Ohio leads the way at the 98th National FFA Convention & Expo
By Morgan Anderson, OCJ FFA Reporter
From October 29 to November 1, more than 73,000 attendees from across the United States gathered in Indianapolis, Indiana, for the 98th National FFA Convention & Expo. Amid the thrill of competitive events, general sessions, and a wide array of activities, Ohio FFA members made a notable impact.
National FFA Officer Nominating Committee
Anna Moeller of the Talawada-Butler Tech FFA Chapter was selected to serve on a nine-member committee with fellow FFA members nationwide to help elect the 2025-2026 National FFA Officer Team.
Hamilton Named American Star
Joanna Hamilton of the Felicity-Franklin FFA Chapter earned the American Star in Agriscience honor. Her Supervised Agricultural Experience centers on research across five science-based projects spanning food science and animal care. Projects include analyzing heat output from brooder bulbs and examining consumer perceptions of chocolate chip cookies, all inspired by real-world questions from her family farm and kitchen.
“As I look back on the growth between each project, I’m amazed by the progress and improvement,” Hamilton said. “I developed a love for topics that sparked my curiosity and enjoyed collaborating with industry professionals who shared their expertise. While competitive success in my projects was exciting, the experiences gained in agriscience and the people I worked with were the true rewards.”
National FFA Band and Chorus Participants
Molly Elvey of the Evergreen FFA Chapter performed with the National FFA Band, and Mia Hollingsworth of the Wilmington FFA Chapter participated in the National FFA Chorus.
National FFA Talent
Richard Matty of the Smithville FFA Chapter showcased his talents as one of the top 40 National FFA Talent performers.
VIP Citation Award
David Bishop and David Snyder were honored with the VIP Citation Award for two decades of service to FFA and agricultural education at the national level.
Honorary American Degrees
Thirteen Ohioans received Honorary American Degrees: Kristin Baird, Bruce Chantry, Ryan Curtis, Julianne Hamilton, Steven Hamilton, Janessa Hill, Cory Hoops, Holly Jennings, Kevin Jennings, Karen Sheeley, Tim Sheeley, Heather Tegtmeier, and Robert Walker.
National Proficiency Award Winners
Blake Schitmeyer of the Versailles FFA Chapter captured the national title in Agricultural Processing. Colin Batten, also of Versailles, won the national award in Dairy Production-Placement. Lincoln Winner from Versailles was named the national winner in Diversified Agricultural Production. Jonathan Cromer of the Ridgemont FFA Chapter earned the national title in Grain Production. Eric Taylor of the Miami Trace Great Oaks FFA Chapter was named the national winner in Nursery Operations.
National Agriscience Fair Winners
Hailey Wendling and Lydia Hamilton of the Felicity-Franklin FFA Chapter were named national winners in Animal Systems: Division 6. Charlie Martell and Addison Prater of Ridgemont won in Plant Systems: Division 2. Willow Kearns and Tanner Vanbuskirk of Ridgemont earned the top honor in Plant Systems: Division 4. Maverick Dawson of Ridgemont was the national winner in Power, Structural and Technical Systems: Division 3. Memphis Harvey and Jameson Hilyard of Ridgemont won in Power, Structural and Technical Systems: Division 4. Cecelia Gable and Leena Hennen of New Lexington were named national winners in Social Science: Division 2.
Conduct of Chapter Meetings
The Cardington FFA Chapter was named the national winner of the Conduct of Chapter Meetings Career Development Event. Team members included Jaxon Ongalibang, Madison Garrabrant, Bristal Cain, Mason Newsome, Victoria Kovacs, Alayna Seavolt, and Kaylynne Barlow, with Erin Wollett serving as the FFA advisor.
Food Science & Technology Career Development Event Winner
The Big Walnut DACC FFA Chapter earned the national title in the Food Science & Technology Career Development Event. Team members were Joshua Schutt (top individual overall), Madi Dible, Riley Norling, and Lainey Soule, with Jeff Stimmell as FFA advisor.
American Degree Recipients
Ohio celebrated 533 American Degree recipients.
Congratulations to all of Ohio’s national participants!
