April 15, 2024
Rutherford County Schools
The 96th Annual Tennessee FFA State Convention was held in Gatlinburg, Tennessee March 24-27, 2024. Rutherford County brought home the following honors:
Retiring State FFA President and Treasurer: Ella Hasty of Stewarts Creek and Hannah Harrell of Oakland High School retired from the 2023-2024 State FFA Office. Hasty and Harrell were part of an all-girl state officer team, this was only the third time in history women have comprised the entire state officer team.
Oakland: Agriculture Issues State Champions: Team members are Lily Amstutz, Annabelle Alexis, Abby DeBerry, Anna Grace Wells, Kyra Kleparek, Emma Millican, and Julian Floyd.
Participants in the Agricultural Issues Forum Leadership Development Event research the pros and cons of an agricultural issue and present their findings to a panel of judges. Students demonstrate through portfolio, presentation and questioning an understanding of the principles and fundamentals of agricultural issue analysis.
Oakland: Bull Pen Challenge State Champions: Team members are Annabeth Cruz and Madalyn Meadors. In this contest, students are tasked with creating a unique product or service that will positively impact the Tennessee agriculture economy. The Bull Pen Challenge is designed to encourage students to foster their entrepreneurial spirit and creativity for the betterment of agriculture.
Riverdale: Creed Speaking State Champion: Paige Jones. The Creed Speaking Leadership Development Event recognizes outstanding FFA members in seventh through ninth grades for their ability to present the National FFA Creed from memory and answer questions related to it.
Riverdale: Floriculture State Champions: Team members are Dorique Insisienmay, Amira Horsley, Kaitlyn Robichaud, and Ashley Gum. The Floriculture Career Development Event requires students to identify plants, judge flower arrangements and solve problems. Participants also demonstrate skills in flower arranging, propagation and the preparation of floral and foliage products for sale.
Stewarts Creek: Cooperative Development Challenge State Champions: Team members are Ty Hall, Tristen Hall, Will Hasty, Kasen Miller and Tyler Sallee. Participants in the Cooperative Development Challenge Career Development Event created a cooperative based on the seven basic principles of cooperatives. Students created a cooperative based off our pig show team and titled it Stewarts Creek Premium Piggery.
Proficiency State Champions:
Oakland: Ashton Reed in Forage Production Placement
Stewarts Creek: Kendall Beard in Service Learning; Karlee Dunn in Agriscience Plant Research
Agricultural Proficiency Awards honor FFA members who, through supervised agricultural experiences, have developed specialized skills that they can apply toward their future careers.
Agriscience Fair State Champions:
Oakland: Social Sciences, Emma Goff; in Environmental Systems, Ezra Hall; and in Power, Structure, and Technical Systems, Lily Amstutz
Stewarts Creek: In Plant Systems, Karlee Dunn and Harley Huber; in Food Systems, Daniel Light
The State FFA Agriscience Fair recognizes students who gain real-world, hands-on experiences in agricultural enterprises. Students use scientific principles and emerging technologies to solve complex problems related to agriculture, food, and natural resources.
Additional state competitors and accomplishments are listed below:
State Degree Recipients:
Blackman: Madelyn Searcy, McKenzie McCormick, Matthew Sanchez, Alexis Foster, TyQueria Benford and not pictured Jolie Counts
Eagleville: Justin Dennis, Cooper Smith, Cason Lamb, Shelbie Songer, Cris Pena Perez, Shelby Mooneyham, Ella Whaley, Eliza McClaran, John Mullins, Holly Parks, and Calli Beth Schlick
Oakland: Anna Grace Wells, Kyra Kleparek, Emma Markos, and Savannah Dartt
Riverdale: Casen Rooker, Kaitlyn Robichaud, Shelby Hayes, Ashley Gum, Rhianna Mitchell, and Sophi Pierce
Rockvale: Karlee Edgens
Siegel: Carter Hazlett
Smyrna: Mallory Sweeney
Stewarts Creek: Kendall Beard, Trevor Culbertson, Landon Lee, Harley Huber, Megan James, Brett Mann, Anthony Knox, Braxton Dedmon, Daniel Light, and Cameron Myers
FFA Scholarship:
Eagleville: Holly Parks received the $500 Kenneth K. Mitchell Alumni Scholarship.
State Officer Candidates:
Blackman: Matthew Sanchez
Riverdale: Casen Rooker
Stewarts Creek: Kendall Beard
Casen, Matthew, and Kendall competed in a rigorous state officer election process including: knowledge test, multiple interviews, letter writing exercise, and group interviews and presentations.
Teach Ag Commitments:
Blackman: Madelyn Searcy
Eagleville: Holly Parks
State Talent Performances:
Oakland: Madelyn Meadors and Julian Floyd
Prepared Speaking:
Oakland: State Runner-Up: Annabelle Alexis
Agriscience Research:
Oakland: State Runner-Up in Plant Science Systems: Kennedy Lewis and Alyssa King
Riverdale: 3rd in Animal Science Division 4: Addy Krantz and Avery Thigpen
Stewarts Creek: 3rd in Social Systems: Kasen Miller; 5th in Plant Systems: Kendall Beard
Proficiency Awards:
Stewarts Creek: Ariana Mota: State Finalist in Outdoor Recreation
Environmental and Natural Resource Management:
Oakland: 3rd Place: Kyra Kleparek, Sarah Wheaton, Annabelle Alexis, and Abby DeBerry
Siegel: 13th Place: Wesley Frantz, Jackson Campbell, Jacob McClain, and Addison Tuck
Riverdale: 20th Place: Jeremiah Haney, Bayleigh Dean, Rhianna Mitchell, Destiny Wilkerson, and Charles Taylor
Eagleville: Participants: Cole Flower, Lane Taylor, Bauer Burch, and Grant Cooper
Stewarts Creek: Participants: Annabella Anthony, Eli Dunn, Gage Bergstresser, and Brett Mann
Food Science:
Oakland: 4th Place: Sarah Bueche, Zoey Duong, Sophie Markos, Chloe Stanley, and Lila Wells
Riverdale: 6th Place: Kaitlyn Robichaud, Ashley Gum, Gavin Johnson, and Sophia Clifton
Stewarts Creek: 15th Place: Jaylyn Dearsman, Anthony Knox, Brady Lee, and Josie Blanks
Eagleville: Participants: Abbie Ricks, Ella Whaley, Shelby Songer, and Caroline Leonard
Agronomy:
Riverdale: 15th Place: Shelby Hayes, Leini Liljestrand, Bayleigh Dean, and Sidney Stonebarger
Eagleville: Participants: Grayson Smith, Grant Cooper, Addison Martin, and Jett Murphy
Bull Pen:
Stewarts Creek: 3rd Place: Cameron Myers and Megan James
Riverdale: 16th Place: Cordell Leonard and Kaylee Carmouche
Quiz Bowl:
Riverdale: 7th Place: Connor Copley, Alaina Hill, Mary Vargas-Alvarez, Kody Ivsich, and Casen Rooker
Oakland: 23rd Place: Clatyn Dearden, Jada Eskinde, Bella Brandon, and Kenzie McCoy
Siegel: 43rd Place: Anna Walters, Kendall Lively, Avery Swayze, and Mason Barbarino
Rockvale: Participants: Karlee Edgens, Caleb Limpert, Sidnee Smith, Elijah Rae
Eagleville: Participants: Cole Flowers, Abigail Rakes, Layla Denton, and Jameson Spann
Stewarts Creek: Participants: Hannah Barlow, Catherine Denton, McKenna Whitesman, and Riley Van der Woude
Farm Business Management:
Stewarts Creek: 18th Place: Ari Mota, Daniel Light and Monica Andrade
Siegel: 23rd Place: Brooklyn Bern, Ava Eli, Brianne McQuillan, and Tristen Oliver.
Eagleville: Participants: Eliza McClaran, Chevelle Cain, Ella Lee, and Ames Bryant
Milk Quality and Products:
Stewarts Creek: 9th Place: Baylee Davis, Karlee Dunn, Harley Huber, and Trevor Culbertson
Eagleville: Participants: Jett Murphy, Beau Parish, Alli Grace Jackson, and Sophie Lamb
Cooperative Development Challenge:
Eagleville: Participants: Addison Martin, Sarah Marshall, Gracie Hancock, and Skilar Burch
Chapter Awards:
National Chapter
- Oakland: 3-Star
- Stewarts Creek: 3-Star
- Eagleville: 1-Star
Superior Chapter
- Oakland
- Riverdale
- Rockvale
- Siegel
- Eagleville
- Stewarts Creek
10% Membership Increase
- Riverdale
- Rockvale
- Siegel
- Blackman
- Eagleville
Passing Literacy On Ward (PLOW) Award
- Oakland: Platinum
- Stewarts Creek: Platinum
- Riverdale: Gold
- Siegel: Gold
- Eagleville: Gold
- Smyrna: Bronze