Ten Santa Fe FFA members received their State FFA Degree on April 17 at the 5th general session of the 98th Missouri State FFA Convention in Mizzou Arena in Columbia. This is the highest degree that the Missouri FFA Association can bestow upon its members. This is the new record for the Santa Fe FFA Chapter in the number of State FFA Degree recipients they have had in a year. The previous record was nine. From left: JoHanna Breshears, Kale Dierker, Brilee Dierking, Kaylee Drunert, Ethan Finkeldei, Avy Grado, Brady Graf, Abbi Mueller, Sami Mueller. Not pictured: Keastin Kitchen.
The 98th Missouri FFA Convention was held Wednesday, April 15, to Friday, April 17, at Mizzou Arena in Columbia. Twenty-four Santa Fe FFA members and their Advisor Martha Schreiman attended the event.
At this convention FFA members:
• Elected the 2026-2027 State FFA Officers (including Morgan Nelson of Concordia as Vice President)
• Honored advisors and members of the public for their support of FFA (including Dr. Mitch Holder, who is the Dean of Instruction at North Central Missouri College and was the Director of the Saline County Career Center when Marshall FFA won the National Model of Excellence award.)
• Recognized the top chapters in the state (including the Sweet Springs FFA Chapter)
• Recognized winners in 46 proficiency award areas (including Ethan Finkeldei of Santa Fe, who won the Missouri FFA Nursery Operations Proficiency Award; Ryan Freund of Concordia, who won the Missouri FFA Dairy Production – Placement Proficiency Award; and Benjamin Mason of Higginsville, who won the Missouri FFA Agricultural Mechanics Repair and Maintenance – Entrepreneurship Proficiency Award)
• Students competed in Career Development events and Leadership Development Events
• Recognized the state Stars in Agribusiness, Agriscience, Placement and the State Star Farmer
• Recognized 1,141 State FFA Degree recipients (Including JoHanna Breshears, Kale Dierker, Brilee Dierking, Kaylee Drunert, Ethan Finkeldei, Avy Lizbeth Grado, Brady Graf, Keastin Kitchen, Samantha Mueller and Abigail Mueller of Santa Fe; Nichole Estes, Ryan Freund, Madison Moulton and Morgan Nelson of Concordia; and Blair Bergsieker, Emma Gillilan and Noah Mahnken of Higginsville)
• and more (The Santa Fe FFA Chapter placed 28th for the National Chapter Award)!
Kaylee Drunert (center, back) sang in the State FFA Choir on April 17 during the 5th general session of the 98th Missouri State FFA Convention that was held in Columbia in the Mizzou Arena. Kaylee completed an application and was rated by her choir teacher for her singing ability and was then selected to participate in the State FFA Choir. She practiced with the choir for many hours on the 16th and 17th before performing on the 17th. Kaylee is a multi-year participant in the State FFA Choir. (Submitted photo)Raven Richardson with the plaque that she received from being the Area VI proficiency winner in the area of Agricultural Mechanics Design & Fabrication. Raven received this award at the 98th Missouri State FFA Convention at the 1st general session in the Mizzou Arena. Raven’s SAE is working at Santa Fe High School in the summer. (Submitted photo)Parker Finkeldei accepted his 1st place Area winning proficiency in the area of Diversified Horticulture on stage during State FFA Convention. Parker was recognized during the 3rd general session of the 98th Missouri State FFA Convention held in Columbia at the Mizzou Arena. Parker’s SAE involves working at Cedar Lane Greenhouse. (Submitted photo)The Santa Fe FFA Livestock Team qualified for State and competed at the State FFA Convention on April 15. This team received a Silver Rating overall and Karlea Bolser received a Gold/Group I Individual Rating. Team members, from left: Carleigh Winter, Madilyn Montgomery, Karlea Bolser, Brady Graf. (Submitted photo)The Santa Fe FFA Knowledge team competed at State FFA Convention on April 16. This team placed 5th at District Contest earning them a spot to compete at the State FFA Convention. They received a Silver Rating at State. Team members, from left: Carleigh Winter, Kyndel Fisher, Abbie Gieselman, Macy Finkeldei. (Submitted photo)Kale Dierker on stage at the 98th Missouri State FFA Convention with his Area Winning proficiency in the area of Beef Production Placement. Kale works for Dierker Farms for their beef cattle operation. Kale is a senior at Santa Fe, a four-year FFA member and a State FFA Degree recipient. (Submitted photo)During State FFA Convention held April 15-17, Santa Fe FFA member Ethan Finkeldei was recognized as the State Winner in the Nursery Operations Proficiency category. Ethan will move on to compete at the National level, which will entail completing the National FFA Nursery Operations Proficiency application for a chance to earn a spot on stage at the National FFA Convention in October. Ethan’s SAE is working at Cedar Lane Greenhouse. (Submitted photo)Keastin Kitchen accepted the Gold Emblem National Chapter as the Santa Fe FFA President at the 1st General Session of the 98th Missouri State FFA Convention. The chapter received 28th place overall for their Gold emblem. Gold, Silver, and Bronze emblems are awarded to chapters based upon the application that they complete. This application is extensive and requires many hours of work. The President and Vice Presidents completed the application this year, which were Keastin Kitchen, Karlea Bolser and Julie Wieland. (Submitted photo)The Santa Fe FFA Floriculture State Qualifying Career Development Team competed at State FFA Convention on April 17 and received a Gold/Group 1 Team Rating; which is outstanding! Team members, from left: Abbi Mueller, Will Sowers, Parker Finkeldei, Ethan Finkeldei. (Submitted photo)
