service and supervised agricultural experience. Finalists for these awards have mastered skills in production, finance, management and/or research.
American Star Farmer Finalist
Zane Hagemeyer, Elmwood
Watch Video
American Star in Agricultural Placement Finalist
Jacob Wuebker, Versailles
Watch Video
National Proficiency Award Finalists
Each year, thousands of members across the nation complete agricultural proficiency award applications to be recognized for the learning, growing, earning and achievements in their SAEs. Below are the Ohio students who will be competing for one of the top four placings in the nation in their respective proficiency area.
Agricultural Communications
Laura Wuebker, Versailles
Agricultural Mechanics Repair and Maintenance-Placement
Caden Keck, West Muskingum
Agricultural Sales-Placement
Ava Knouff, Houston-UVCC
Agricultural Services
John Gilbert, Valley View-MVCTC
Agriscience Research-Integrated Systems
Luke Jennings, Felicity-Franklin
Agriscience Research-Plant Systems
Audrey Pinger, Felicity-Franklin
Beef Production-Placement
Luke Winner, Versailles
Dairy Production-Entrepreneurship
Carrie Rhoades, Ansonia
Dairy Production-Placement
Max Homan, New Bremen
Diversified Crop-Entrepreneurship
Alex Kellersmith, Houston-UVCC
Diversified Horticulture
Mallory York, Versailles
Equine Science-Entrepreneurship
Morgan Congrove, Zane Trace
Equine Science-Placement
Holden Harker, Firelands
Fiber and/or Oil Crop Production
Thomas Rindfuss, Wynford
Forage Production
Lane Underwood, Ridgemont
Grain Production
Liam Homan, New Bremen
Landscape Management
Jared Weigandt, New Bremen
Poultry Production
Bryce Bennett, Miami Trace Great Oaks
Sheep Production
Emily Stevens, New London
Small Animal Production and Care
Halle Miller, Norwayne
Specialty Animal
Evan Stewart, East Clinton Great Oaks
Specialty Crop
James Shuster, Fort Frye
Swine Production-Entrepreneurship
Molly Clark, Bradford-UVCC
Swine Production-Placement
Blythe Bolender, McClain
Turf Grass Management
Nathaniel McCandlish, Fairfield Union
Vegetable Production
Griffin Craig Gillmor, Lakota
Veterinary Science
Emily Hardewig, Felicity-Franklin
Wildlife Production and Management
Elijah Beaver, Houston-UVCC
National Officer Candidate
Branson Van Fleet, who formerly served Ohio FFA as a 2021-22 State Vice President at Large, is representing Ohio while running for a position on the National FFA Officer Team.
Home Chapter: Shenandoah FFA
FFA Advisors: Eric Van Fleet, Matthew Wentworth and Jessie Pahoundis
Education: Studying agriscience education and production agriculture at The Ohio State University
Future Career Plans: Upon graduation, Branson plans to become an agricultural educator and FFA advisor.
National Chapter Awards (+ indicates a top 3 finalist)
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.
Model of Excellence Finalists
- Houston-UVCC
- Ridgemont
- Versailles +
Premier Chapter: Growing Leaders
- Ridgemont
Premier Chapter: Building Communities
- Blanchester Great Oaks
- Felicity-Franklin +
Premier Chapter: Strengthening Agriculture
- Ridgemont +
Three-Star Chapters
- Amanda-Clearcreek
- Blanchester Great Oaks
- Bowling Green-Penta
- Cardington
- Carey
- Covington-UVCC
- East Clinton Great Oaks
- Elgin
- Felicity-Franklin
- Firelands
- Global Impact
- Houston-UVCC
- London
- Marysville
- McClain
- Miami East-MVCTC
- Mississinawa Valley-MVCTC
- National Trail-MVCTC
- New Bremen
- Northeastern
- Norwayne
- Paulding
- Ridgemont
- South Central
- Southeastern
- Spencerville
- St. Marys
- Talawanda-Butler Tech
- Upper Sandusky
- Versailles
- Warren
- Westfall
Two-Star Chapters
- Clear Fork
National Career Development Event Qualifiers
Through Career and Leadership Development Events, participating FFA members in grades 7 to 12 are challenged to develop critical thinking skills and effective decision-making skills, foster teamwork and promote communication while recognizing the value of ethical competition and individual achievement.
Agricultural Communications
Houston-UVCC: Anna Henry, Malina Chappie, Addy Frohne, Makayla Burch
Agricultural Issues Forum
Amanda-Clearcreek: Emily Buckley, Autumn Parry, Karlee Parry, Josie Speakman, Morgan Cowdrey, Riley McKeska
Agricultural Sales
Clyde: Curstin Hackenburg, Katrice Hackenburg, Kristopher Bonnigson, Ryleigh Satterlee
Agricultural Technology & Mechanical Systems
Arcanum-MVCTC: Caleb Hartman, Tyler Huber, Luke Brinksneader, Nathanael Wright
Agronomy
North Union: Chloe Hall, Glade Jolliff, Cenlee Holloway, Madelyn Taylor
Conduct of Chapter Meetings
Miami Trace Great Oaks: Emily Reeves, Eric Taylor, Carley Payton, Cotey Payton, Hannah Cummings, Megan Brandt, Caitlin Cottrill
Creed Speaking
Gallipolis: Elizabeth Loulea Walker
Dairy Cattle Evaluation & Management
East Clinton Great Oaks: Lydia Kessler, Jenna Stanley, Teddy Murphy, Kale Boeckmann
Dairy Handlers Activity
Ansonia: Carrie Rhoades
Employment Skills
Global Impact, Josie Jennings
Environmental & Natural Resources
East Knox: Dustin Springer, Hailey Frazee, Andrew Poff, Dylan Springer
Extemporaneous Public Speaking
Amanda-Clearcreek: Hannah Saum
Farm & Agribusiness Management
Fort Loramie-UVCC: Brad Schmiesing, Jake Puthoff, Evan Eilerman, Luke Meyer
Floriculture
Big Walnut-DACC: Lilly Cappitte, Maddy Jones, Jordyn Lokey, Sophie Marvin
Food Science & Technology
Big Walnut-DACC: Mallory Cline, Olivia Jenkins, Haylie McComas, Landon Sewell
Forestry
Liberty Union: Kameron Waits, Mary Chestnut, Gavin Eastep, Alexandra Shy
Horse Evaluation
Black River: Abigail Groesser, Chloee Howard, Allysa Hamilton, Madison Bias
Livestock Evaluation
National Trail-MVCTC: Hannah Lee, Wade Mann, Skyler Ward, Paige Lee
Marketing Plan
Eaton-MVCTC: Mac Dare, Lydia Eilerman, Morgan Dare
Meats Evaluation & Technology
New Lexington: Kelly Gordon, Nevaeh Ogle, Emma Givens, Lilah Carson
Milk Quality & Products
Felicity-Franklin: Luke Jennings, Emma Robertson, Emily Hardewig, Trinity Evans
Nursery/Landscape
Delaware Area Career Center: Noah Young, Elmer Hernandez-Tomas, Evan Merklin, Christopher Beaver
Parliamentary Procedure
New Lexington: Bethany Bailey, Egan Hoffman, Zane Ortman, Megan Howdyshell, Jade Simpson, Novalye Christian
Poultry Evaluation
Felicity-Franklin: Kaylee Jennings, Joanna Hamilton, Alisha Boone, Audrey Pinger
Prepared Public Speaking
Parway: Carter Hellwarth
Veterinary Science
Upper Valley Career Center: Ethan Avey, Emma Pax, Emma Hinkle, Hailey Whitacre
National Band Participant
- Jaden Snyder, Wilmington
National Chorus Participant
- Carolyn Koch, Blanchester Great Oaks
National Talent Participants
- Carson Clouse, John Glenn
- Nolan Collins, Gallipolis
- Dalton Hesson, Versailles
- Mora Menzie, Arcanum-MVCTC
- Delaney Moore, Bloom-Carroll
- Andrew Wuebker, Versailles
— Ohio FFA Foundation