East Knox FFA members compete, learn and celebrate at National FFA Convention

Twenty-one students attended workshops, tours and keynote sessions in Indianapolis, with the chapter’s Forestry and Nursery/Landscape teams finishing 14th and 18th in the nation.

East Knox FFA members at the National FFA Convention outside of Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis. Members are, first row, from left, John Chadwick, Brayden Moran, Alexia Wine, Ava Page, Joey Lively; second row, Breidyn Burch, AJ Salmons, Mackenzie Wilson, Nealie Oliver, Jasmine Smith, Ariana Talbott, and Rhyan Williams; third row, Hayden Garman, Will Stokes, Marcus Dunn, Keaton Spence, and Madisyn Frost; and fourth row, Curtis Divan, Dylan Springer, Aiden Kapper, and Hayden Baker.

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Published November 14, 2025 - 9:00 a.m. Modified November 19, 2025 - 9:29 a.m.

Twenty-one members of the East Knox FFA recently attended the 98th annual National FFA Convention held Oct. 29-Nov. 1, at Lucas Oil Stadium, Indianapolis Convention Center, and Gainbridge Fieldhouse in downtown Indianapolis, Indiana, where they attended sessions, received awards, listened to motivational speakers, attended workshops, and took tours.

The opening session was highlighted by the National FFA Officers, who chaired the session. The keynote speaker was A’ric Jackson, who is a top-rated leadership speaker. His mission is to teach, inspire, and encourage all those who hear him, and to take the challenge of helping others pursue their goals and dreams. Jackson has served as a leadership speaker for many student organizations.

The National FFA Officers each gave their retiring addresses at various sessions, including National Secretary Luke Jennings, who is from Ohio. The six new 2025-26 national officers were announced at the final session on Saturday, November 1, with Trey Meyers from Oklahoma elected as national president.

In addition to attending convention sessions and the trade show, the members attended the Ella Langley concert at the Gainbridge Fieldhouse in downtown Indianapolis and the Three Hills Rodeo at the Indiana State Fairgrounds.

The East Knox FFA state-winning Forestry team competed on Wednesday at Morgan-Monroe State Forest south of Indianapolis and attended their awards ceremony on Thursday at the Indiana Convention Center, where they learned that they placed 14th in the nation. The state-winning Nursery/Landscape team also represented Ohio in the national career development event on Wednesday at the Indiana State Fairgrounds and found out in their awards ceremony on Thursday that they finished 18th nationally.

The National FFA Convention had over 73,000 FFA members, parents, and guests in attendance, marking a new attendance record. The National FFA Convention provides FFA members the opportunity to reach the goals of the National FFA Mission Statement, which is to provide premier leadership, personal growth, and career success through agricultural education.