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Nine Georgia students win national FFA awards

Posted on Nov 04, 2026 at 14:45 PM

The Georgia FFA Association’s success at the 99th National FFA Convention in Indianapolis was highlighted by nine national champions. Among Georgia’s national winners were five national proficiency award winners, two national Career Development Event (CDE) and Leadership Development Event (LDE) winners, a national agriscience fair winning team, and the national winner of the Middle School Models of Excellence.

Addie Winchester of Hawkinsville (Service Learning), Clay Lawrence of Emanuel County Institute (Diversified Agricultural Production), Isabelle Williams of Madison County (Diversified Livestock Production), Adileigh Rountree of Screven County (Goat Production), and Jonah Deming of White County (Nursery Operations) were each named national FFA proficiency award winners for success in their Supervised Agricultural Experience (SAE) programs.

Only four students in the nation are named National Finalists in each of 45 proficiency areas. Georgia had 17 national proficiency award finalists and five proficiency winners. 

Two Georgia chapters earned 1st place finishes in national Career/Leadership Development Events at the convention.

Georgia CDE/LDE success was highlighted by the following individuals and chapters: Camille Anderson, Jonathan Crews, Sierra Edwards, and Kaleb Crawford of Brantley County (Forestry CDE) and Luke Wheatley, Luke Maxwell, Ty Miller, and Mark Grier of Banks County (Agricultural Technology and Mechanical Systems CDE).

Georgia’s other top-five finishers in CDE/LDEs include Emily Griffin, Josie Herren, Maddox Lane, and Kyleigh Williams of Berrien County (5th place – Floriculture CDE), Joseph Thompson, Carter Johnson, Boss Malcom, and Autumn Smith of Mary Persons (3rd place – Nursery/Landscape CDE), Jabe Andrews, Catie Cochran, Logan Ferguson, and Eli Castonguay of Banks County (4th place – Environmental/ Natural Resources CDE), Hayden Roland, Alexa Martinez-Avilla, Tyler Gay, & Davis Waters of Oconee County (4th place – Poultry Evaluation CDE), Aubri Menard of Jackson Empower (4th place – Employment Skills LDE), José Gomez of Ware County (2nd place – Agricultural Education), and Christopher Tejada-Giron of Barrow Arts & Sciences Academy (2nd place – Spanish Creed). 

Alongside the other national winners, two students, Iris McHaggee and Johannah Monson of the Rome FFA chapter, were recognized as champions in Division 4 of the Power, Structure, and Technical Systems category of the national Agriscience Fair.

Georgia FFA had three runners-up in the fair including Landon Serritt and Sara Pass of Calhoun City (Social Systems – Division 4), Naimah Nemorin and Trent Ferguson of Calhoun City (Food Products & Processing – Division 6), and James Wise of Tift County (Plant Systems – Division 5).

Georgia FFA had 15 agriscience fair projects placing in the top five of their division.

The National Chapter Award Program is designed to recognize FFA chapters that actively implement the mission and strategies of the organization. Youth Middle School of Walton County was named the national winner of the Middle School Models of Excellence. Commerce Middle was a finalist in the Middle School Models of Excellence division, along with being finalists in the Growing Leaders division of the Premier Chapter award category. 

Thirty-four Georgia chapters received a national 3-Star ranking, the highest ranking offered in the National Chapter Award program. Georgia’s 3-Star chapters are Berrien County, Camden County, Central of Carroll, Cherokee County, Commerce Middle, Creekview, Early County, Effingham County, Franklin County, Franklin County Middle, Fullington Academy, Hawkinsville, Heritage Middle, Jackson-Empower, Jefferson City, Lafayette, Liberty County, Madison County, Malcom Bridge Middle, Morgan County Middle, Newton College and Career Academy, Northside Middle, Oglethorpe County, Peach County, Putnam County, Rabun County, Screven County, Seminole County, Social Circle, South Effingham, Sumter County, Walnut Grove, Winder-Barrow, and Youth Middle.

Four Georgia FFA members performed as a part of the National FFA Band, Chorus, and Talent program, which features musically talented FFA members from across the nation who showcase their skills throughout general sessions, luncheons, and other events throughout convention. John Crapps of Swainsboro represented Georgia in the National FFA Band. Georgia FFA members who performed as talent participants include Isabella Hartline of Paulding County, and Remington Boswell and Rex Allen of Oglethorpe County.

A total of 159 Georgia FFA members received the prestigious American FFA Degree, the highest degree offered to an active member. These students spent years developing their Supervised Agricultural Experience (SAE) programs to reach this honor. Less than 1% of FFA members receive the prestigious American FFA Degree. To see a complete list of Georgia’s 2026 American FFA Degree recipients, visit https://gfb.ag/GAFFAAmericanDegree26.

Eight Georgians received the Honorary American FFA Degree for their outstanding contribution to Agricultural Education and the FFA. Georgia’s recipients of the Honorary Degree included: David Bushey, Jessica Fife, Beth Golden, Sen. Russ Goodman, Rep. Matt Hatchett, Allen Miles, Dorothy Miles, Eric Sellers, Donnie Warren, and Troy Windham. A complete set of results and a variety of highlights from the 99th National FFA Convention can be found at www.georgiaffa.org/NationalFFAConvention.

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