Stockbridge FFA Attends 97th Annual FFA State Convention

Alayna Adkins, FFA President and Eliana Johnson, FFA Vice President

Since 1928, Michigan State University has been hosting an annual FFA state convention that invites students, teachers, alumni and industry professionals to attend a variety of conferences, workshops and awards ceremonies. The Michigan FFA Association boasts over 9,000 members and 133 chapters, and numerous of these members attended State Convention.

This year, 13 Stockbridge FFA members were in attendance. Three of those members included elected delegates Owen Cipta, Will Gancer and Laura Humrich. Delegates are chosen to vote on new ideas and issues regarding the FFA. Although unable to attend most sessions, delegates still play an active and vital role in improving Michigan FFA.

While there, the Stockbridge FFA Chapter received numerous chapter awards, and members received numerous individual awards. Stockbridge received the National Chapter Award, which is an award that only 10% of Michigan chapters receive. The National Chapter Award’s requirements include participation in 15 activities, one for each of the five quality standards, that all fall under the three sections required to earn a National Chapter Award: building communities, strengthening agriculture and growing leaders.

Stockbridge FFA also received the Building Our Michigan Communities (BOMC) Award. Stockbridge qualified for this award through extensive community involvement. They have donated 207 dozen eggs and over 60 pounds worth of broiler chickens to the local outreach program.

Stockbridge also earned recognition for placing top 10 in the state for the #SpeakAgMichigan challenge, sponsored by the Michigan Farm Bureau. This challenge took place between September and December. Chapters had monthly assigned prompts and were tasked with creating a social media campaign advocating for that month’s chosen topic. Stockbridge placed ninth overall.

  For the last group award, the Soybean Crop Management challenge placed third overall. This challenge required teams to form crop nutrition plans, plant a one-acre test plot, then take data and make a presentation about their findings.

Numerous members also received individual awards. Four members received the State FFA Degree. This is the first time since 1953 that four members have all received this degree in the same year. The State FFA Degree is presented to seniors who are dedicated to the FFA. Degrees are distributed once candidates submit an application that showcases their documented agricultural work. Alayna Adkins, Logan Hollenbeck, Eliana Johnson and Brock Rochow received this award. With this award comes six free credits towards MSU. Eliana Johnson also received the Silver State FFA Degree, which is awarded to only 10% of the Michigan FFA members. All four seniors also received their Academic Excellence Awards.

In the coming years, Stockbridge FFA plans to achieve more accolades while continuing to grow its program, leaders and culture. Thank you for your continued support of our program. These accomplishments would not be possible without your support.

Members (L-R) Eliana Johnson, Logan Hollenbeck, Alayna Adkins, Brock Rochow, Brooke Kunzlemen, Valeria Morales, Laura Humrich, Michaela Hill. Members of the Stockbridge FFA Chapter celebrate with ice cream from the MSU Dairy Store. Photo: Marissa Petiprin Ball

(L-R) Alayna Adkins, Eliana Johnson, Brooke Kunzelman, and Michaela Hill revel in their achievements at State Convention alongside student teacher, Marissa Petiprin Ball. Photo: Lilly Nylund