INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. — Colquitt County High School FFA proudly sent 16 members and three advisors to represent the chapter at the 91st annual FFA National Convention held Oct. 24-27 in Indianapolis, Indiana.  

For CCHS members to receive the privilege to attend this trip, they must earn their way by either winning a locally sponsored contest, placing first in a state competition and advancing to nationals, or by fulfilling all the requirements to earn the American degree — the highest degree possible to bestow upon an FFA member, which is received by only the top 1 percent of FFA members across the nation each year.  

This year, CCHS FFA members Morgan Hart, Danyela Salas, and Elizabeth Beacham were honored with the American degree after completing numerous requirements set by the National FFA Organization in regards to their Supervised Agricultural Experience project.  

Garrett Griner, son of Keith and Monika Griner, was named the National Champion in FFA Wildlife Production and Management for his work on his family’s quail farm.

Agricultural Proficiencies are based on a student’s Supervised Agricultural Experience Project, which is a project completed at home that is related to agriculture. Among the more than 600,000 FFA members nationwide, all have the opportunity to complete a proficiency project in their specific area, but only four students nationwide are chosen to be finalists in each project area.  

“When a student really takes ownership for their opportunities in the FFA, their possibilities are endless,” FFA adviser Adrienne Smith said. “Garrett is a great example for younger students of what you can do if you stay committed and work hard in FFA.”  

Each of the four finalists received a plaque and $500. Griner received an additional $500 for being named the National Winner.  

Vaidehi Patel competed in the National FFA Employment Skills competition and earned 7th place in the United States at the National Competition. Patel became eligible to compete in the national event after winning the State FFA Employment Skills competition. Vaidehi represented the entire state of Georgia at the National competition and received a $500 cash award for her accomplishment.

Kirk Beacham competed in the National Prepared Public Speaking competition and earned Bronze for his achievement at the National Convention. Beacham became eligible to compete in the national event after winning the State Prepared Public Speaking competition. Beacham represented the entire state of Georgia at the National competition.

Logan Moore, Kaitlyn Hart, Presley Hamilton, and Mary Logan Tostenson comprised the Agricultural Sales Team that competed at the National Agricultural Sales competition at the National FFA Convention. The team became eligible after winning the state competition. They represented the entire state of Georgia and earned fourth place in the nation.

Mitchell Riley, Victoria Barber, and Patti Mitchell comprised the Agricultural Marketing Team that competed at the National Agricultural Marketing competition at the National FFA Convention. The team became eligible after winning the state competition and represented the entire state of Georgia. The team placed  fourth in the nation, each earning $300 for their accomplishment.

The other students who earned a spot on the trip for winning a local contest were John Vance Livingston, Josie Brightwell, Ivey Cooper, Mackenzie Blair, Amber Murphy, Chase Willis, Connor Hart, JoJo Johnson, JT Harbin, and Henry Underwood. The advisors accompanying the trip were Stacey Beacham, Jesse Boland, and Adrienne Smith.