Members of the West Prairie FFA chapter attended the 95th annual Illinois State FFA Convention June 13-15 along with more than 5,000 other FFA members, advisors, and guests. With a 2023 theme of “Electrify,” the three-day event annually recognizes the achievements of Illinois FFA members, elects the major state officer team, and celebrates agriculture.
During the convention, the following awards were presented to the West Prairie FFA:
Illinois State FFA Degree: Katelynn Ashbaker, Michael Kindhart, Owen Torrance, Wesley Adam Vail, & Gracyn Welsh were conferred with State FFA Degrees by the Illinois Association for meeting all requirements including productive financial investments and earnings in a supervised agricultural experience and FFA participation, leadership, and academic excellence. The State FFA Degree is the highest achievement an FFA member can achieve in Illinois; less than 2% of members statewide earn this prestigious recognition.
American FFA Degree: Dillon Bartlett, Keslie Parks, & Kyle Rhoads were recognized for earning the highest degree achievable in the National FFA Organization. The American FFA Degree will be officially conferred at the National FFA Convention in Indianapolis in October and recognizes the most dedicated members in the country who demonstrated excellence with their supervised agricultural experience provided outstanding leadership and community service and earned scholastic achievement throughout their FFA career.
Harvest For All Section Winner: The chapter was recognized for excellence in efforts to fight food insecurity in Illinois through dollars raised, pounds of food donated, and hours volunteered. Illinois Farm Bureau Young Leaders sponsors the Harvest For All awards.
State Winner Forestry Discovery Career Development Event: The chapter was recognized for winning the state middle school Forestry CDE, which requires team members to demonstrate their skills in diagnosing forest disorders, managing forests and forest inventory, and applying approved silviculture practices.
**Courtesy of the Illinois FFA State Convention Newsroom**
