FREDERICKTOWN — Fredericktown FFA members recently traveled to the annual Ohio FFA State Convention held April 30 to May 1.
A major highlight for the chapter was the presentation of the Ohio FFA Degree, the second-highest honor an FFA member can achieve.
The chapter is proud of seniors Reagan Blanchard and Ella Bouton for receiving their degrees in recognition of years of hard work and dedication to their supervised agricultural experiences.
Allissya Dugan (secretary), Austin Robinson (treasurer), and Austin Frazier (reporter) received Gold Officer ratings for their outstanding work this past year.
The chapter kicked off the trip on Thursday morning with a stop at 8 Sisters Bakery before heading to the John Deere Training Center in Plain City. During a guided tour of the facilities, members got a behind-the-scenes look at the technical innovation driving the equipment industry today.
After a quick lunch at the North Market, the group moved on to the Ohio State University Animal Science building. There, members participated in a livestock judging clinic led by instructor Seth Ebert.
Ebert walked the chapter through expert evaluation techniques before letting the students judge a class of cattle themselves. His insights into placement reasoning gave the members a great professional edge in livestock evaluation.
Friday was a bright and early start, with the chapter arriving at the Ohio State Fairgrounds for the convention’s major sessions. During the morning session, Fredericktown was well-represented on stage as gold officer awards were presented.
An inspiring week
Between sessions, the Freddies made the most of their time in the Bricker Building. It wasn’t all business, as members spent the afternoon bonding with other chapters over Gaga ball, line dancing, and leadership workshops. They also explored the career fair and proficiency award exhibits.
The convention concluded with a high-energy final session featuring the State FFA Band and Choir and presentation of state degrees.
The evening ended with State President Carter Boyd giving a retiring address and the installation of the new 2026-27 state officer team. It was a successful and inspiring week for Fredericktown FFA, and the many other chapters who attended.
The two-day event was a wonderful and educational experience for the members. They appreciate the Fredericktown bus garage for providing drivers to transport them to and from the convention each day.