By Ben Bowling
State convention was a great experience for the Fairfax FFA members and left many kids speechless from amazing speakers, outstanding talent from the choir and kids performing in talent. The state convention was held April 25-26, 2019, in Columbia, Missouri.
Our chapter had many members that went to state convention. This includes Max Hopkins, Tyler Brown, Zach Garrison, Shelbey Morris, Ben Bowling, Trey Bowling, Morgan O’Riley, Jaelynn Hill, McKenzie Frohn, Wyatt Burke, Jaycee Graves, Jesse Graves, Gena Mitchell, Eric Gilpin, Tony Skeen III, Jaecey Hill, Haley Palmer, and Reagan Crowley. The greenhands who attended helped out in courtesy corps by making sure that backstage at state convention was running smoothly and patrolling areas. Members Morgan O’Riley and Zach Garrison served as delegates that helped vote on the issues in the FFA at the official state meeting.
Dairy food members Shelbey Morris, Trey Bowling, Wyatt Burke, and Ben Bowling competed at the state level in the Dairy Foods Contest, where they received a Group II rating.
Jaycee Graves was the Area 1 winner for Beef Production Ownership.
Jesse Graves was the Area 1 winner for Ag Production.
Max Hopkins was the state winner for Specialty Animal Production. He will compete at the national level for Specialty Animal Production.
Gena Mitchell, Max Hopkins, and Jaelynn Hill performed with the State FFA Choir.
We also had member McKenzie Frohn sing for state talent at the career show on Friday, April 26, 2019.
“Overall, it was a very successful week and the kids had a lot of fun and were truly inspired from the sessions. The kids are all glad to be back in their hometown, but are ready for the next convention,” said Jeremy Palmer, Fairfax FFA Advisor.
Area 1 winners were Jaycee Graves, top, for Beef Production Ownership, and Jesse Graves, above, for Ag Production.
Gena Mitchell, left, Max Hopkins, center, and Jaelynn Hill, right, performed with the State FFA Choir.
Fairfax FFA members Tyler Brown, left, and Max Hopkins, right, received their State FFA degrees at the 91st Missouri FFA Convention. See page 6 for more news on the Fairfax FFA Chapter.
Hopkins state FFA winner in specialty animal production
Max Hopkins is state winner in specialty animal production proficiency award area. He will compete at the national level for Specialty Animal Production.
Max Hopkins of Fairfax won the Missouri FFA Specialty Animal Production Proficiency Award at the 91st Missouri FFA Convention. Max also earned his State FFA Degree. Hopkins, a senior at Fairfax R-3, is the son of Terry and Lori Hopkins and Robin and Mike Lewis. He is a member of the Fairfax FFA Chapter and his advisor is Jeremy Palmer.
Hopkins’ supervised agricultural experience program consists of 16 bee hives from which he harvests honey. The bees need weekly checkup until September when the honey is extracted. After extraction, he bottles the product and sells it locally.
As an FFA member, Hopkins has attended the National FFA Convention & Expo and the Missouri FFA Convention where he participated in the agronomy and FFA knowledge career development events and served as a delegate. In addition to FFA, Hopkins is a member of Student Council, High Step, Fairfax High School Choir, and the baseball team. He also serves as a volunteer fireman.
After graduation, Hopkins’ plans include attending college and continuing to grow his honeybee business. Proficiency awards recognize FFA members who excel as agricultural entrepreneurs, employees or volunteers while gaining hands-on career experience. Specialty Animal Production is one of 48 proficiency award areas recognized at the state level. Stoddard County Seed and Feed sponsored this award.
The Missouri FFA has 25,375 members representing 347 chapters. The national organization has more than 669,000 members representing 8,630 chapters in all 50 states, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands.
The FFA makes a positive difference in the lives of students by developing their potential for premier leadership, personal growth and career success through agricultural education.
