Kentucky FFA was well represented at the 86^th Annual National FFA Convention, which was held October 30- November 1 in Louisville.  An all-time record of 62,998 FFA members from across the United States attended the Convention, which is the largest youth organization gathering in the United States.

Joenelle Futrell of the Daviess County chapter completed her year of service as National Eastern Region Vice President.  During her year of service, she traveled over 100,000 miles and had the opportunity to speak to thousands of FFA members and interact with agriculture, education, and government officials.

 

Chelsey Scholsnagle of the Collins FFA chapter was named the American Star in Agribusiness for 2013.  This award is given to the student with the best agriculture based business enterprise in the nation.  Scholsnagle’s business includes the production and marketing of pasture raised eggs as well as turkeys and broilers.  Her products are marketed through restaurants, grocery stores, and farmers markets.  Schlosnagle is the daughter of Doug and Susan Scholsnagle and is a junior at Eastern Kentucky University.  Her FFA advisor is Todd Stephens.

Spencer County FFA won both the Dairy Cattle Evaluation and Farm Business Management Career Development Events.  Members of the Dairy Cattle Evaluation team included Tyler Goodlett, Caleb Fulkerson, Andrew Krueger, and Shelby West.  Tyler Goodlett was the overall high individual in Dairy Evaluation, Caleb Fulkerson placed second, Shelby West placed sixth, and Andrew Krueger received a gold rating.  FFA Advisor Bland Baird served as coach of the Dairy Evaluation team.  This is the fourth time since 2006 that Spencer County has won the national Dairy Evaluation CDE.

Members of the national champion Farm Business Management Team from Spencer County FFA included Jacob Barnett, Daniel Cooper, James Nichols, and Rachel Sibert.  James Nichols was the second high individual in the CDE, Jacob Barnett was the third high indivudial, Daniel Cooper was the fourth high individual and Rachel Sibert was the seventh high individual.  The team was coached by Spencer County FFA Advisor Darryl Matherly.  This is the first time a Kentucky team has won the Farm Business Management Career Development Event.

Daniella Powell of the Estill County FFA was named national winner in the Diversified Horticulture Proficiency Contest.  Powell was recognized for the knowledge and skills she has developed through working at the school greenhouse and in a local floral shop.  Powell’s advisor is Lynn Miller and her parents are Joyce and Shelton Powell of Irvine.

Five other Kentucky FFA members were named as one of four national finalists in their respective proficiency award areas:

Courtney Cox- Spencer County FFA- Agriculture Sales Entrepreneurship

Morgan Phillips- Fleming County FFA- Emerging Agriculture Technology

Lee Jared Miles- Spencer County FFA- Equine Science Entrepreneurship

Joseph Snider- Spencer County FFA- Grain Production Entrepreneurship

Shane Greenwell- Spencer County FFA- Vegetable Production

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.

Chelsea Daugherty of Butler County FFA represented Kentucky as a National FFA Officer Candidate.  Daugherty served as the 2011-2012 State FFA Vice President and has been very active in the organization.  She is the daughter of Patrick and LeeAnn Daugherty and is a junior at Murray State University.

Several Kentucky Career Development Teams placed in the top ten nationally:

• Rachel Ross of Calloway County placed fifth in the Job Interview Career Development Event.
• Spencer County FFA placed seventh in the Agriculture Sales Career Development Event.  Team members were Sarah Bowman, Hannah Brooks, Darilyn Browning, and Lauren Henderson.
• Boyle County FFA placed tenth in the Horse Evaluation Career Development Event.  Team members were Georgia Skelton, Leah England, Devinann Gibson, and Jessica Silvers.

Other teams competing in National Career Development Events included:

CDE Area	Rating	Chapter
Agriculture Communications	Silver	LaRue County
Agriculture Issues	Silver	Meade County
Agriculture Technology and Mechanical Systems	Bronze	Fleming County
Agronomy	Gold	Franklin Simpson
Dairy Cattle Handlers	Gold	Jordan Elmore- Central Hardin
Environmental and Natural Resources	Silver	Logan County
Floriculture	Gold	Spencer County
Food Science	Silver	LaRue County
Forestry	Silver	McCreary Central
Livestock Evaluation	Silver	Lincoln County
Marketing Plan	Silver	Thomas Nelson
Meats Evaluation	Silver	Spencer County
Milk Quality and Products	Bronze	LaRue County
Nursery Landscape	Silver	Rockcastle County
Parliamentary Procedure	Bronze	Rockcastle County
Poultry	Silver	Caldwell County
Veterinary Science	Silver	Mercer County

 

The following members competed in National Speaking Career Development Events:

Creed Speaking        Katie Bradshaw        Rusell County                       Bronze Rating

Extemporaneous      Emily Metz                 Garrard County         Bronze Rating

Prepared Public        Allie Maples             Montgomery County             Silver Rating

 

All Kentucky members participating in the finals of the Agriscience Fair placed in the top ten in the nation. Lilly Robertson of Franklin Simpson FFA placed third in Social Systems Division One.  Other participants included:

Animal Systems Division 3- Emily Calvert and Austin Charles- Montgomery County

Animal Systems Division 4- Beth Carpenter and Jacklyn Bond- Gallatin County

Environmental Systems Division 2- Ally Jo Schneider- Scott County

Environmental Systems Division 3- Paxton Crider and Noah Norsworthy- Carlisle County

Food Products Division 3- Taylor Doughty and Carson McCann- John Hardin

Food Products Division 4- Jordan Dunn and Jordan Potts- Montgomery County

Plant Science Division 2- Caleb Brannon- Calloway County

Plant Science Division 4- Joshua Cothern and Jessie Clinard- Franklin Simpson

Power, Structural, & Technical Systems Division 1- Jacob Fleming- Franklin Simpson

Power, Structural, & Technical Systems Division 4- Noah Garnett and Derek Hayden- Carlisle County

Social Systems Division 4- Sidney Boots and Jessica Strasinger- Campbell County

 

The American FFA Degree was awarded to 139 Kentucky FFA members.  This honor is the highest award the organization can bestow on a member.

Webster County FFA Advisor Margo Bruce received the Honorary American Degree in recognition of her service to FFA, the Kentucky Association of Agriculture Educators, and the Kentucky Association for Career and Technical Education.

Fifteen Kentucky FFA chapters were recognized in the National Chapter Contest.  Spencer County FFA was recognized as a National Three Star Chapter.  Bourbon County, Caldwell County, Fleming County, Jessamine County, John Hardin, LaRue County, Meade County, Rockcastle County, Scott County, Warren Central, and Western Hills were recognized as National Two Star Chapters.  Gallatin County, Greenwood, and Henry County were recognized as National One Star Chapters.

Kentucky had a record number of participants in the National FFA Band, Chorus and Talent.  Bradley Larimer of Central Hardin FFA, Haley Warner of Montgomery County FFA, and Cassady Wilson of Monroe County were members of the National FFA Band.  John Mark McElroy and Reagan Miller- both of South Warren FFA- represented Kentucky in the National FFA Chorus.  Blake Ishmael of Fleming County, Anna Carpenter of Gallatin County, and Savana Poole of Hopkins Central were in the National FFA Talent Program.

The North Hardin FFA chapter represented Kentucky in the National Hall of States.

Source: Press release courtesy of Kentucky FFA