Macomb, Bushnell, West Prairie FFA Honored at State Convention Macomb, Bushnell, West Prairie high school FFA organizations were recently honored 98th annual Illinois State FFA Convention, “Sparking Your Future.”
American FFA Degree: Masyn Riggins of Macomb was recognized for earning the highest degree achievable in the National FFA Organization. The 2026 American FFA Degrees will be officially conferred at the National FFA Convention in Indianapolis in October and recognizes the most dedicated members in the country who demonstrated excellence with their supervised agricultural experience, provided outstanding leadership and community service and earned scholastic achievement throughout their FFA career.
Illinois State FFA Degree: Delaney Bartlow, Mullen Butcher, William Krohe, and Kade Ruebush of Macomb; Reagan McKim and Caroline Spangler of Bushnell; and Janell Heaton, Aiden Percy and Kenadie Webster of West Prairie. Recipients earing the Illinois Statet FFA Degree meet all requirements including productive financial investments and earnings in a supervised agricultural experience and FFA participation, leadership and academic excellence. The State FFA Degree is the highest achievement an FFA member can achieve in Illinois; less than two percent of members statewide earn this prestigious recognition.
Golden Owl Award District 3 Finalist: Steve Sargeant of Bushnell was recognized as District 3’s 2026 Golden Owl outstanding agricultural educator finalist. The five district finalists will interview for the “2026 Illinois Ag Educator of the Year” statewide Golden Owl Award during the Illinois Association of Vocational Agriculture Teachers conference later this month. This year, 486 Golden Owl nominations for 133 different Illinois teachers were received.
Supporter: The Macomb FFA Alumni Association was recognized for making a gift of at least $3,000 to the Illinois Foundation FFA during the annual fundraising campaign which designates them as a Three Star Foundation Sponsor.
