06/18/2026
The Connersville FFA Chapter demonstrated exceptional leadership, academic skill, and community dedication at the 97th Annual Indiana FFA State Convention, held this week at Hamilton Southeastern High School and The Arena in Fishers, IN. Over four days of rigorous competition, interviews, and leadership workshops, Connersville students secured multiple state titles and top-tier rankings.
The convention kicked off on Monday, June 15, with 13 Connersville High School students arriving to compete in high-stakes leadership and scientific research areas.
Among the opening day events was Agriscience Fair, a competition where students apply scientific and research principles and emerging technologies to solve agricultural problems through hands-on research projects. Connersville’s formidable research lineup included:
* Animals Division 3: Rayna Heady
* Environmental Division 3: Peyton Chambers
* Environmental Division 4: Kenzie Meyers and Jaxson Harvey; Emmett Nobbe and Evan Nobbe
* Environmental Division 5: Peyton Gabbard
* Foods Division 3: Cora Nobbe
* Plants Division 5: Kyndal Scott
* Agriculture Power Division 3: Payton Dice
Meanwhile, Kyndal Scott represented the chapter in Extemporaneous Public Speaking—a challenging contest where participants are given a premier agricultural topic and just 30 minutes to prepare a four-to-six-minute speech. After winning first place at the District 9 FFA Convention, Scott advanced to compete for a coveted Top 4 spot in the state.
Monday also featured the highly anticipated Model of Excellence Award Interview. The National Chapter Award program recognizes the top FFA chapters in the state that actively implement the organization's mission. Chapters that excel in a specific category are eligible to become a Model of Excellence Chapter. Connersville delegates Michael Haldeman, Lorelei Hughes, and Cora Nobbe participated in the rigorous interview process aiming for the top spot in the state in the Strengthening Agriculture area.
Tuesday: Skills put to the Test
On Tuesday, June 16, 13 additional Connersville students joined the group to participate in two Career Development Events (CDEs):
* Veterinary Science CDE: A competition that tests students' knowledge of veterinary medicine, including identification of breeds, medical tools, and parasites, alongside practical clinical and handling skills.
* Participants: Alexa Bischoff, Peyton Chambers, Shade Crabtree, Chloe Free, Rayna Heady, Lorelei Hughes, Emma Johnson, and Cora Nobbe.
* Agricultural Sales CDE: An event where students build skills in professional selling, marketing, and customer relations by presenting and selling an agricultural product to judges.
* Participants: Wyatt Bohlander, Michael Haldeman, Ella Huffman, Avery Morgan, Ida Pfeiffer, Kami Scott, Kyndal Scott, and Jill Smith.
On Wednesday, the full group of 26 students participated in professional development sessions and received awards on stage at The Arena at Innovation Mile.
The day brought historic news during the District Elections. The delegation voted on and approved a landmark decision to redistrict Indiana FFA. As a result, Connersville FFA will officially transition from District 9 to the newly formed District 14. Michael Haldeman was officially approved through the slate as District President, and Cora Nobbe was approved as District Treasurer for the upcoming school year.
Individual student achievements shone brightly during the State Proficiency Awards, which honor FFA members who have developed specialized skills through their Supervised Agricultural Experiences (SAEs):
* Agriculture Education: Lorelei Hughes – 4th Place
* Beef Production Entrepreneurship: Hayden Steele – 3rd Place
* Fruit and Nut Production: Cora Nobbe – 1st Place
* Wildlife Production and Management: Kenzie Meyers – 2nd Place
Wednesday’s session concluded with seven Connersville members receiving the prestigious Hoosier FFA Degree. As the highest honor the Indiana FFA Association can bestow upon its members, recipients must meet strict criteria, including earning and productively investing at least $1,250 or working 300 hours in their SAE, completing 25 hours of community service, and demonstrating outstanding leadership abilities.
* Recipients: Khloe Cockerham, Michael Haldeman, Lorelei Hughes, Ida Pfeiffer, Sam Scholl, Kyndal Scott, and Kinze Vanmeter.
The convention concluded on Thursday, June 18, with Connersville taking center stage during the final awards session.
In the Agriscience Fair Results, where only first place is awarded, Connersville dominated with three state championships:
* Environmental Services/Natural Resources (Division 4): Jaxson Harvey and Kenzie Meyers – 1st Place
* Environmental Services/Natural Resources (Division 5): Peyton Gabbard – 1st Place
* Food Products and Processing (Division 3): Cora Nobbe – 1st Place
The chapter also excelled in the Living to Serve Grant applications, written by Hayden Steele and Kyndal Scott. This program rewards chapters for planning and executing community service initiatives that impact local health, safety, and community awareness.
* Community Service: Their "Farmer’s Appreciation" initiative where over 200 meals were handed out to workers in production agriculture placed 10th in the state.
* Safety: Their application for "Ag Day," which teaches Fayette County 5th graders about consumerism, production, and safety, placed 6th in Indiana.
* Healthy Lifestyles: Their application for the local "Ag Olympics" placed 4th in the state. Earning the chapter $200 towards running the event this year.
Community Note: The award-winning Ag Olympics will be held on Sunday, July 26th from 6:00-9:00 PM in the Memorial Showplace Arena at the Fayette County Fairgrounds. The event is free for participants aged 3–12, featuring a pedal pull for ages 3–7 and active games for ages 8–12. Registration is open from 4:00-6:00 PM. Current or incoming FFA members and agriculture students are highly encouraged to attend or volunteer.
Elite Chapter Status
To cap off the week, Connersville FFA achieved the ultimate organizational recognition. The chapter was officially named a Big Ten Chapter for 2026, ranking them among the top 10 best FFA chapters across the entire state of Indiana. This honor was based on a comprehensive application written by the 2025-2026 Connersville FFA officer team.
Connersville was officially crowned a Model of Excellence Chapter in the Strengthening Agriculture area, solidifying their spot in the state's Top 4.
This elite ranking was propelled by five cornerstone community programs organized by the chapter:
1. Roots and Records: A day celebrating Connersville FFA history with members, alumni, and supporters at the Fayette County Historical Museum.
2. Middle School Recruitment Day: High school members visiting Connersville Middle School to lead hands-on activities and promote agriculture classes.
3. Animal Shelter Volunteer Day: Animal Science students applying classroom caretaking and safety knowledge to volunteer at the Fayette County Animal Shelter.
4. Agriculture Advocacy Day: Upperclassmen traveling to the Indiana Statehouse to learn how to advocate for agricultural policy and laws.
5. Ag Day: An expansive educational event teaching local fifth-graders about safety, animal husbandry, and crop production.
Following the interview on Monday, Connersville was awarded the Top Chapter in Indiana in Strengthening Agriculture.
Connersville FFA’s time at the state convention cements the chapter's legacy as a powerhouse of academic excellence, leadership, and community impact.
