INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. — Each year, the National FFA Organization is proud to honor the FFA members who show the utmost dedication to the organization through their desire to develop their potential for premier leadership, personal growth, and career success through agricultural education. That honor, the American FFA Degree, is bestowed upon a select group of individuals for years of academic and professional excellence.

Trevor Eischen, Abby Evans, Olivia Houts, Corbin Hellwarth and Garth Louth, FFA members representing the Parkway FFA Chapter in Ohio were selected to join that exclusive list and were awarded the American FFA Degree at the 85th National Convention & Expo in Indianapolis. This convention is known as the largest student gathering in the United States and occurred October 24-27, 2012.

The American FFA Degree recognizes demonstrated ability and outstanding achievements in agricultural business, production, processing or service programs. To be eligible, FFA members must have earned and productively invested $7,500 through a supervised agricultural experience program in which they start, own or hold a professional position in an existing agriculture enterprise. Recipients must also complete 50 community service hours, as well as demonstrate outstanding leadership abilities and community involvement. 

Each recipient of the American FFA Degree received a gold American FFA Degree Key plus a certificate after being on-stage during the convention.

In addition to the American FFA Degree ceremony, the Parkway FFA chapter along with the St. Henry, Coldwater, and Upper Scioto Valley’s FFA chapters headed up to Chicago, Ill., days prior to the start of the National FFA Convention In Chicago, the chapters visited the Willis Tower, the Federal Reserve and the Chicago Board of Trade.

Next, they visited Racine, Wis., to tour the Case IH factory and the Jelly Belly factory warehouse in Kenosha, Wis. Then, they headed back to Indianapolis, Ind. where they attended various sessions at the National FFA Convention. 

INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. — “Grow” was the theme of this year’s National FFA Convention. 41 members of the Miami East FFA were in attendance at the convention in Indianapolis.

Those members included Emily Beal, Kendra Beckman, Katrina Bendickson, Kolin Bendickson, Lindsey Brookhart, Jennifer Brown, Ashlee Bussen, Tanner Church, Trent Church, Casey Copeland, Danielle Danielson, Hannah Davis, Madeline Davis, Olivia Edgell, Rebekah Eidemiller, Haley Etherington, Daniel Everett, Colin Gump, Kayden Gustin, Amy Hahn, Caleb Johnson, Emily Johnson, Rian Kingrey, Kelsey Kirchner, Andrew Kowalak, Miranda Maggart, Haleigh Maggert, Syndey Oakes, Cody Reid, Levi Reid, Shane Richardson, Kelly Rindler, Lindsey Roeth, Allyson Supinger, Seth Tamplin, Brittany Taylor, Macaleh Thompson, Blane Wagner, Lauren Williams, Jarrett Willoughby and Davey Wright. 

Two students competed in the National Agriscience Fair with their research projects. Rian Kingrey and Olivia Edgell competed in Division 3, Food Products and Processing Systems with their project, “How Clean Are Your Hands?” They placed third place in the nation and received a gold rating. This the highest placing team in Miami East FFA history.

Miami East FFA received a Three-Star National Chapter Award, the highest award bestowed to an FFA Chapter. The chapter was selected for this honor based on its activities during the previous school year, in the areas of student, chapter and community development. 

Past Miami East High School graduate Kyle Roeth received his American FFA Degree. The American FFA Degree is the highest degree awarded by the FFA Organization and recognizes members’ ability to demonstrate leadership abilities and outstanding achievements in agricultural business, production, processing, and service programs. Recipients received gold American FFA Degree key, wallet ID card, and a certificate to commemorate the achievement. Roeth is the son of Mark and Paula Roeth and is currently attending Ashland University majoring in business management.