HENDERSON, Ky. – Henderson County High School (HCHS) FFA in Kentucky is a National 3-Star Chapter, the highest rating a chapter can receive. There are 9,235 chapters in the National FFA Organization, and only four 4 percent are awarded this high honor each year.

Members of this chapter were recognized at the 97th National FFA Convention last fall. This marks the fourth time that HCHS has received the award since being chartered in 1952.

Judges looked at each event an agriculture program hosts or attends from contests to community service through the evaluation of a state rating form. Kentucky “Gold” chapters qualify to submit a national chapter application that takes an in-depth look at the most innovative 15 activities a chapter hosts in the areas of leadership, community service and agriculture. The top 15 percent of Kentucky chapters are sent to the National FFA Organization to receive their final rating and recognized at the National FFA Convention in Indianapolis in the fall.

Heading up this award-winning chapter are Michaela Wilson and Alyssa Vandiver, both recent graduates of HCHS. Vandiver graduated in 2016, while Wilson graduated in 2019.

“We had the opportunity to return to our high school and make an impact with others with FFA, and a lot of people don’t get to say that,” Vandiver said.

Community involvement over the past year was what put this chapter in the national spotlight.

“Our kids’ calendars run from April to April, we’re non-stop,” Wilson said.

On site at this high school campus is a large animal barn.

“We have a lot of animals here for local children to get hands-on experiences,” Vandiver said. “The local children get to show our rabbits at the country fair. We make sure everyone gets a chance to become involved. We also take some of the animals into the elementary schools for kids to see.

“Not everyone at this school is from a farm and a lot of kids can’t have animals at their house. Having animals here gives the students an opportunity to get first-hand experience about the livestock industry.”

Community involvement is a main thrust with the chapter. Just recently, the FFA students at HCHS performed community service by tending to all the potted plants along the streets throughout downtown Henderson, preparing them for spring planting.

Throughout the past year, the chapter reaches out to elementary school students on a regular basis, teaching them all topics related to agriculture.

“We oftentimes teach the elementary students about ag safety,” Vandiver said. “We even held a luncheon with folks in the community, raising awareness about mental health. Our chapter hosts various activities throughout the year, including contests, community service projects and events focuses on agriculture, leadership and community building.”

The chapter recently held a “Muffins with Mom” event, where students worked with local Extension specialists to discuss sanitation and knife safety in the kitchen.

The FFA students have plenty of activities and plenty of facilities to tend to. For starters, there are two large, raised garden beds. The school boasts one of the largest high school greenhouses in the state of Kentucky.

There are 2,000 students at Henderson High, and 11 percent of those are involved in FFA.

“Our chapter includes 225 students. That’s a big number for a lot of chapters,” Wilson said, “but we’d like to see that number grow just because we are a large high school.”

According to Wilson, Henderson High School FFA offers many Pathways, including Animal Pathway, Horticulture Pathway and Agribusiness Pathway.

“Our officers, members and advisers have worked diligently and put their all into this award,” said HCHS FFA president Anna Bennett. “We had an amazing year full of strong and engaging events with our chapter which helped strengthen our relationships and grow our love for FFA. Receiving this 3-Star rating is a tremendous honor for our chapter and reflects our successful year.”

The National Chapter Awards program recognizes outstanding FFA chapters from throughout the county that actively implement the mission and strategies of the organization. Chapters highlighted are those that emphasize growing leaders, building communities and strengthening agriculture. HCHS also earned the 3-Star honor in 2014, 2015 and 2023.

Though seventh and eighth graders in Henderson don’t have access to FFA, plans for FFA at this level are on the drawing board.