The Miami East-MVCTC FFA Chapter recently held its Annual Parent Member Banquet. Approximately 300 parents, members, and guests were present at Miami East High School Gymnasium. Highlights of the evening were:
- Three officers, Kinsley Courtright, Kyle Wright, and Kaci Manns submitted Officer Books for review at the State Evaluations. All three earned a gold rating. They will be further recognized at the upcoming State FFA Convention.
- In 2025 the chapter has been named a Top 10 in the State Chapter and a Top 10 Chapter in the state in the areas of Growing Leadership, Building Communities, and Strengthening Agriculture. We will be interviewed this past week and results will be announced at the upcoming State FFA Convention to be named the #1 chapter in the state.
- Elisabeth Norman has been named a Top 4 in the State Proficiency Award application. She is a finalist in Agriculture Mechanics Repair and Maintenance. Her final placing will be announced at the upcoming State FFA Convention.
- Three seniors have participated in the Senior Capstone Experience where they learn through hands-on experiences with an agriculture company. Those participating were Hale Beck at Yingst Farms, Rhylee Eichhorn at Eichhorn Show Pigs, and Wesley Penny at Lynn Alan Farms.
Chapter FFA Degree Recipients
FFA members are given the opportunity to earn four degrees during their membership in the organization. The first is the Greenhand Degree represented by a bronze pin. Students were recognized who have reached the second degree presented – the Chapter FFA Degree. 24 candidates met the minimum qualifications for this degree. The candidates were Isaac Apple, Hunter Barnes, Caden Bowman, Alek Fine, Luke Fulton, KJ Gustin, Colton Hamby, Cora Hildebrand, Garrett Hughes, Memphis Hughes, Lincoln Littlejohn, Evan Maxson, Layla Mick, Ryan Neff, Charlotte Norman, Owen Ondera, Amelia Osting, Alivia Palivec, Audrey Ponchillia, Tyler Quinn, Jamie Stapleton, Logan Ward, Kyle Wright, and Avery Yeaple.
Honorary Chapter FFA Degree
The Honorary Chapter FFA Degree was given to Mrs. Noelle Mumpower-Davis, a longtime supporter of the FFA and retiring high school teacher.
Proficiency Awards
Proficiency awards are designed to recognize the efforts of members who have outstanding Supervised Agricultural Experience programs and have kept accurate records. Winners of the 2025 Chapter Proficiency Awards were: Ag Mechanics Repair and Maintenance Entrepreneurship - Wyatt Black, Agricultural Services – Lincoln Littlejohn, Beef Production – Cora Moore, Dairy Production Placement – Kat Niswonger, Diversified Horticulture – Haley Barnes, Diversified Crop Production Placement – Hale Beck, Fiber and Oil Crop Production Placement – Tyler Quinn, Grain Production Entrepreneurship – Wyatt Black, Grain Production Placement – Garrett Hughes, Organic Agriculture – Kat Niswonger, Poultry Production – Jenna Taylor, Service Learning – Jenna Taylor, Service Learning – Alexa Deaton, Small Animal Care and Production – Blake Boggess, Swine Production Entrepreneurship – Rhylee Eichhorn, and Vegetable Production – Kyle Wright.
Additional Awards
Quality Supervised Agricultural Experience Programs are based on accurate record keeping and perfected record books. Students with outstanding record books in each of the classes were Freshman – Bailey Brown and Oliver Buchanan, Sophomore – Amelia Osting and Kyle Wright, Junior – Kinsley Courtright Jenna Taylor, and Senior – Blake Boggess and Kat Niswonger.
High scholastics are an important part of each high school student’s life. Results of the students with the highest academic records in their entire high school career include: Agriculture, Food, & Natural Resources – Levi Robinson, Plant and Animal Science – Hunter Barnes, Business Management–Junior – Kaci Manns, and Business Management-Senior – Wyatt Black.
Kyle Wright, Ella Hershberger, Tyler Quinn, and Kaci Manns were recognized for selling over $1,000 worth of fruit during the chapter’s fruit sales. Kyle Wright was the highest selling fruit sales person. Abigail, Connor, and Wyatt Maxson were recognized for being the highest selling family.
Charlotte Norman was recognized for being the highest selling sales person in the strawberry sales. Memphis and Garrett Hughes were recognized for being the highest selling family.
American FFA Degree Recipients
The American FFA Degree is the highest degree for a member to receive in the National FFA Organization. This degree will be bestowed upon graduates at the upcoming National FFA Convention. Fletcher Harris, Alaina Helsinger, Reagan Howell, Kyle Larson, Jadyn Maingi, Elisabeth Norman, and Ty Roeth will receive their degree in October in Indianapolis, Indiana.
State FFA Degree Recipients
The State FFA Degree is the highest degree received in the state. About 2% of the state’s FFA membership earns their State Degree. Haley Barnes, Hale Beck, Blake Boggess, Adrien Comer, Kinsley Courtright, Abigail Maxson, Connor Maxson, Cora Moore, Wesley Penny, and Jenna Taylor will receive their degree in May.
Additional Chapter Awards were the Star Greenhand Award to Tapanga Henderson. The Excellence in Agriculture Award went to Cora Moore. The Blue and Gold Award went to Haley Barnes. The Star Chapter in Agribusiness was Wyatt Black. The Star Placement was Hale Beck. The Star Chapter Farmer award went to Rhylee Eichhorn.
Chapter Officers Installed
The 2025-2026 Miami East-MVCTC FFA Chapter Officers were installed. They are as follows: Sentinel- Cooper Palivec, Student Advisor – Gunner Palivec, Reporter – Alivia Palivec, Treasurer – Alexa Deaton, Secretary – Kaci Manns, Vice President – Kyle Wright, and President – Kinsley Courtright.
Photo caption: Chapter President Wyatt Black presents the 2025 Honorary Chapter Degree to Mrs. Noelle Mumpower-Davis.
Photo caption: Recipients of the 2025 State FFA Degree were (L to R) Hale Beck, Cora Moore, Blake Boggess, Haley Barnes, Adrien Comer, Jenna Taylor, Connor Maxson, Kinsley Courtright, Wesley Penny, and Abigail Maxson.
Photo caption: Recipients of 2025 Chapter FFA Degree were (front row, L to R) Owen Ondera, Alek Fine, Garrett Hughes, Memphis Hughes, Lincoln Littlejohn, Evan Maxson (middle row, L to R) Hunter Barnes, Alivia Palivec, Layla Mick, Cora Hildebrand, Charlotte Norman, Amelia Osting, Audrey Ponchillia, Jamie Stapleton, Logan Ward (back row, L to R) Caden Bowman, Kyle Wright, Luke Fulton, Colton Hamby, KJ Gustin, Ryan Neff, Tyler Quinn, and Avery Yeaple.