Pictured (from top left to top right) are Carter Boyd and the new 2024-25 state officer team. Next is LeeAnn Vance, Brayden Lane, Alex Mclarren, and teacher Mr. Pollman for the ag mechanics team. Pictured from middle left is the Hillsboro FFA Chapter at the Columbus Zoo, and middle right is Riley Collins receiving the chapter check from Sunrise Cooperative. Pictured on the bottom left is the Hillsboro FFA Chapter at the state convention and on the bottom right is Carter Boyd, Halle Jones, Blake Herdman, Emma Yochum, Addy Knauff, Dalayna Collins, LeeAnn Vance, Presley Blankenship, Corbin Winkle and Brayden Lane.
Submitted photo
On May 2-3, a fraction of students from the Hillsboro FFA Chapter attended the 96th Ohio State Convention in Columbus. Through the secession they watched members of their chapter and other chapters be rewarded with different degrees and recognitions.
On May 2 they attended the first session of the state convention and watched Hillsboro FFA member Riley Collins be recognized as a Rise Program recipient for Sunrise Cooperative. Collins was awarded with a $500 check that will be received by the FFA chapter. After she received her reward, the members had the chance to listen to Krista Simpson Anderson as she described her life as a military wife of a fallen soldier, and how she overcame that hardship. Then they listened as Carter Boyd was slated for state vice president for 2024-25 state officer team.
During the first session LeeAnn Vance, Brayden Lane and Alex Mclarren represented the Hillsboro FFA Chapter for the Ag Mechanics Engineering Team CDE competing with other chapters by making and building a structure. After finishing the first session the members got to spend time with each other as they ate lunch at a restaurant in Columbus. For the remainder of the day the chapter spent three hours at the Columbus Zoo. During this adventure they got to walk around and look at all the fun animals that the zoo offers. This included most of the members hanging out in Sting Ray Bay, looking at the cool lion as it paced around the enclosure, and watching the pink flamingos prance in the grass.
Then the members finished their time at the zoo gift shop and made their way back home to get ready for the last day of the state convention.
On May 3, some members attended the last day of the 96th state convention. During the fourth session, which began in the morning, the members cheered Riley Collins on as she was awarded for her gold-rated book as reporter. They also cheered on Reagan Estes as she was awarded for her gold-rated book for secretary and then cheered on Ramsey Haines as she was awarded for her gold-rated treasures book.
After they finished getting pictures as a chapter with these awards, the members were given the opportunity to walk around in the Expo Center to shop and look at the career center. After finishing shopping they loaded the bus to enjoy having lunch at Raising Canes.
When they got back to convention, they watched Presley Blankenship, Carter Boyd, Dalayna Collins, Kailyn Greer, Blake Herdman, Halle Jones, Addy Knauff, Brayden Lane, LeeAnn Vance, Corbin Winkle and Emma Yochum receive their state degrees. To be awarded with the state degree the recipients had to generate $2,500 dollars from their SAE project, have updated records on their project, participate in at least 24 hours of community service, and many other requirements.
Finishing the last day of the state convention, they watched Carter Boyd receive state vice president for the State FFA Officer Team in 2024-25. The chapter had an amazing time at the 96th state convention and can’t wait to attend next year.
Submitted by Dalayna Collins, Hillsboro FFA student advisor.
