National FFA Honors Outstanding Alumni and Supporters with Awards 

INDIANAPOLIS (Thursday, Oct. 22, 2026/National FFA Organization) – National FFA Alumni and Supporters honored four groups from across the country with awards during the 99th National FFA Convention & Expo. These awards are for Chapter and State organizations.

• The Outstanding FFA Alumni and Supporters Chapter Awards are judged on chapters’ work in the areas of: business operation, alumni and supporter member development, advocacy for agricultural education, agricultural education in program development, and student development.
• The Outstanding FFA Alumni and Supporters State Association Award is judged on a state’s efforts and support in the areas of local chapter development, FFA Alumni member development, advocacy, Team Ag Ed and business operations.

“What makes these award recipients so special is the ripple effect of their service,” said Emma Slavens, National FFA Program Manager of Alumni and Supporters. “The time they invest in students, chapters and agricultural education creates opportunities that can make a difference for years to come. It is an honor to celebrate their accomplishments and thank them for all they do for FFA.”

Outstanding Corporate FFA Alumni and Supporters Chapter Award: John Deere FFA Alumni and Supporters, Illinois (Eastern Region)
The John Deere FFA Alumni and Supporters Chapter members successfully strengthened chapter operations, expanded member engagement, supported agricultural education, and increased awareness of career opportunities within the industry. Key accomplishments included modernizing the chapter’s leadership structure by creating three strategic focus areas, exceeding a fundraising goal by raising more than $179,500 for National FFA and the Iowa FFA Foundation, and delivering hands-on educational programs focused on agricultural technology and workforce development. Notable events included Iowa FFA Tech Days, which engaged 174 students from 41 FFA chapters, a precision agriculture training initiative supporting educators and New Century Farmers, and the Gator Wars competition, which provided technical career exploration opportunities for 47 students. Collectively, chapter members contributed hundreds of volunteer service hours through planning, mentoring, fundraising, and educational programming while engaging students, educators, and industry professionals across multiple initiatives. The John Deere FFA Alumni and Supporters Chapter continues to play a significant role in supporting agricultural education, developing future leaders, and strengthening the connection between FFA and the industry of agriculture.

Outstanding Collegiate FFA Alumni and Supporters Chapter Award: Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College (ABAC) Collegiate FFA Alumni and Supporters, Georgia (Southern Region)
Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College (ABAC) and its Collegiate FFA Chapter successfully engaged students through leadership development, agricultural education awareness, and career preparation activities. Highlights of the year included hosting 10 chapter meetings, exceeding membership goals with more than 100 members and averaging 55 students per meeting. The chapter also organized a community car show that attracted approximately 200 attendees and received local media coverage, increasing visibility and strengthening community connections. Additional activities included an FFA Trivia Wheel event that engaged 52 students, a Mock Nominating Committee that prepared 35 state officer candidates from Georgia, Alabama, and Florida, and an American Degree workshop attended by more than 30 students interested in advancing their FFA involvement. Through these efforts, chapter officers and members provided mentorship, leadership development, and networking opportunities while strengthening awareness of agricultural education.

Outstanding FFA Alumni and Supporters Chapter Award: Williston FFA Alumni and Supporters, Florida (Southern Region)
The Williston FFA Alumni and Supporters Chapter successfully strengthened agricultural education, student development, and community engagement through a variety of impactful activities. The chapter’s efforts included establishing and training a full slate of chapter officers, hosting the Williston FFA Fiesta that engaged 57 families and supporters, conducting Ag Days that provided hands-on agricultural learning experiences for approximately 1,100 elementary students, and raising more than $18,600 through the annual Fishing for FFA tournament to support student travel and participation opportunities. The chapter also provided extensive mentorship through 17 alumni coaches, who volunteered more than 240 hours to prepare students for Career and Leadership Development Events, resulting in numerous district- and state-level achievements. Collectively, alumni, members, advisors, and community volunteers contributed hundreds of hours supporting leadership development, educational outreach, fundraising, and competitive success. The Williston FFA Alumni and Supporters Chapter has played a significant role in developing future agricultural leaders, supporting student achievement, and strengthening connections between FFA, families, and the local community.

Outstanding FFA Alumni and Supporters State Association Award: Wisconsin FFA Alumni and Supporters (Central Region)
The Wisconsin FFA Alumni and Supporters continued to strengthen agricultural education through chapter development, leadership training, advocacy, and financial support for FFA programs. The association achieved a record-breaking membership of 32,553 and added nine new FFA Alumni and Supporter chapters, while providing $9,850 in chapter grants to support agricultural education initiatives statewide. Nearly 300 members attended the State FFA Alumni and Supporters Convention, participating in leadership, personal development, and chapter success workshops designed to strengthen local programs and member engagement. The association also provided substantial support to Wisconsin FFA through scholarships, leadership conference assistance, educator recognition programs, and more than $54,000 in direct contributions to state convention activities, awards, and student leadership opportunities. In addition, members promoted agricultural education through statewide advocacy efforts, agriculture tours, convention workshops, and outreach events that engaged thousands of students, educators, and community stakeholders. Collectively, Wisconsin FFA Alumni and Supporters contributed more than 24,000 volunteer hours valued at over $850,000 in support of agricultural education.

The National FFA Organization is a school-based national youth leadership development organization of more than 1,053,847 student members as part of 9,591 local FFA chapters in all 50 states, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

# # #

About National FFA Organization
The National FFA Organization is a school-based national youth leadership development organization of more than 1,053,847 student members as part of 9,591 local FFA chapters in all 50 states, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. The FFA mission is to make a positive difference in the lives of students by developing their potential for premier leadership, personal growth and career success through agricultural education. For more, visit the National FFA Organization online at FFA.org and on Facebook and Twitter.

About National FFA Foundation
The National FFA Foundation builds partnerships with industry, education, government, other foundations, and individuals to secure financial resources that recognize FFA member achievements, develop student leaders, and support the future of agricultural education. Governed by a 19-member board of trustees composed of educators, business leaders, individual donors and FFA Alumni, the foundation is a separately registered nonprofit organization. About 82 percent of every dollar received by the foundation supports FFA members and agricultural education opportunities. For more, visit FFA.org/Give.