MADISON, Wis. [October 19, 2017] – In less than a week, Wisconsin Association of FFA will travel to Indianapolis to celebrate with a sea of blue and gold jackets from around the country. They will be attending, competing and participating at National FFA Convention along with advisors, parents and alumni. The 2017 event is the 90^th meeting of the National FFA Convention and brings together tens of thousands of people for four consecutive days, Oct. 25-28. This year, attendees will be treated to a keynote from Laila Ali, a concert from Rascal Flatts and a rodeo, plus participate in service projects, tours, workshops and the country’s largest ag expo for students.
 
"National FFA Convention is one of the greatest celebrations of the year for FFA members, advisors, alumni and sponsors,” says Cheryl Zimmerman, executive director of the Wisconsin Association of FFA and Wisconsin FFA Center.  “With over 60,000 people attending National FFA Convention, this event is an exciting time for members and chapters who are competing in events and receiving recognition for their accomplishments as well as connecting with people from all across the United States, Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands.”
 
“It is also a time for FFA to recognize the many sponsors that make events possible for FFA members and thank them for their support throughout the year,” she adds. “FFA members experience one of the largest youth conventions and career expos which help them grow as leaders, explore career opportunities, build their communities and strengthen agriculture. National FFA Convention can be a life-changing experience for many students and a re-energizing event for any adult that has the opportunity to work with these members.”
 
Listed below are the Wisconsin FFA members competing for national titles (all times are Central) and coverage can be seen on FFA.org/convention:

• Second Session – Thursday, Oct. 26 at 1 p.m. – National Chapter Awards
  • Three Star Chapters – Badger, Big Foot, Cochrane-Fountain City, DeForest, Freedom, Prairie Farm, Waupaca
  • Two Star Chapters – Barron, Beaver Dam, Columbus, Granton, Lodi, Marshall, Mishicot, Randolph Cambria-Friesland, River Valley, Sauk Prairie, Stanley-Boyd, Stevens Point, Thorp, Waupun, Weyauwega-Fremont, Winneconne, and Wisconsin Heights
  • One Star Chapter – Manawa
• Third Session – Thursday, Oct. 26 at 6:30 p.m. – Stars over America
  • American Star in Agricultural Placement Finalist – Matthew Ries, Lomira FFA
• Fourth Session – Friday, Oct. 27, 7 a.m. – Honorary American Degrees
  • Dr. Tony Evers
  • James Check
  • Regina Oldendorf
  • Dan Robinson
• Fifth Session – Friday, Oct. 27 at11 a.m. – National Officer Candidate and Agriscience Fair
  • National Officer Candidate – Hannah Taylor, Poynette FFA
  • National FFA Agriscience Fair Recognition
    • Animal Systems
      • Division 1 – Madison Russell, Shullsburg FFA
      • Division 2 – Caroline Ott and Hannah Zastrow, Wrightstown FFA
      • Division 3 – Abby Field, Wonewoc Center FFA
      • Division 4 – Trinity Foster and Tara Wilkowski, Wausau FFA
      • Division 6 – Makalyn Peterson and Hailey Davis, Big Foot FFA

• Environmental Services/Natural Resource Systems 
  • Division 2 – Wyatt Gotham and Jackson Skaw, New Auburn FFA
  • Division 6 – Lyndsey Mickelson and Ryan Erickson, Barron FFA
• Food Products and Processing Systems
  • Division 4 – Melissa Konkel and Sydney Bender, Big Foot FFA
  • Division 5 – Amelia Hayden, Big Foot FFA
• Plant Systems
  • Division 2 – McKenzie Frank and Memphis Newman, New Auburn FFA
  • Division 5 – Amanda Herman, Badger FFA
• Power, Structural and Technical Systems 
  • Division 2 – Matthew Elmhorst and Caleb Gotham, New Auburn FFA
  • Division 3 – Zachary Woodworth, Shullsburg FFA
• Social Systems
  • Division 2 – Madison Church and Emily Patz, New Auburn FFA

• Sixth Session – Friday, Oct. 27 at 2 p.m. – National Agricultural Proficiency Awards
  • Agricultural Education – Katelyn Zimmerman, Spencer FFA
  • Agricultural Mechanics Design and Fabrication – Logan Paul, Randolph Cambria-Friesland FFA
  • Agricultural Mechanics Repair and Maintenance Entrepreneurship – Brett Koski, Waupaca FFA
  • Agricultural Processing – Levi Alsum, Randolph Cambria-Friesland FFA
  • Agriscience Research - Integrated Systems – Amelia Hayden, Big Foot FFA
  • Beef Production Entrepreneurship – Daniel Walsh, Mauston FFA
  • Dairy Production Entrepreneurship – Carley Krull, Lake Mills FFA
  • Equine Science Entrepreneurship – Alexis Kwak, Prairie Farm FFA
  • Fruit Production – Lucas Miller, Randolph Cambria-Friesland FFA
  • Home and/or Community Development – Kayla Kaczorowski, Cochrane-Fountain City FFA
  • Sheep Production – Taylor Eilers, Waupaca FFA
  • Specialty Crop Production – Anne Runde, Janesville Craig FFA
• Seventh Session – Friday, Oct. 27 at 6 p.m. – Career Development Award Winners
  • Ag. Communications – Shullsburg FFA
  • Ag. Issues – Shullsburg FFA
  • Ag. Sales – Wrightstown FFA
  • Ag. Technology & Mechanical Systems – Waterford FFA
  • Agronomy – Laconia FFA
  • Conduct of Chapter Meetings – Amery FFA
  • Dairy Cattle Management/Evaluation – Belmont FFA
  • Dairy Handler – Olivia Brandenburg, Fort Atkinson FFA
  • Environmental Science/Natural Resources – Hudson FFA
  • Farm Business Management – Stanley-Boyd FFA
  • Floriculture – Badger FFA
  • Food Science and Technology – Wausau FFA
  • Forestry – Stanley-Boyd FFA
  • Horse Evaluation – River Valley FFA
  • Livestock Evaluation – St. Croix Central FFA
  • Marketing Plan – Shullsburg FFA
  • Meat Evaluation and Technology – River Ridge FFA
  • Milk Quality and Products – Milton FFA
  • Nursery and Landscape – Oconto Falls FFA
  • Parliamentary Procedure – Stanley-Boyd FFA
  • Poultry Evaluation – Brillion FFA
  • Veterinary Science – DeForest FFA
• Eighth Session –  Saturday, Oct. 28 at 6:30 a.m. – American FFA Degree Ceremony
  • 127 Wisconsin American FFA Degrees
• Ninth Session – Saturday, Oct. 28 at 12:30 p.m. – Delegate Reports, Leadership Development Event Award Winners  and Nominating Committee Recognition
  • National FFA Delegates
    • Alexis Leudtke, Beaver Dam FFA
    • Crystal Cafferty, Mauston FFA
    • Carissa Cleven, Tomah FFA (1st Alternate)
  • Leadership Development Event Award Winners
    • Creed Speaking &nda