The final curtain has dropped on the 97th National FFA Convention and Expo with 71,096 FFA students and guests in attendance, according to the number reported by 2023-2024 National Secretary Grant Norfleet of Missouri on Saturday afternoon at the 7th General Session of the organization. That included around 2,000 from Oklahoma- and FFA members from our state are bringing home lots of honors for their accomplishments.
Several hundred Oklahoma FFA members were engaged at the 2024 Convention- click here for that comprehensive list of who was a part of the scene in Indy- from contests to playing in the band, singing in the choir, being in the talent show or being awarded the American FFA degree.
That includes several National Championships- the picture at the top celebrates Coy Davidson of Elgin FFA, who became the 11th Oklahoma FFA member who was won the National Championship in Prepared Public Speaking. Click here for our interview with Coy that we had on Thursday evening after he was on stage and heard his name called.
While our two other national speaker entrants did not win national titles- they both advanced to the Final Four- the first time in recent memory that all three Oklahomans competed in that Final Four round. Cooper Kline of the North Rock Creek FFA advanced into the Final Four in Extemporaneous Public Speaking and placed third nationally, while Cierra Collins of Frederick FFA spoke in the three rounds of the national contest- including the Final Four- and placed fourth nationally in Creed Speaking.
The National FFA Agriscience Fair recognizes student researchers studying the application of agricultural scientific principles and emerging technologies in agricultural enterprises. The agriscience fair is for middle and high school students. Participation begins at the local level and progresses to state and national levels. The Stillwater FFA Chapter continued their strong presence in 2024- winning two National Agriscience Fair Titles.
Stillwater FFA members Oakley Gross and Preslee Watley-Kindt won the National Title in Food Productions and Processing: Division 6 while Trinity Blosch and Aubrie McEndoo on the National Championship in the Environmental Services and Natural Resources: Division 6. Aubrie is now a three time national champion while Trinity is now a six time national champion in the Agriscience arena.
Click here for the complete list of Oklahoma’s National Agriscience Fair Finalists that participated in Indianapolis.
Speaking of Trinity Blosch of Stillwater FFA, she was one of five national Proficiency Champions that call Oklahoma home. Blosch has a Supervised Agricultural Experience involving five years of research on social, environmental, and food systems. Over the years, Blosch has significantly progressed in the complexity of her projects. Her research has included evaluating consumer and student knowledge about food and agriculture and testing bioremediation products used in contaminated fresh water. Click here for our story and conversation about Blosch winning that Proficiency National Championship.
Oklahoma also had four more National Proficiency Championships at the 97th National FFA Convention. Click on the Name of the Champion below to go and read their story and listen to the conversation that Ron Hays had with them.
Titus Montgomery, Red Oak FFA Chapter– National Champion in Agricultural Communications Entrepreneurship/Placement
Addyson Schneberger of the Hydro-Eakly FFA Chapter was named the National Champion Proficiency Award winner in Goat Production- Entrepreneurship/Placement.
Ethan Stone of the Chandler FFA Chapter was named the National Champion Proficiency Award winner in Fruit & Nut Production – Entrepreneurship/Placement.
Ryder Klassen of the Hydro-Eakly FFA Chapter was named the National Champion Proficiency Award winner in Diversified Crop Production – Entrepreneurship.
Click here for our preview story on all of our National Proficiency Award Finalists from Oklahoma for 2024.
While the four Oklahoma Star Finalists did not win their respective American Star categories- they got lots of face time on the screens during the sessions in Indy- Ron Hays caught up with their of the four- click on their name to read and listen to their conversations:
Larahmy Blakley, Oologah FFA, American Star Finalist in Ag Production
Rylee Smith, Oologah FFA, American Star Finalist in Agriscience
Gage Slagell, Hydro-Eakly FFA, American Star Finalist in Ag Placement
Kylee Falasco of Weatherford FFA represented Oklahoma as a National Officer Candidate- she advanced to Phase Two in the selection process but did not hear her name called on Saturday afternoon. Click here for our earlier story with Kylee- she is an exceptional young lady, We have the story on the National Officers in our Blue Green Gazette- and the interviews of five of the six National FFA officers for 2024-25 who were in Stillwater in September for a training session for the candidates hosted by OSU.
Oklahoma has a real connection to the 2023-24 National FFA President Amara Jackson of Michigan- she was a undergraduate at Oklahoma State when she heard her name called a year ago as the President of the National FFA- and she plans to return for her final two years to Stillwater as she majors in Ag Communications and Agri Business- click here to read more about Amara and listen to Ron Hays talk to her at the front end of the 2024 convention.
Several chapters that were representing Oklahoma had a top four placing the convention- they include:
Poultry Evaluation: Westville FFA- National Runnerup- Emorie Bailey, Boston Butler, Jake Simmons, and Brooklyn Teague,
Marketing Plan: Edmond FFA, Third Nationally- Bailey Bumpas, Lana Maly, and Kelley King
Meats Evaluation and Technology- Porter FFA- Third Nationally- Cash Criner, Addison Criner, Abby Gourd, and Karlie Guinn
Conduct of Meetings- Lomega FFA- Fourth Nationally- Addie Chestnut, Claire Myers, Jackie Penaran, Brayli Walker, Whitney Ramer, JoseyNusz, and Lasi Grabow.
There were several Oklahomans presented with a Honorary American FFA Degree- including the current state director of CareerTech Brent Haken. Ron Hays had the opportunity to talk with Brent after he came off the stage- click on the link below to listen to that conversation:
Our coverage of Oklahoma FFA engaged at the National FFA Convention is being powered again in 2024 by Oklahoma Farm Bureau. Watch for our stories and interviews from Indianapolis on our Website, Daily Email, our statewide Radio Oklahoma Ag Network and our Social Media Channels. Click here for the OKFB website to learn about how they are making a difference in lives of Oklahomans. Oklahoma Farm Bureau supports the youth of rural Oklahoma year round- and reminds you- Together- We Are Rural Oklahoma!