As a chapter, Midway FFA earned high marks this year at both the state and national level. In addition to receiving the Superior Chapter Award and a gold ranking at state, they also earned the top ranking available for nationally awarded chapters.
After collecting their state awards, Midway FFA advanced for judging at the national level where winning chapters are given a rating of one, two, or three stars with three stars indicating the highest honor. This October, members of the Midway FFA chapter crossed the stage at the National FFA Convention in Indianapolis to receive their 3-star award.
This national honor recognizes FFA chapters that complete at least 15 activities meeting quality standards in each of the following three divisions: Growing Leaders, Building Communities, and Strengthening Agriculture.
To qualify for recognition as a nationally awarded chapter, Midway FFA implemented several activities last year including making and delivering breakfast to local police departments, participating in the Midway FFA Leadership Expo to develop chapter members’ leadership and public speaking skills, and using recycled materials to build dog houses for the Humane Society of Central Texas in their “Home for Hounds for the Holidays” event.
The national FFA award programs are real-life tests of what is learned in the classroom. By planning and participating in activities that emphasize character development and community involvement, Midway FFA members gain experience setting specific, measurable goals and keeping accurate records as they work toward those goals while giving back to their community.
It takes a lot of hard work behind the scenes to coordinate and develop a well-rounded program of activities, and the dedication required from Midway’s FFA members over the past year to earn national recognition as a 3-Star chapter certainly paid off. Congratulations to this outstanding group of leaders!
