Columbia FFA State results

The State FFA Convention held in  Columbia, Missouri, April 24-25, brings the best of Missouri to town to compete for the state title in CDE events as well as honor the members earning the highest award given in the state, the State FFA Degree. This year Colulmbia FFA had 4 members receive their state degree:

•  Lainyn Kerley, Rock Bridge senior and local President
•  Maddie Grant, Rock Bridge senior and local secretary
•  Kassie Rankin, Hickman junior and local Historian 
•  Andy Mott, Hickman junior and local Treasurer

Awarding of the degree is based on a member's supervised agricultural experience program in agribusiness or production agriculture, and leadership ability as demonstrated through involvement in FFA, school and community activities. The State FFA Degree award charms are sponsored by MFA Inc., Columbia.

"The State FFA Degree is the highest recognition a state can award, representing three percent of the total Missouri FFA membership per year," said State FFA Advisor Leon Busdieker.

Grow Your Passion, Unearth Your Purpose is the theme for this year's Missouri FFA Convention. More than 8,000 youth and guests are expected to attend.

Columbia FFA had 9 CDE teams compete at the State FFA Convention.  The results are as follows:

• Ag Mechanics 2nd place 
• Austin Wallace 4th
• Joe Ege 5th

• Horse 2nd place
• Mariah Murphy 2nd

• Poultry Evaluation 2nd place
• Robert Schmidt 2nd
• Kira Kirk 3rd

• Soils 3rd place
• Keeley Houghton 1st 

• Landscaping and Nursery 3rd place
• Grant Gould 5th (tie)
• Maddie Grant 5th (tie)

• Forestry 4th place
• Grant Pestle 7th

• Dairy Foods 9th place

• Livestock 11th place

• Meats 11th place
• Carly Raetz 10th

Also, performing in the talent show were Hickman freshman, Aaron Mott and Hickman senior, Loyal Carpenter. Aaron sang John Fogerty's "Centerfield" while Loyal accompanied him on the guitar.

                      Loyal Carpenter plays guitar while Aaron Mott sings Centerfield.