East Union students attend National FFA Convention

East Union had 13 FFA members attending the National FFA Convention in Indianapolis Nov. 1 - 4.

High school members included: Colton McKnight, Kade Weis, Jacob Driskill, Brock Jones, Clayton Toppin, Audrey Young, Jackilyn Campbell-Mills, Molly Gennaro, Gwen Nixon and Mary Brammer.

These members, along with instructors Michael Cooley and James Erlbacher, traveled by bus with chapter advisors and FFA members from Knoxville, Twin Cedars and Centerville. They attended convention sessions, the career show and had opportunities to see FFA at the national level. They also toured the plant where Apache Sprayers are produced and a landfill company that has recycled part of their landfill into one of the top nine hole golf courses in the nation.

The students toured a sprayer facility. (Contributed by EAST UNION FFA)

Participating at a higher level were three older East Union FFA Chapter members. After high school, members can continue to be active members of their chapter for three more years to pursue state and national awards, officer positions and/or show projects in the Iowa State Fair. They must continue to have maintained current active memberships to participate. They can not be past members or alumni to receive the American Degree or become state or national officers.

Iowa FFA Vice President Elizabeth Hadley and National FFA Vice President Kanyon Huntington are both East Union FFA Chapter members. (Contributed by EAST UNION FFA)

At this year’s convention, Ashley Toppin was joined by her family as they traveled to watch her walk across the stage to receive her American Degree, the highest degree that you can receive in FFA. Our State FFA Vice President, Elizabeth Hadley, was a voting delegate representing Iowa and participated in committees and the business sessions there.

Ashley Toppin with her brother Clayton after receiving her American Degree. Less than one percent of FFA members achieve the American FFA Degree. Each recipient is recognized at the national convention. (Contributed by EAST UNION FFA)

In addition, East Union FFA member, Kanyon Huntington, was Iowa’s national officer candidate. After several days of interviewing for the opportunity to represent the nearly one million FFA members as a national officer, Huntington was named the national vice president of the FFA Central Region. There are only six national officers elected each year.

More to come on Huntington later this week in the CNA.