BOONE, Iowa—33 members of the Boone A&M FFA Chapter at Boone High School attended the 97th Iowa FFA State Leadership Conference held at Iowa State University on April 14-15, 2025. Students competed in leadership and career development events, attended workshops, explored career and college opportunities, and attended the convention sessions hearing from keynote speakers along with state and national FFA officers. FFA members Trent Eckard and Ethan Muhlenburg served as the chapter’s voting delegates for the Iowa FFA Association Business Session. Results from the competitions include:

State Qualifying Leadership Development Events includes events that require the individual or team to advance from the sub-district and district level to compete against the top 12 FFA Chapters from across the state of Iowa. 

• Ag Sales LDE (Silver Rating) – Wyatt Herrstom
• Chapter Program LDE (Silver Rating)  – Jenna Johnson, Ashlyn Lovig, Madilyn Barrett 
• Experience the Action LDE (Bronze Rating)  – Emma Wiebold, Halle Johnson, Tommy Williams, Matthew Fitzgerald, Riley Stolte, Brody McNace, Brayleigh Haglund, Owen Hill, Tala Wittrock

State Career Development Events beginning at the state level.

• Greenhand Knowledge Quiz: Matthew Fitzgerald, 3rd place in the state (over 300 contestants)
• Greenhand Knowledge Quiz (Gold Rating) – Halle Johnson
• Chapter Knowledge Quiz (Bronze Rating) – Ethan Ward
• Farm Business Management CDE (Bronze Rating) – Levi Behn, Delaney Good, Henderson Gustafson, Jenna Johnson
• Marketing Plan CDE (Silver Rating) – Gavin Niles, Mackenzie Sego, Katelyn Walters, and Kalvin Holman
• Poultry Evaluation CDE (Bronze Rating) – Caitlin Needham, Grace Merriam, Izzy Majors, Jennifer LaMar

Additionally, a new Spanish FFA Creed Speaking invitational event was held for the first time at the State FFA Convention.  Freshman Hector Garcia Palacios earned 3rd place.

To close out the convention, five members received their Iowa FFA Degree.  This is the highest level of membership a student can receive from their state association.  Recipients included: Delaney Good, Henderson Gustafson, Kalvin Holman, Ashlyn Lovig, and Cooper Naeve

The Boone A&M FFA Chapter is a student organization for students enrolled in agricultural science courses at Boone High School.  The mission of FFA is to make a positive difference in the lives of students by developing their potential for premier leadership, personal growth, and career success through agricultural education.  For more information, visit www.bamffa.org.

Matthew Fitzgerald, 3rd place in the state (over 300 contestants)

Boone A&M FFA Chapter at Boone High School attended the 97th Iowa FFA State Leadership Conference held at Iowa State University on April 14th – 15th

Kalvin Holman, Delaney Good, Ashlyn Lovig, Cooper Naeve, and Henderson Gustafson recipients of their Iowa FFA Degree.

(contributed press release and photos courtesy Boone A&M FFA)