Members of the Crest FFA Chapter recently attended the 98th National FFA Convention and Expo held in Indianapolis, Indiana, where the chapter and its members earned several prestigious recognitions for their outstanding achievements in agricultural education, leadership, and research.
Crest FFA was honored as a Top 10 National Finalist in the Premier Chapter Award Program, which recognizes local chapters for exceptional events contributing to the National Chapter Award model. The chapter received recognition for its "Blue Jacket Jam" initiative in the Strengthening Agriculture category. Representing the chapter during the national judging process were members Cheyenne Carpenter and Caleb Pless, who presented the program before a panel of judges.
In addition to the chapter's success, Crest FFA students excelled in the National FFA Agriscience Fair, where two research teams were named national finalists.
● Luke Hinton and Caleb Pless earned 5th place nationally for their agriscience research project: Optimizing Soiless Growing Media for Post-Germination Cultivation of Lactuca sativa in an Aquaponic System
● Savannah Carpenter and Tucker Forrest achieved an impressive 2nd-place national finish for their project: Managing Compaction in No-Till: Evaluating Traffic and Remediation Strategies for Sustainable Soil Health
Adding to the chapter's presence on the national stage, Luke Hinton was selected to perform in the National FFA Talent Program, where he showcased his musical talents at multiple venues throughout the convention.
Crest FFA members also participated in the Student Showcase Stage, sharing presentations about their Blue Jacket Jam community event and their agriscience
research efforts. Students Lily Ball, Gunner Cook, Macey Cook, Savannah Garmon, Paisley Hamrick, and Mili Towell assisted in these presentations and activities, representing Crest FFA with pride and professionalism.
Crest FFA continues to embody the FFA mission of making a positive difference in the lives of students by developing their potential for premier leadership, personal growth, and career success through agricultural education.
For more information about Crest FFA and its programs, contact the agricultural education department at Crest High School.
Contact: Crest FFA Chapter, Crest High School Agricultural Department,
mharris@clevelandcountyschools.org
Submitted by Matt Harris