SPRINGFIELD – Members of the Bushnell-Prairie City FFA chapter attended the 97th annual Illinois FFA State Convention June 10-12 along with more than 7,000 other FFA members, advisors, and guests. With a 2025 theme of “The Final Mission,” the three-day event annually recognizes achievements of Illinois FFA members, elects the major state officer team, and celebrates agriculture.
Illinois State FFA Degree: Broc Beekman, Carson Christensen, Jozey Koile, Ethan McKim, and Madeline Young were conferred with State FFA Degrees by the Illinois Association for meeting 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 2% of members statewide earn this prestigious recognition.
American FFA Degree: Leah Sargeant and Nathan Spangler were recognized for earning the highest degree achievable in the National FFA Organization. The 2025 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.
Harvest For All Section Winner: The chapter was recognized for excellence in efforts to fight food insecurity in Illinois through dollars raised, pounds of food donated, and hours volunteered. They were named the Section XI Award Winner.
The Illinois Farm Bureau Young Leaders sponsors the Harvest For All awards.
American FFA Star Farmer Candidate: Nathan Spangler was recognized as Illinois' American Star Farmer candidate and will compete with other American FFA Degree recipients throughout the country this fall at the 2025 National FFA Convention in Indianapolis.
Prepared Public Speaking State Winner: Caroline Spangler was selected as the Illinois FFA State Winner in the Prepared Public Speaking Leadership Development Event. Caroline presented an 8 minute problem-solving speech and will compete in the National FFA’s Prepared Public Speaking competition in October.
Students at the convention were greeted with activities including a career fair featuring colleges and agribusinesses and an opportunity to engage in the history of Illinois’ capital city. The sessions featured addresses by National FFA President Thaddeus Bergschneider of Illinois and from each of the retiring major state officers.
