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After recognizing a rise in suicides, Hope FFA was determined to create a cultural change. The chapter began a campaign titled “Go Live Yourself.” Members collaborated with their school administration to hold a convocation encouraging students to be better friends, partners and leaders. They also taught peers coping strategies and how to help others, as well as themselves. Hope FFA encourages everyone to find peace and help one another.

The Goreville FFA Chapter in Illinois, represented by Hallie Grenfell, was awarded the Premier Chapter – Building Communities award. Grenfell discusses her chapter’s community projects, including a book written by the chapter dedicated to veterans and their stories.

“It really helped me with public speaking and how to grow my chapter through activities.” –Michael Howard, West Jackson Chapter

One of the ten activities planned and presented by the Marshall FFA Chapter was called ‘Swamp to Save.” A conservation class worked with professionals at local conservation to conduct avian flu tests on ducks.

The West Rowan Alumni Chapter is the recipient of the Alumni Chapter of the Year Award. Madeline Wilhelm and Alex Sillyman represented the chapter on stage. Corryn La Rue interviewed Alex Sillyman, check it out below.

Like a good bread recipe or a cowboy tall tale, farming is a tradition Austin Stanton’s family has passed through generations. After his ancestors’ emigration from Ireland nearly 200 years ago, Austin sustains his farming operation on the same land.

For Ben Curtin of the Taylorville FFA Chapter in Illinois, a crossroads of art and agriculture exists in his metalworking business. He started his supervised agricultural experience and business, Curtin’s Creations, during his sophomore year of high school after some encouragement from his ag teacher.

For Colin Wegner, family is the big motivator behind his career in agriculture. In high school, his FFA advisor told him to take advantage of the opportunity to be involved on the family farm. And so the native of Wells, Minn., did.

Not many teenagers have an ethanol producing facility in their basement, but for Eric Koehlmoos, a student from the South O’Brien FFA Chapter in Paullina, Iowa, it was all part of his supervised agricultural experience (SAE). Eric’s idea for his high school SAE sprung out of a science fair project for biology class. He looked at the ethanol industry and was curious if ethanol could be made from switchgrass and prairie cordgrass. He began his research, utilizing knowledge from his animal science class.

Shea Booster, an agricultural business management major at Oregon State University, was elected western region vice president.

Ridge Hughbanks, an agribusiness major at Oklahoma State University, was elected central region vice president.

Jordan Stowe, an agriscience education major at Auburn University, was elected southern region vice president.