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By: Kyra Davidson, Felicity-Franklin FFA Reporter

Over 70 Felicity-Franklin FFA members traveled to Indianapolis for the 91st National FFA Convention & Expo, where several members competed in the National FFA Agriscience Fair as well as the National Knowledge Quiz.

Two projects from Felicity-Franklin FFA members in the National FFA Agriscience Fair won their division and category along with $1,000 each. In the category of Power, Structural, and Technical Systems and Division 6, Joseph Glassmeyer and Jared Hamilton won for the third time in a row. Luke Jennings also won first in the nation with his project in Food Products and Processing Systems, Division 1.

Two projects were awarded third in the nation, including Natalie Brueggemann and Ellie Sharp in Power, Structural, and Technical Systems, Division 4, who placed in the top three for the second time. Braden Blackburn and Seth Roehm also placed third with their experiment in Environmental Services/Natural Resources Systems, Division 4. Each of these members took home $500.

Three other projects were finalists, with two placing seventh and the other placing ninth. These included Madison Baird and Reagan Lowe in the category of Plant Systems, Division 4, who placed seventh, Kyra Davidson in the category of Environmental Services/Natural Resources Systems, Division 3, placing seventh, and Alisha Boone and Trinity Evans in Plants Systems, Division 2, who placed ninth.

The National Knowledge Quiz, which tests members’ knowledge of FFA history, the manual, and other facts was held on Tuesday, October 23. Felicity-Franklin FFA took a middle school team, who were named National Champions, with Anna Swisshelm in first, Lily Taulbee in second, Angela Jones in third, and Alexis Egner in fourth.

The Junior Team placed fourth in the nation, with Chloe Taulbee in ninth, Tate Liming at 14th, Trinity Evans taking 17th, Luke Dunaway in 20th, and Natalie Brueggemann at 21st. The Senior Team was named Reserve National Champions, with Luke Jennings in fifth, Kyra Davidson in 7th, Joey Glassmeyer in 11th, Bailey Lowe at 18th, and Madison Baird taking 30th.

Outside of competitions, FFA members attend sessions with over 69,000 other FFA members from across the country, featuring motivational speakers, awards, and the retiring addresses of national officers. This year, President Donald Trump spoke at one of these sessions, becoming the first president in 40 years to do so. FFA members also explored the expo, which hosts colleges and companies and educates FFA members on careers in agriculture.

Three FFA members received their American Degrees, the highest degree earned by FFA’s top members. These members were Alex Baird, Clinton Liming, and Emily Lawson.

FFA members toured Hunter’s Honey Farm and Ozark Fisheries, where they learned about bees, goldfish, and koi, as well as an Apache’s sprayer plant. Felicity FFA also attended a concert by Garth Brooks.