Members of the Felicity-Franklin FFA attended the National FFA Convention and Expo along with FFA Advisors Tanner Schoen and Holly Jennings and American Degree recipients Serena Spaulding and Mikayla Hamilton.
October 18 -22, 41 members and 6 chaperones of the Felicity-Franklin FFA Chapter attended the National FFA Convention and Expo in Indianapolis, Indiana. During this week members traveled and experienced Indianapolis in a fun and memorable way. While in Indianapolis, some members competed in National competitions including the Model of Excellence presentation, Ag Sales Career Development Event (CDE), National Knowledge Quiz, and Agriscience Fair. The Ag Sales team included 4 members, Charlena Spaulding (12th), Madison Winter (39th), and Erin Jennings (62nd), Collin Dunaway (88th). Members studied and learned about several models of John Deere hay, straw and silage balers that they sold to judges. As a team, they placed 6th out of 43 teams in the nation. In the Model of Excellence presentation, Collin Dunaway and Bailey Lowe highlighted nine activities the chapter holds to develop our members’ leadership traits and Felicity was named a Top 10 Chapter in the Nation. In the Agriscience Fair competition, we had 8 members who had won the state competition compete for a national title. The pairs included Jared Hamilton and Joey Glassmeyer who won 1st place in Power, Structural and Technical Systems, Division 3, Erin Jennings and Haley Cooper who won 2nd in Food Products & Processing, Division 4, Raelyn Morales and Carlee Riggs who won 5th in Plant Systems, Division 3, and Mallory Taulbee and Madison Moore who won 13th in Food Products & Processing Division 3. Twelve members competed in the National Knowledge Quiz team. The 8th Grade team placed 4th, the Junior teams placed 9th and 11th, and the Senior team placed 9th. Felicity FFA had 2 members receive their American Degrees, those members being Serena Spaulding and Mikayla Hamilton. This is the highest degree earned by an FFA member and less that half a percent of the membership are awarded this honor each year. National Eastern Region Vice President and Felicity FFA graduate, Sydney Snider, gave her retiring address encouraging members to be hopeful. Snider’s parents Kenny and Jaime Snider were honored as were FFA Advisor Holly Jennings, Principal Brad Ellis, and FFA Alumni member and coach Heather Taulbee. On Thursday, October 20, Felicity FFA sent up another 25 students to experience the convention and cheer on Snider during her retiring address. These students only went up for one day but still had an experience they will never forget. Students on the 5 day trip were blessed with the opportunity to try new foods, meet new people from all around the country, and grow closer with those from their home chapter. Many additional parents and family members made the trip to Indianapolis to support our chapter including Superintendent Dave Gibson. We were excited to have a record of 107 members, parents and supporters from Felicity attend the convention.