Kentucky FFA members excel at National FFA Convention

(INDIANAPOLIS) – Kentucky FFA’s Caroline Groth of the Locust Trace Chapter (Fayette County) was elected as the 2024-2025 Eastern Region vice president for the National FFA Organization at the 97th annual National FFA Convention on Oct. 23-26 in Indianapolis. Kentucky FFA was well represented at the convention, the largest youth organization gathering in the U.S., attended by nearly 72,000 FFA members, advisors and guests.

As she assumes her new duties, Groth and her five teammates will each travel over 100,000 miles this year to serve more than a million members of the national organization. She also will visit with agriculture and business leaders and government officials as an ambassador for the organization and the agriculture industry.

Groth will take a year off from her studies at the University of Kentucky to fulfill the duties of her office.

Groth is the daughter of Jason and Cara Groth of Lexington. Her FFA Advisors are Toni Myers, Daniel Bustle, Ally Thompson, Doug Ashcraft, Brian Craig, Fallon Jackson, Graciela Barajas, Latissa Higgins, Nicki Jones, Kathleen Magsam and Morgan Margita.  

Other Kentucky Winners

Kentucky winners also included:

• Spencer County FFA was the national winner of the Dairy Cattle Evaluation Career Development Event (CDE) for the 11th time. Members of the team were Evan Waller (seventh high individual), Greyson Humes (sixth high individual), Scarletann Williams (fourth high individual) and Hunter King (second high individual. The coach was Bland Baird.
• Anna Chaliff of Rockcastle County was the national winner of the Nursery Production Proficiency Contest. The award was based on a written application that detailed her work and skill development through her job at Williams Greenhouse. She also completed an interview with a panel of judges representing industry and education. Her advisors are Matthew Whitaker and Lewis Mink.
• Madisonville North Hopkins (Hopkins County) FFA was recognized as one of the top three chapters in the nation in the National Chapter Contest in Building Communities. The chapter worked with local partners to construct a medical clinic in a used shipping container. The container is currently in transit to Africa, where it will be used to serve people in a remote area of the continent. 
• Nathan Stout and Jacob Henry of Old Kentucky Home Middle School (Nelson County) placed third in the Power Structural and Technical Systems Division 2 of the National Agriscience Fair.
• Woodford County FFA placed fifth in the nation in the Agricultural Sales Career Development Event. Team members were Carolina Rhea, Carson Probst, Faith Harris and Hunter Davis. Rhea was the fourth highest individual in the event.
• Cole Nichols of Bourbon County placed fifth in the National Agriscience Fair in Social Systems Division 3.
• Riley Hall and Owen Kelly of Nelson County Schools placed fifth in Power, Structural and Technical Systems Division 2 of the National Agriscience Fair.
• McKenzy Neyhouse of Boyle County Middle School placed fifth in Environmental Science Division 1 of the National Agriscience Fair.
• Mollie Webb of Barren County placed sixth in the nation in the Employment Skills Leadership Development event.
• Isabella Smith and Laurel Ann Mousty of Old Kentucky Home Middle School placed sixth in Social Systems Division 2 of the National Agriscience Fair.
• Peyton Ervin and Neveah Ford of Nelson County Schools placed sixth in Plant Systems Division 6 of the National Agriscience Fair.
• Christian Ashby and Warren Zabenco of Nelson County Schools placed sixth in Environmental Science Division 6 of the National Agriscience Fair.
• Spencer County FFA placed seventh in the nation in the Nursey Career Development Event. Team members were Haley Goodlett, Tegan Buckman, Madilyn Hood, and Sierra Martin. Goodlett ranked ninth place in individual competition in the event.
• Addisyn Cull and Hunter Carney of Nelson County Schools placed seventh in Animal Science Division 6 of the National Agriscience Fair.
• Brayden Downs and Austin Goodpaster of Nelson County Schools placed seventh in Environmental Science Division 4 of the National Agriscience Fair.
• Madison Douglas and Addyson Wood of Taylor County placed ninth in Social Systems Division 6 of the National Agriscience Fair.
• Three Kentucky FFA members were selected as national proficiency award finalists in their respective areas, meaning they were in the top four nationally. Proficiency awards are based on a written application detailing the student’s accomplishments and learning related to their Supervised Agricultural Experience Program. Finalists were:
  • Samuel Carsen Thompson, Green County, Agricultural Mechanics Repair and Maintenance Entrepreneurship;
  • Jeffrey Sprowles, Taylor County, Fiber and Oil Crop Production; and
  • Tony Ritchie, Anderson County, Landscape Management.
• Joe Fritsch of Bourbon County represented Kentucky in the National FFA Talent Contest.
• Shelby Hillebrandt of Carroll County represented Kentucky in the National FFA Band.

The following teams and individuals competed in National Career Development and Leadership Development Events:

Rankings in National Career and Leadership Development Events

The American FFA Degree, the highest award the organization can bestow on a member, was awarded to 127 Kentucky FFA members.

Eighteen Kentucky FFA chapters were recognized in the National Chapter Contest.

• Anderson County, Clark County, Grant County, Henderson County, Lynn Camp, Madisonville North Hopkins, Menifee County, Rockcastle County, Spencer County and Taylor County were recognized as National Three Star Chapters.
• Caldwell County, Carlisle County, Fleming County, Graves County, Harrison County, LaRue County and Locust Trace were recognized as National Two Star Chapters.
• Hopkins County Central was recognized as a National One Star Chapter.

A complete listing of national convention winners are available on the 97th National FFA Convention and Expo website.

For additional Information, email Matt Chaliff, executive secretary, or call him at (502) 564-3472.