April 13, 2026
By EMILY MARSHALL
Rutherford County Schools
Students from Rutherford County Schools joined nearly 5,000 FFA members from across the state in Gatlinburg for the 98th Tennessee State FFA Convention, held March 22–25, 2026.
Students across the district represented well, competing in events, earning recognition for Supervised Agricultural Experience (SAE) programs and Agriscience Fair projects, and participating in career and leadership development opportunities.
Several chapters were recognized for excellence in programming, literacy, and membership. Blackman, Eagleville, LaVergne, Oakland, Riverdale, Rockvale, Siegel, Smyrna, and Stewarts Creek FFA chapters were all named Superior Chapters, reflecting high-quality programs and strong chapter operations.
Eagleville, Oakland, Riverdale, and Stewarts Creek also earned the prestigious 3-Star National Chapter designation, the highest honor awarded nationally.
Chapters were also recognized for literacy and membership growth. Eagleville, Oakland, Riverdale, Siegel, and Stewarts Creek earned Platinum PLOW Awards, while LaVergne and Smyrna earned Gold PLOW Awards. Oakland and Siegel were also recognized for achieving a 10% Membership Increase, highlighting continued growth.
Tennessee Star in Agriscience: Emma Millican of the Oakland FFA Chapter was named the 2026 Tennessee Star in Agriscience, one of the highest honors awarded at the state level. Over the course of her high school career, Millican developed an extensive, multi-year research-based SAE totaling more than 2,000 hours. Her research, rooted in hands-on agricultural experiences, expanded to include projects evaluating equine calming pastes, analyzing agricultural child labor exemptions, examining FFA’s impact on leadership and career readiness, studying agricultural advocacy at the Tennessee State Fair, and researching public perceptions of U.S. agricultural security. Through surveys, statistical analysis, and thematic coding, Millican earned recognition as a National Agriscience Fair Runner-Up, received $750 in research funding, was awarded a $1,000 scholarship, and will attend the prestigious Star Tour this summer. Her work reflects a strong commitment to applying scientific methods to real-world agricultural challenges.
Tennessee FFA State Office
Students excelled in premier statewide FFA leadership. Eight students are selected annually from a highly competitive pool of state officer candidates to embark on an exciting year of service, leadership, and advocacy alongside seven other teammates. Annabelle Alexis from Oakland FFA was elected to serve as the 2026–2027 Tennessee FFA State Treasurer, where she will play a vital role in leading over 33,000 student members. Throughout her year of service, she will travel throughout the state, visiting FFA chapters, delivering leadership workshops, attending agricultural industry events, and promoting the values of service, leadership, and career readiness. The year is filled with opportunities to inspire students during conferences, camps, conventions, and competitions, helping to develop the next generation of agricultural leaders.
Additionally, State Reporter Ariana Mota (Stewarts Creek FFA), and State Sentinel Sarah Marshall (Eagleville FFA), presided over the sessions and retired from their year of service to Tennessee FFA at the 98th State FFA Convention.
Leadership and Career Development Events
Rutherford County FFA members demonstrated exceptional leadership, communication, critical thinking skills, and career readiness in both Leadership and Career Development Events. These competitions focus on building students’ abilities in public speaking, decision-making, teamwork, and technical skills that are essential for future leaders in agriculture and beyond.
State Champions
- Employment Skills – Emma Millican, Oakland FFA
- Creed Speaking – Mahayla Shirley, Riverdale FFA
- Food Science & Technology – Riverdale FFA: Danna Porras Altamirano, Eriana Bernardo Lopez, Carlos Peña Ochoa, Emma Medina
- Agricultural Issues – Stewarts Creek FFA: Will Hasty, Kasen Miller, Tristen Hall, Ty Hall, Jack Dunn, Cy Hall, Tanner Morris
State Runner-Up
- Extemporaneous Speaking – Abby DeBerry, Oakland FFA
- Agricultural Issues – Oakland FFA: Lila Wells, Devin Weaver, Sam Johnson, Emma Goff, Kennedy Lewis, Kennedy Fann, Brylee Rogers
- Agricultural Sales – Oakland FFA: Abby DeBerry, Brylee Rogers, Annabelle Alexis, Keiston Stewart
- Bull Pen Challenge – Oakland FFA: Lexie Bozman, Keiston Stewart
Finalists
- 3rd Place Agricultural Communications – Riverdale FFA: Bayleigh Dean, Ashetyn Miller, Maryam Osamah, Abigail Carroll
- 4th Place Parliamentary Procedure – Oakland FFA: Kenzie McCoy, Abby DeBerry, Kennedy Lewis, Brylee Rogers, Emma Goff, Annabelle Alexis
- 4th Place Cooperative Development – Eagleville FFA: Leighton Wakefield, Addison Martin, Gracie Hancock, Addison Burns
- 4th Place Environmental & Natural Resources – Oakland FFA: Gabriel Ertl, Gabriel McLean, Sarah Wheaton, Noah Bradford
- 4th High Individual Environmental & Natural Resources – Harleigh Dodson, Blackman FFA
- Creed Speaking Finalist – Siegel FFA: Millie Humphress
- Auctioneering Finalist– Lane Taylor, Eagleville FFA
Agriscience Fair
The Agriscience Fair showcases the innovation, research skills, and scientific inquiry of students who conduct SAE projects based on research. These projects allow students to explore real-world agricultural issues through experimentation, data analysis, and problem-solving, preparing them for careers in agriculture, science, and related fields. Students earned multiple state championships and top placements across a wide range of divisions:
State Champions:
- Food Products & Processing (Division 5) – Emma Goff, Oakland FFA
- Social Science (Division 5) – Emma Millican, Oakland FFA
- Social Science (Division 3) – Mary Redmon, Oakland FFA
- Plant Science (Division 6) – Faith Lin & Zoey Duong, Oakland FFA
- Plant Science (Division 5) – Madison Rich, Oakland FFA
- Plant Science (Division 4) – Addison Brinkley & Sophia Cazare, Oakland FFA
- Social Science (Division 6) – Kennedy Lewis & Abby DeBerry, Oakland FFA
- Animal Science (Division 6) – Sam Johnson & Alyssa King, Oakland FFA
- Environmental Services/Natural Resources (Division 5) – Sarah Wheaton, Oakland FFA
State Runner-Up
- Food Products & Processing (Division 3) – Kayden Gipson, Oakland FFA
- Animal Science (Division 5) – Annabelle Alexis, Oakland FFA
Finalist
- Environmental Services/Natural Resources (Division 5) – Lilynana Gillespie, Blackman FFA
Agricultural Proficiency Awards
The Agricultural Proficiency Awards program recognizes outstanding FFA members who have developed specialized skills through their SAE’s. These hands-on opportunities allow students to explore various career paths in agriculture, including production, agribusiness, communications, and environmental systems.
State Champions
- Agriscience Research Integrated – Emma Millican, Oakland FFA
- Forage Production – Luke Carlton, Oakland FFA
- Nursery Operations – Sarah Marshall, Eagleville FFA
State Finalists
- Dairy Production- Cole Flowers, Eagleville FFA
- Sheep Production- Skilar Burch, Eagleville FFA
- Equine Science- Chevelle Cain, Eagleville FFA
- Swine Entrepreneurship- Tristen Hall, Stewarts Creek FFA
Notable Recognitions: Students across the district were recognized for scholarships, postsecondary commitments, and other leadership engagement. Highlights included:
- Melissa Rose Bratton Memorial Scholarship Recipient – Catherine Denton, Stewarts Creek FFA
- University of Tennessee Farmhouse Scholarship Recipient – Kasen Miller, Stewarts Creek FFA
- Tennessee FFA Foundation Scholarship Recipient – Sarah Marshall, Eagleville FFA
- UTK Agricultural Education Signing – Ashetyn Miller, Riverdale FFA
- Teach Ag Rally Participants – Jade Stanford & Shla Schuster, Siegel FFA
- State FFA Talent - Adeliade Baglin, Blackman FFA
- State FFA Talent - Devin Weaver, Oakland FFA
Tennessee FFA Degree Recipients
The Tennessee FFA State Degree, one of the highest honors a member can earn, was awarded to numerous students who demonstrated outstanding commitment to agricultural education, leadership, and SAE development. Recipients represent the top tier of FFA membership.
- Blackman FFA- Savannah Raymond, Paeyton Sackett, Lilyana Gillespie, Alaina Samikkannu, Ayden Davis, Adeliade Baglin, Harleigh Dodson, Cohen Sims.
- Eagleville FFA- Addison Burns, Chevelle Cain, Grant Cooper, Gracie Hancock, Ashley Herrington, Elijah Leathers, Addison Martin, Jett Murphy, Gabriel Orozco, Madelynne Ricks, Beau Parish, Grayson Smith, Lane Taylor, Natalie Warrick
- LaVergne FFA- Nivea Jackson, Talley Barber, and Sasha Arce
- Oakland FFA- Sarah Bueche, Elizabeth Simon, Madison Rich, Annabelle Alexis, Kenzie McCoy, Rogen Hayes, Andrew Gill, Lexie Bozman, Faith Lin, Ryan Campbell, Sarah Wheaton, Jacob Holmes, Taylor Ellis, Abby DeBerry, Jack Goodman, Keiston Stewart, Emma Millican, Bella Brandon, Colten Pedigo
- Riverdale FFA- Connor Copley, Danna Porras Altamirano, Carlos Peña Ochoa, Emma Medina, Louis Maldonado, Ava Stover, Jeremiah Haney
- Rockvale FFA- Laiela Glielmi, Shelbi LaVergne, Carter Gingrow, Madison Phillips, Abigail Sieber
- Siegel FFA- Jade Stanford, Shyla Schuster
- Smyrna FFA- Alys Bradley, Vanessa Coronado, Bonnie Douglas, Bryleigh Taylor
- Stewarts Creek FFA- Will Hasty, Kasen Miller, Ty Hall, Tristen Hall, Hannah Barlow, Catherine Denton, Tyler Sallee, Jack Dunn, Drew Meyer, Isaac Williamson, Tiffany Trader, Alyssa Robbins, Cooper Lloyd, Kielee Taylor, Mckenna Whitman, Baylee Davis
Honorary Tennessee FFA Degree
Dr. Tyra Pilgrim, Career and Technical Education (CTE) Coordinator, and Brian Lewis, CTE Supervisor, were each awarded the Honorary Tennessee FFA Degree, one of the highest honors presented by the Tennessee FFA Association. This recognition honors individuals who have made a significant impact on agricultural education and the success of FFA programs and students. Under their leadership, agricultural education opportunities in Rutherford County have expanded, empowering FFA students and contributing to the district having the largest number of agricultural educators in Tennessee, a reflection of the program’s strength and intentional growth.
FFA continues to make a positive difference in the lives of young people by developing their potential for premier leadership, personal growth, and career success through agricultural education. With more than one million members nationwide, the National FFA Organization remains the largest student-led organization in the country. To learn more about FFA and its impact, visit www.ffa.org.