INDIANAPOLIS – The 2025-26 National FFA officer team – including members from Michigan and Tennessee – was named during the organization’s recent convention. In addition, winners were announced in several competitive categories.

The new officer team will be led by President Trey Myers, former member of Perkins Tryon FFA in Oklahoma. The rest of the team is Lilly Nyland, secretary, former member of Careerline Tech Center FFA in Michigan; Joey Nowotny, eastern region vice president, former member of Laurel FFA in Delaware; Jael Cruikshank, western region vice president, former member of Bend FFA in Oregon; T. Wayne Williams, southern region vice president, former member of Woodbury FFA in Tennessee; and Claire Woeppel, central region vice president, former member of Chambers FFA in Nebraska. Thirty seven FFA members were candidates for the various positions.

The 98th convention and expo was Oct. 29-Nov. 1 in Indianapolis.

Awards were presented to American Star winners, along with winners of National Agricultural Proficiency Awards and the Agriscience Fair. Recipients from Farm World’s primary readership area included:

American Star winners:

Agribusiness:

Blake Twenhafel, Wesclin FFA, Illinois

Agricultural Placement:

Nevin Erbsen, Eastland FFA, Illinois

Agriscience:

Joanna Hamilton, Felicity-Franklin FFA, Ohio

National Middle School Model of Excellence:

Cambridge Middle FFA, Illinois

National Agricultural Proficiency Awards:

Cael Daufeldt, poultry production – entrepreneurship/placement; West Liberty FFA, Iowa.

Molly McCalla, sheep production – entrepreneurship/placement; Staunton FFA, Illinois.

Houston Ray Stewart, fiber and/or oil crop production – entrepreneurship/placement; Brighton FFA, Tennessee.

Jonathan Cromer, grain production – entrepreneurship/placement; Ridgemont FFA; Ohio.

Eric Taylor, nursery operations – entrepreneurship/placement; Miami Trace Great Oaks FFA, Ohio.

Tucker Snook, turf and landscape maintenance – entrepreneurship/placement; Cambridge FFA, Illinois.

Mason Riebe, vegetable production – entrepreneurship/placement; Tri-Point FFA, Illinois.

Maggie Rose Taylor, outdoor recreation – entrepreneurship/placement; Perry Central FFA, Indiana.

Hunter Sims, agricultural mechanics design and fabrication – entrepreneurship/placement; Scotts Hill FFA, Tennessee.

Ellie Julia Taylor, agricultural communications – entrepreneurship/placement; Hamilton Southeastern FFA, Indiana.

Colin Batten, dairy production – placement; Versailles FFA, Ohio.

Lincoln Winner, diversified agricultural production – entrepreneurship/placement; Versailles FFA, Ohio.

Ty Jones, diversified livestock production – entrepreneurship/placement; Allen County-Scottsville FFA, Kentucky.

Blake Schmitmeyer, agricultural processing – entrepreneurship/placement; Versailles FFA, Ohio.

Agriscience Fair:

Maverick Dawson, power, structural and technical systems, division 3; Ridgemont FFA, Ohio.

Memphis Harvey and Jameson Hilyard, power, structural and technical systems, division 4; Ridgemont FFA, Ohio.

Cecelia Gable and Leena Hennen, social science, division 2; New Lexington FFA, Ohio.

Emma Goff, social science, division 3; Oakland FFA, Tennessee.

Hailey Wendling and Lydia Hamilton, animal systems, division 6; Felicity-Franklin FFA, Ohio.

Charlie Martell and Addison Prater, plant systems, division 2; Ridgemont FFA, Ohio.

Willow Kearns and Tanner Vanbuskirk, plant systems, division 4; Ridgemont FFA, Ohio.

VIP Citation recipients:

David Bishop, Ashland, Ohio

David Snyder, Ashland, Ohio

Aaron Wetzel, Chicago, Ill.

The convention’s attendance of more than 73,000 set a record, and created a $40 million economic impact, FFA said.

The organization also said the convention will continue to be in Indianapolis at least through 2040. The convention was in Indianapolis from 2006 to 2012. After three years in Louisville, Ky., the event returned to Indianapolis in 2016.

“We’re thrilled about the opportunity to continue calling Indianapolis home for our convention through 2040,” Cheryl Zimmerman, National FFA Organization executive secretary, said in a release. “This city has proven time and again to be an incredible partner, welcoming our members with open arms, providing world-class facilities, and helping us create life-changing experiences for students in agricultural education. Extending our convention contract ensures we can keep building on that strong foundation and inspiring the next generation of agricultural leaders for years to come.”