View from the Cab: FFA excellence
By: Kent Casson
FFA members from throughout the state attended the 94th annual Illinois State FFA Convention June 14-16 along with more than 5,000 other FFA members, advisors, and guests.
With a 2022 theme of “Initiate,” the three-day event annually recognizes achievements of Illinois FFA members, elects the major state officer team, and celebrates agriculture. Congrats goes out to several local chapters receiving honors at the convention.
Tri-Point was presented awards for Strengthening Agriculture National Chapter Award section winner, State Premier Chapter Award Section Winner, State Agricultural Communications Career Development Event video production high individual (Cali Statler) and State Agricultural Communications Career Development Event opinion writing high individual (Kori Weber).
Awards were presented to the Normal FFA chapter for Growing Leaders National Chapter Award Section Winner, State Agricultural Education Career Development Event High Individual (Drexel Douglass), State Winner Veterinary Science Career Development Event, Building Communities National Chapter Award Section Winner, Wildlife Protection & Management State Proficiency Winner (Evan Kraft) and 2022-23 Section 9 president Peter Metivier.
Flanagan-Cornell FFA honors included Top 10 Chapter President (Hattie Koeller), Ag Mechanics Repair & Maintenance Placement State Proficiency Winner (Aidan Harner), Dairy Production Entrepreneurship State Proficiency Winner (Wyatt Zehr), Diversified Livestock Production State Proficiency Winner (Grace Brown), Nursery Operations State Proficiency Winner (Sam Jones), Service Learning State Proficiency Winner (William Weber) and State Star in Agricultural Placement Finalist for District 2 (Aidan Harner).
Paxton-Buckley-Loda was the Strengthening Agriculture National Chapter Award Section Winner, Top 10 Chapter Reporter (Gracie Wagner), 2022-23 Section 17 president Maci Kingren, Foundation $8,000 Club Award Recipient, Foundation 50-Year Sponsor and State Premier Chapter Award Section Winner.
Pontiac FFA was the Strengthening Agriculture National Chapter Award Section Winner, Agricultural Services State Proficiency Winner (Ty Jensen) and State Premier Chapter Award Section Winner.
Woodland FFA received New Agricultural Educator Recognition (Bailey Kaeb).
Prairie Central was the Harvest for All Section Winner, State Winner in Agricultural Business Management Career Development Event, State Winner Agricultural Mechanics Career Development Event, State Winner in Dairy Cattle Evaluation (with reasons) Career Development Event, State Dairy Cattle Evaluation (with reasons) Career Development Event High Individual (Carla Kilgus), State Winner Dairy Cattle Evaluation (non-reasons) Career Development Event, State Winner Dairy Foods Career Development Event, State Winner Meats Evaluation & Technology Career Development Event, State Meats Evaluation & Technology Career Development Event High Individual (Garret Platz), State Winner Poultry Evaluation Career Development Event, State Poultry Evaluation Career Development Event High Individual (Isaac Lehmann).
The Prairie Central Middle FFA was also honored for State Dairy Cattle Judging (non-reasons) Discovery Career Development Event High Individual (Tyler Harms) and State Dairy Foods Discovery Career Development Event High Individual (Tyler Young).
Hats off to all of these talented young people from throughout the area!
