04/26/2026
ECI FFA had an incredible experience attending the 98th State FFA Convention held April 23–25!
To kick off the week, Clay Lawrence competed in the Extemporaneous Speaking LDE. While he did not place in the top four, he gained valuable knowledge and real-world experience speaking on current agricultural issues—an opportunity that will continue to benefit him moving forward.
The following day, the rest of the group joined convention activities, where members attended sessions, explored the career show, met new friends, and experienced all that FFA has to offer. Several of our members also had the honor of serving as voting delegates.
Amelia Meadows worked at the career show for the Georgia National Fair as a GNF Livestock Ambassador.
Clay Lawrence had a standout week, earning the Georgia State Star in Agricultural Placement—one of the highest honors in FFA. This award recognizes the top student in the state for their supervised agricultural experience placement, highlighting outstanding work ethic, leadership, and dedication in a real-world agricultural job. Out of thousands of members, only four State Star awards are given each year, making this an extremely prestigious accomplishment.
In addition, Clay was named the winner of the Diversified Agricultural Production Proficiency Award. This proficiency will now advance to national judging, which takes place in Indianapolis, Indiana during the National FFA Convention in October—an exciting opportunity to compete at the highest level. He is currently employed with Meeks Farm and Nursery while also managing his own part-time agricultural ventures. Clay was also awarded the Washington Leadership Conference Scholarship, earning him an all-expense-paid trip to further develop his leadership skills. To top it off, he earned his State FFA Degree—another major milestone.
A special thank you to Mr. Steve Meeks and Mrs. Nancy Meeks for attending the awards session and supporting Clay as he received the State Star honor.
Our group also enjoyed fellowship with students from Swainsboro High School and Swainsboro Middle School, making the experience even more memorable.
The highlight of the entire trip was watching Clay Lawrence be elected as the 2026–2027 Georgia FFA State President. We could not be more proud of his accomplishments and the leadership he will bring to our state.
A huge thank you to Amerson Towing and Amerson Used Cars and Salvage for generously sponsoring lunch for all Emanuel County FFA members, helping offset the cost of attending convention.
FFA members attending (left to right): Clay Lawrence, Amelia Meadows, Hoyt Lawrence, Dylan Akridge, Addi Harrison, Brylie Greenway, Livi Rogers, and Pearl Meadows.
We are so proud of each of these students and the way they represented ECI FFA!
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