2020 National FFA Convention

The 93rd National FFA Convention & Expo may have been held virtually this year, but numbers indicate that many members across the country enjoyed the event. There were more than 217,415 viewers and participants of the event.

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the decision was made in late June to host the largest student event virtually this year instead of in-person. The event kicked off Tuesday, Oct. 27, and students had the opportunity to attend events on a virtual platform.

“When it was clear that the pandemic would preclude our ability to host an in-person convention, we immediately began planning for a fully inclusive virtual event,” said CEO of the National FFA Organization Mark Poeschl. “We recognized that meeting virtually created new opportunities to connect with students from across the country, including those who would never have had a chance to attend the event in Indianapolis. So while we can’t wait for the 94th National FFA Convention & Expo to be back in our home city of Indianapolis, we know that there are aspects of this year’s virtual convention that will be repeated next year and hopefully for years to come to connect with many more FFA members than ever before.”… Continue reading

By Madi Kregel, OCJ field reporter

Hannah Sykes is one of the .5% of FFA members who receive the highest honor they can possibly achieve — the American FFA Degree. It’s been over 40 years since her chapter at Adena High School has had an American Degree recipient. And as of this week, 23 men have earned their American Degree for the chapter, and one woman.

Sykes grew up on her family’s beef farm in Ross County, where she raised and showed market steers and breeding heifers for her SAE project. She had an internship that coincided with her project as well her work at Select Sires, where she was a lab intern. Sykes said the most challenging part of her SAE project was the amount of work and effort that she put into it.

“I spent hundreds and hundreds of hours out at the barn just to get to where I am at this point,” she said.… Continue reading

The National FFA Agriscience Fair recognizes students who gain real-world, hands-on experiences in agricultural enterprises. Students use scientific principles and emerging technologies to solve complex problems related to agriculture, food and natural resources. The agriscience fair is for middle and high school students. Students compete in one of six categories in the agriscience fair and under one of the six divisions — either individually or in a team. Ohio winners include:

Animal Systems: Division 4: Teylor Meyer and Lillian Hughes of the Covington-UVCC FFA

Plant Systems: Division 1: Joscelyn Layman of the Millcreek-West Unity FFA

Power, Structural and Technical Systems: Division 2: Kaylee Jennings and Joanna Hamilton of the Felicity-Franklin FFA

The National FFA Agriscience Fair is sponsored by Cargill, John Deere and Syngenta; Bayer, Corteva, General Mills, Wrangler and Zoetis are sponsors of the agriscience fair pathways.… Continue reading

The 2020 Agricultural Proficiency Winners have been named during the virtual 93rd National FFA Convention & Expo.

Agricultural Proficiency Awards honor FFA members who, through supervised agricultural experiences (SAEs), have developed specialized skills that they can apply toward their future careers. Students complete in areas ranging from agricultural communications to wildlife management. Proficiency awards are also recognized at local and state levels and provide recognition to members exploring and becoming established in agricultural career pathways. So far, Ohio’s national proficiency winners are:

Veterinary Science – Entrepreneurship/Placement
Bailey Lowe
Bailey Lowe of the Felicity-Franklin FFA Chapter has always had an interest in animals, but her experience was limited to mainly feeding and bathing dogs and cats. In her sophomore year in high school, she was hired as a kennel attendant at a local veterinary clinic. Her duties required her to feed, water, and walk domestic animals in addition to giving them medications and vaccinations.… Continue reading

By Meredith Oglesby, OCJ FFA reporter

Ohio FFA has 33 three-star chapters to be recognized at the 93^rd National FFA Convention and Expo. This award is the highest ranking a chapter can achieve and recognizes outstanding FFA chapters that are growing leaders, building communities and strengthening agriculture.

The McClain FFA Chapter in Highland County is a three-star chapter being honored for the third year in a row.

“To our chapter receiving the three-star chapter award is a huge deal,” said Maysun Faulconer, 2020-2021 McClain FFA Reporter. “We are honored and very proud of our officer teams who have worked hard and paved the way for our chapter to reach its goals.”

To become a three-star chapter, McClain sets goals, improves events, uses the National Quality FFA Chapter Standards and outlines a program of activities. For each event, the chapter sets goals, outlines the process to achieve the goals and then executes the event.… Continue reading

The National FFA Organization has announced the 2020 National FFA Agriscience Fair finalists. The winners will be recognized during the 93rd National FFA Convention & Expo, which will be held virtually this year.

The National FFA Agriscience Fair recognizes students who gain real-world, hands-on experiences in agricultural enterprises. Students use scientific principles and emerging technologies to solve complex problems related to agriculture, food and natural resources. The agriscience fair is for middle and high school students. Students will compete in one of six categories in the agriscience fair and under one of the six divisions — either individually or in a team.

The recipients that finished in the top three, listed alphabetically from Ohio are: 

Animal Systems: Division 4 Lillian Hughes of the Covington-UVCC FFA

Food Products and Processing Systems: Division 2
 
Faith Jennings and Ayla Rutherford of the Felicity-Franklin FFA

Plant Systems: Division 1 
Joscelyn Layman of the Millcreek-West Unity FFA

Power, Structural and Technical Systems: Division 1
 Alora Siegel of the Millcreek-West Unity FFA 



Power, Structural and Technical Systems: Division 2
 Kaylee Jennings and Joanna Hamilton of the Felicity-Franklin FFA

Power, Structural and Technical Systems: Division 4
 
Matthew Ruff and Joseph Elder of the Westfall FFA


Social Science: Division 5
 Madisen Jolliff of the Ridgemont FFA.… Continue reading

By Meredith Oglesby, OCJ FFA reporter

As the countdown to the 93^rd National FFA Convention and Expo continues, FFA members, alumni, and supporters are excited and also curious for what a virtual convention will bring. For the first time, National Convention will be held virtually, which means that for the first time every FFA member who is interested in tuning in and taking part in the activities can do so.

For one FFA member, a virtual National FFA Convention creates a whole new set of obstacles to maneuver. Bailey Eberhart, a member of the Harrison Central FFA Chapter and the former 2018-2019 Ohio FFA State, is serving as Ohio’s national officer candidate. And instead of preparing for a week-long interview process to take place in person, Eberhart is preparing for rigorous week of interviews which will take place entirely online.

Eberhart has been involved in the FFA since the seventh grade when he enrolled in his chapters middle school program.… Continue reading

Provided by the Ohio FFA Association

American FFA Degrees – 478

American Star Farmer Finalist – Nole Gerfen, Ridgemont

National Officer Candidate – Bailey Eberhart, Harrison Central

National Proficiency Award Finalists (19)

Agricultural Education – Mekenzie Jolliff, Ridgemont

Agricultural Sales-Placement – Austin Timmerman, Versailles

Agricultural Services – Grant Skinner, Buckeye Valley-DACC

Agriscience Research-Animal – Jessica McWatters, Pettisville

Agriscience Research-Integrated – Jared Hamilton, Felicity-Franklin

Agriscience Research-Plant – Christa George, Oregon-Clay

Beef Production-Entrepreneurship – Samantha Wallace, Lakota

Dairy Production-Placement – Riley Thobe, Anna

Diversified Agricultural Production – Wyatt Crozier, Felicity-Franklin

Diversified Crop Production-Entrepreneurship – Benjamin Sheaffer, Upper Sandusky

Diversified Livestock Production – Jacob Wuebker, Versailles

Environmental Science and Natural Resources Management – Jayme Pennell, West Holmes

Equine Science-Entrepreneurship – Kori Kile, East Clinton

Fiber and/or Oil Crop Production – Garrett Thomas, Kenton-OHP

Poultry Production – Michael Bair, Miami East-MVCTC

Small Animal Production and Care – Jon Steiner, Houston-UVCC

Swine Production-Placement – Luke Billenstein, Versailles

Veterinary Science – Bailey Lowe, Felicity-Franklin

Wildlife Production and Management – Madeleine Wixom, Pettisville

National Chapter Award-Premier Chapter Finalists

Growing Leaders – Southeastern, Valley View-MVCTC

Three-Star Chapters – Amanda-Clearcreek, Anna, Black River, Blanchester, Bowling Green-Penta, Cardington, Carey, Clear Fork, Covington-UVCC, Fayetteville, Felicity-Franklin, Firelands, Houston-UVCC, London, McClain,

Miami East-MVCTC, Miami Trace, Mississinawa Valley-MVCTC, National Trail-MVCTC, New Bremen,

Otsego-Penta, Peebles, Ridgemont, South Central, Southeastern, St.… Continue reading

FFA members and supporters from across the country will log on to their smart devices this week to celebrate agricultural education and agriculture during the 93rd National FFA Convention & Expo.

The event, which is traditionally the largest student convention in the country, will be held virtually this year, allowing even more people to participate in the event.

“The event may look a little different this year,” said Mandy Hazlett, associate director of convention and events for the National FFA Organization, “but we still have the amazing programming that we always offer our students and supporters. We are thankful for all of the support we’ve had as we’ve made the transition from the live event to the virtual platform. Convention activities will begin at 8 a.m. on Tuesday, Oct. 27.”

The national convention and expo is an opportunity for FFA members from all 50 states, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands to be exposed to new career paths and opportunities — while celebrating the accomplishments these future leaders have made over the past year.… Continue reading

Matt, Kolt, and a Birthday Boy Dusty host this week! Matt has interviews with two of the Between the Rows Farmers, Jake Heilmann and Willie Murphy. This week is the 93rd National FFA Convention and Expo- but it’s the first time it has ever been virtual! Kolt has an interview with Ohio’s shinning star, National FFA President Kolesen McCoy.  And Madi Kregel has an interview with Hannah Sykes from the Adena FFA Chapter! Wishing the Ohio FFA members and chapters a fun and fulfilling National FFA Convention! … Continue reading