California FFA receives Top Chapter Award and Strengthening Agriculture Award

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COLUMBIA, Mo., April 23, 2025—The Missouri FFA Association awarded the California FFA Chapter a Gold Emblem and a Top Chapter Award. California placed second out of 365 chapters and is the Model of Innovation in Strengthening Agriculture. Only 10 percent of state chapters receive a top chapter designation annually.

The National Chapter Award Program recognizes FFA chapters that actively implement the organization’s mission and strategies. Chapters improve operations using the National Quality Chapter Standards and a Program of Activities emphasizing growing leaders, building communities, and strengthening agriculture. Chapters are rewarded for providing educational experiences for the entire membership. FCS Financial sponsors this award. The California FFA advisors are Adam Bieri, Dale Hodges, Gary Reichel, and Gary Morris.

The California FFA hosted events including Seed to Harvest Day, where members harvested and shelled one acre of field corn and chopped and wrapped one and half acres of silage bales, Operation Giving Attention to Veterans Everywhere where the chapter hosts a veterans breakfast; and Livestock Safety Day, where members educated students about safe livestock handling strategies.

The top chapters in Missouri will compete for the National FFA Chapter Award. Winners will be announced this fall at the 98th National FFA Convention & Expo in Indianapolis.

The Missouri FFA has 26,900 members representing 365 chapters. The national organization has more than 1,027,273 members representing 9,235 chapters in all 50 states, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

The FFA makes a positive difference in the lives of students by developing their potential for premier leadership, personal growth and career success through agricultural education.

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