Lindsay Dube and Lauren Quinlan contributed to this article.
Each year at national convention, the Model of Excellence award recognizes chapters exhibiting exemplary qualities in all categories of growing leaders, building communities and strengthening agriculture.
At the 94th National FFA Convention & Expo, Bonaire Middle School FFA and the Paris FFA (pictured above) received the top honor.
Bonaire Middle School FFA in Bonaire, Ga., is comprised of 264 members in sixth through eighth grade. Bonaire FFA advisor Cheralyn Keily says developing the chapter’s programming is a team effort.
“One of the great things about working with young kids is they naturally come with enthusiasm,” Keily says. “I think it’s about taking that natural energy they have and showing them ways that they can use it. Our chapter has the enthusiasm and drive needed to be successful.”
Bonaire Middle School FFA members Allison, Morgan, Marcus and Madison sorted donations received through the supply drive.
This year, Bonaire Middle School FFA members hosted a supply drive to gather food, bedding and cat litter for local animal shelters and rescues, and created and distributed brochures featuring animals available for adoption. Members also raised a school garden and donated all produce to community food banks.
“We want to make sure our members learn valuable lessons throughout the year, but also have fun doing it together,” says Bonaire Middle School FFA President Camryn Graham. “As long as our members are happy and we’re making a difference in our community, we’re achieving our main goal.”
Paris FFA members in Paris, Mo., centered their Program of Activities (POA) on community outreach and wellness.
“I think our Meals of Plenty program is one of the biggest projects that set us apart from other chapters,” says Paris FFA President Carlee Long. “Our FFA activities definitely helped our members become stronger individuals.”
Chapter members purchased local food grown in Amish communities and assembled meal boxes and donated them to community members facing food insecurity. During the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic, members also launched the ‘Flamingo Farming’ social media campaign to highlight the importance of mental health.
“The idea was that a ‘flamingo farm’ of plastic yard decor was delivered to your house, then you had 48 hours to make a social media post about what you’d been doing and things you learned over quarantine,” Long says. “We were able to stay connected through social media when we couldn’t be together.”
For Paris FFA advisor Josh Bondy, receiving this award represents a goal 15 years in the making.
“I’m just so thankful for our kids and our community,” Bondy says. “The parents of our kids are amazing. I’ve said it many times, but I’m lucky to get to be the advisor some of the best kids in the country – and today they earned what they’ve worked so hard for.”
