Hillsboro FFA members recognized at State Convention

On May 2 and 3, a fraction of students from the Hillsboro FFA Chapter attended the 96th Ohio State Convention in Columbus. Through the sessions, we watched members of our chapter and other chapters be rewarded with different degrees and recognitions. 

On May 2, we attended the first session of the State Convention, where we watched our own member Riley Collins be recognized as a Rise Program recipient for Sunrise Cooperative. Collins was awarded with a $500 check that will be received by the FFA Chapter. 

After she received her reward, the members had the chance to listen to Krista Simpson Anderson as she described her life as a military wife of a fallen soldier, and she overcame that hardship. 

Then we listened as Carter Boyd was slated for State Vice President for 2024-2025 State Officer Team. 

During the first session, LeeAnn Vance, Brayden Lane and Alex Mclarren represented the Hillsboro FFA Chapter for the Ag Mechanics Engineering Team CDE, competing with other chapters by making and building a structure.

After finishing the first session, the members got to spend time with each other as we ate lunch at a local restaurant in Columbus. For the remainder of the day, the chapter spent three hours at the Columbus Zoo. During this adventure, we got to walk around and look at all the fun animals that the zoo had to offer. This included most of the members hanging out in Sting Ray Bay, looking at the cool lion as it paced around the enclosure and watching the pink flamingos prance in the grass. Then the members finished their time at the zoo gift shop and made their way back home to get ready for the last day of the State Convention. 

On May 3, some members of the Hillsboro FFA Chapter attended the last day of the 96th State Convention. During the fourth session, which began in the morning, the members cheered Collins on as she was awarded for her gold rated book as reporter. They also cheered on Reagan Eastes as she was awarded for her gold rated book for Secretary and then cheered on Ramsey Haines as she was awarded for her gold-rated Treasurer’s book. Congratulations, girls, on your gold-rated officer books. 

After we finished getting pictures as a chapter with these awards, the members were given the opportunity to walk around in the Expo Center to shop and look at the career center. After finishing shopping we loaded the bus to enjoy having lunch at Raising Canes. 

When we got back to convention, we watched Presley Blankenship, Boyd, Dalayna Collins, Kailyn Greer, Blake Herdman, Halle Jones, Addy Knauff, Lane, Vance, Corbin Winkle and Emma Yochum receive their State Degrees. To be awarded with the State Degree, the recipients had to generate $2,500 from their SAE project, have updated records on their project, participate in at least 24 hours of community service and many other requirements. Congratulations to these recipients. 

Finishing the last day of the State Convention, we watched Carter Boyd receive State Vice President for the State FFA Officer Team in 2024-2025. 

Congratulations to Boyd and everyone else on your awards. The chapter had an amazing time at the 96th State Convention and can’t wait to attend next year.

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