The Washington High School FFA (Future Farmers of America) held their end of the year awards banquet on Thursday, May 2, in the Little Blue Jay Gym at WHS.
A number of honors, awards, certifications, and scholarships were announced during the banquet.
Some of the honors announced included chapter and state proficiency awards, scholarship and leadership medals, outstanding service awards, appreciation awards, honorary member ceremony, tractor day awards, Missouri Agriculture Skills and Knowledge Certification, career and technical education certification, and star awards.
The FFA officer team for the 2024-25 school year was announced. Officers are:
President - Darcy Koch
Vice President - Grant Cottrell
Secretary - Evie Bryson
Treasurer - Alyssa Deppe
Reporter - Madison Diener and Amelia Sahm
Sentinel - Will Straatmann
Chaplin - Josie Kemper
Washington FFA is sending two freshman, Ella Girardier and Isabella Compton, to the HYMAX Leadership Academy, which is in June and prepares members to lead, advocate and communicate.
Grant Cottrell was selected to attend MABA (Missouri Agribusiness Academy), an event for rising juniors to attend and is very competitive because there are only a total for 30 members. Cottrell also is going to be one of the 2024-2025 Area 14 Vice Presidents and will be attending AOI (Area Officer Institute).
The Washington FFA Chapter was awarded the Area 14 Single Teacher Sweepstakes, awarded to an agriculture program in Area 14 that has one agriculture teacher and has their members participating in Chapter, Area, State and National Events .
The Washington FFA Chapter also was awarded the National Superior Chapter award for the 16th straight year at the Missouri FFA Convention with 100 percent membership in the WHS agriculture program.
The FFA Chapter for the last few years has been constantly growing and this year was no exception. There is a total of 126 FFA members, which awarded them the 10 plus membership growth and 10 percent membership growth. Both of the awards are designed by the State FFA Association.
The FFA Chapter had two contest teams go to state in Agronomy and FFA Knowledge.
Agronomy is a contest where you identify seeds, plants and have to diagnose defects. Students who attended were Jack Gerdiman, Alyssa Deppe, Rose Gerdiman and Ella Girardier.
FFA Knowledge is a contest for freshmen to compete in the FFA history. Students attending were Ella Girardier, Amelia Sahm and Isabella Compton
At the state convention, there were five members who received their state degrees and seven members got recognized at state for having a first place area proficiency.
The Washington FFA Chapter also submitted 10 entries into the Larry Harper Writing Contest and are given a topic to write about. This year’s topic esd "Agriculture: Barriers to Entry.” Blake Deppe placed third in the state.
FFA Officers 2024-25
Pictured is the Washington FFA Officer Team for the 2024-25 school year. Front row, left to right, are Amelia Sahm (Reporter), Madison Diener (Reporter), Darcy Koch (President) and Evie Bryson (Secretary). Back row, from left, are Josie Kemper (Chaplin), Alyssa Deppe (Treasurer), Grant Cottrell (Vice President) and Will Straatmann (Sentinel).
Area FFA Proficiency Awards
Pictured are FFA students who received Area FFA Proficiency Awards. Front row, from left, are Danyka Lonsberry, Emma Yatzeck, Ryleigh Rehmeier, Darcy Koch, Allison Nadler and Kenzie Crego. Back row, from left, are Josie Kemper, Alyssa Deppe, Grant Cottrell, Alex Gleeson, Sam Busch, Dylan Balleydier, Cayden Banderman and Addison Schmelz.