June 29, 2021
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
MARYLAND FFA HONORS LOCAL MEMBERS, CHAPTERS AND SUPPORTERS AT 93RD MARYLAND STATE CONVENTION
(HAVRE DE GRACE, MARYLAND) – June 29, 2021- The convention honored local members, chapters, and supporters during the 93rd Maryland FFA State Convention held virtually, June 22-25. The event was hosted by the 2020-2021 Maryland FFA State Officer Team- Cassie Bell, President; Helen Leadingham, Vice President; McKayla Kiernan, Secretary; Kyle Schulze, Treasurer; Morgan DeFriece, Reporter; Elsie McKenzie, Sentinel.
The convention opened with greetings from Dr. James Woodard, National FFA Advisor; and keynote address from Ms. Anna Mathis, National FFA Secretary. During this event, FFA members were recognized for their accomplishments and participation in the Maryland FFA:
The State Star Greenhand Award: Bailey Schmidt from the Oakland FFA Chapter, Region 1. Other Regional Star Greenhand finalists: Region 1: Kolton Mason, North Garrett; Region 4: Madison Hedges-Bailey, North Harford; Gracie Ray, South Carroll; and Richard Dehart, Westminster FFA.
The State FFA Proficiency Award Gold Winners: Elizabeth Anderson, Boonsboro, Agricultural Services; Madilynn Magruder, North Garrett, Sheep Production; Abigail Wimmer, Westminster, Veterinary Science.
Wiley G & Carrie A. Griffith Scholarships: ($1,000 each) Julia Biser, Tuscarora; Tanner Harshman, Clear Spring; Xavier Hawkins, Gwynn Park; Madilynn Magruder, North Garrett; Sierra Mandeville, South Carroll; Katelyn Toms, Clear Spring.
MD FFA Foundation & University of Maryland College Park, College of Agriculture State Officer Scholarship: $2,000 awarded to each of the 2020-2021 State Officers to continue their education at the University of Maryland, College Park for their outstanding leadership to the Maryland FFA Association.
National FFA Scholarship: Awarded to Lynne Thomas of the North Harford FFA Chapter for $1,500 from the America’s Farmers Grow Ag Leaders.
National Chapter Awards: Applications will be sent on for National Recognition to the Boonsboro and Parkside CTE FFA Chapters.
Outstanding Service Citations: Mark & Terry Adkins, Laytonsville- former agricultural educators and FFA Advisors, serving as state superintendents and judges at state and national events; Roy S. Walls, Jr., College Park- 45 years of service to the Maryland FFA as an agricultural educator and FFA Advisor, State Executive Secretary, and instructor at the UMD Institute for Applied Agriculture; David A. Miller, Braddock Heights- 55 years of service in agricultural education, FFA Advisor, State Executive Secretary, County CTE Director, currently serving as Executive Director of high school and post-secondary education for the Maryland Agricultural Education Foundation (MAEF)
The Maryland Agricultural Education Foundation is a 501c3 non-governmental nonprofit established in 1989. Through the Maryland FFA, teacher workshops, scholarships, grants, Mobile Labs and Showcases, and revenues from the Ag Tag license plate sales, the Foundation pursues its mission to promote the understanding and appreciation of the importance of agriculture in everyone’s daily lives. The Maryland FFA Association’s staff team is partially funded through a $50,000 federal Perkins Grant facilitated by the Maryland State Department of Education. The Maryland FFA Association has 2,000 members in 42 Chapters throughout the State. For more information, visit www.mdffa.org or contact Naomi Knight at nknight@maefonline.com
