06/15/2026
30 members traveled to the Kentucky FFA State Convention on June 8th at the Lexington Central Bank Center to compete in a variety of state level events, gain exposure to opportunities in agriculture, and to improve their own leadership skills. The following students represented Menifee County FFA at the convention throughout the week:
Aiden Manley retired as the 2025-2026 Kentucky FFA State President. He is the ninth member from the chapter to ever serve as a Kentucky FFA State Officer. This is the first time since 1994-95 and 1995-96 that Menifee County FFA has had students serve as back to back Kentucky FFA State Officers. Aiden presided over each convention session, and chaired the First General Session. His retiring address entitled, “The Bridge Builders of the Valleys” was delivered during the Fifth General Session.
Ella Smallwood served as the Licking River Region Representative for the State Officer Nominating Committee. She conducted interviews and evaluated state officer candidates based on their competency in Areas of Knowledge, Character, Communication, Influence, and Team Player.
Menifee County FFA competed in the Kentucky FFA Chapters of Excellence Contest. The chapter was recognized as a Gold rated chapter for the fifth year in a row and was named one of the top ten percent of chapters in the state for the fourth year in a row. The chapter was named second place in the Growing Leaders division, the state winner in the Building Communities division, and was the state winner in the Strengthening Agriculture division. The chapter will compete in the National Chapter Contest this fall. This is the fourth year in a row that Menifee County has been named a state winner in the Kentucky FFA Chapters of Excellence contest. This was the second year in program history that Menifee County placed in all three areas of the Kentucky FFA Chapters of Excellence Contest.
Ella Smallwood was named the state winner of the Extemporaneous Public Speaking LDE. She was given three possible topics for a speech then selected her preferred topic. Then was given thirty minutes to prepare a five minute speech on the topic. She then delivered her speech to judges and had time to entertain questions from them. She is the first member to ever win this event from our chapter. She will compete in the national contest in October.
The following students were named state winner(s) in the Kentucky FFA Agriscience Fair contest. Students designed and completed a research project on an agricultural topic of their choice. Menifee County FFA submitted 13 projects during this state convention. All first place contestants will compete in the national Agriscience Fair contest.
Agriscience Fair- Animal Science Systems- Division IV- Payttin Botts & Dixie Brown- State Winner
Agriscience Fair- Plant Science Systems- Division IV- McKenzie Bush & Lila Pelfrey- State Winner
Agriscience Fair- Plant Science Systems- Division V- Shawn Wells- State Winner
Agriscience Fair- Social Science Systems- Division V- Carsen Mynhier- State Winner
Agriscience Fair- Power, Structural, & Technical Systems- Division V- State Winner
Agriscience Fair- Food Products & Processing Systems- Division II- Allison Rowe- 2nd Place
Agriscience Fair- Food Products & Processing Systems- Division III- Lexi Smallwood- 2nd Place
Agriscience Fair- Social Science Systems- Division VI- Eli Yates- 2nd Place
Agriscience Fair- Environmental Service/Natural Resources Systems- Division IV- Garrett Lane & Grayson Lane- 3rd Place
Agriscience Fair- Plant Science Systems- Division III- Ella Doyle- 3rd Place
Agriscience Fair- Social Science Systems- Division IV- Jaica Wilson & Braydon Lawson- 3rd Place
Agriscience Fair- Animal Science Systems- Division III- Harper Brown
Agriscience Fair- Environmental Service/Natural Resources Systems- Division III- Marlee Patrick
Ruben Collins was named the state winner in the Diversified Agriculture Placement Proficiency Award contest. Aiden Manley was named the state winner in the Agricultural Education Proficiency Award contest. Proficiency awards are based off of a student’s Supervised Agricultural Experience program. These are the first students in school history to be named proficiency winners. They will advance to the national contest. Colton Rudd placed second in the state Agricultural Communications Proficiency Award contest. Carsen Mynhier placed second in the state Service Learning Proficiency Award contest. This is the most proficiency finalists in school history. The following members had proficiency entries that were judged at the state level: Patrick Abney (Agricultural Processing), Dixie Brown (Vegetable Production- Entrepreneurship & Placement), Harper Brown (Agriscience Research- Animal Systems),Peyton Profitt (Sheep Production- Entrepreneurship), Ella Smallwood (Beef Production- Entrepreneurship), and Jaica Wilson (Agriscience Research- Integrated Systems).
The Middle School Opening & Closing Ceremonies team consisted of Carsyn Wells, Harley Bowman, Alicen Stiltner, Zarah Teifel, Allison Rowe, and Adaira Wallen. These students also competed in the Middle School Discussion Meet, Middle School Prepared Public Speaking, and Middle School Quiz Bowl.
Shawn Wells placed third in the Turf & Lawn Public Speaking contest. Lexi Smallwood competed in the FFA Creed Speaking contest. Patrick Abney competed in the Agricultural Mechanics Public Speaking contest. Andrew Ison competed in the Small Animal Public Speaking contest.
Patrick Abney, Aiden Hunt, Reagan Skidmore, Ella Smallwood, Jacob Smith, Shawn Wells, and Eli Yates received the State FFA Degree. This is the highest degree that can be awarded by the state association.
The Quiz Bowl team consisted of Jacob Ingram, Sebastian Rawlins, Peyton Profitt, and Addisynne Guest.
The Food Science CDE team consisted of Ella Doyle, Payttin Botts, Dixie Brown, and Kaylynn Rowe.
The Milk Quality & Products CDE team consisted of Eli Yates, Carsen Mynhier, Shawn Wells, and Sebastian Rawlins.
Menifee County FFA made an excellent showing at the 97th Kentucky FFA Convention. Members must place first in the state level event to advance to the national level. We are so proud of all of our members and their accomplishments and their hard work leading up to the state convention. We are indebted to a very supportive community, and school district who make our success possible. Thank you for supporting our chapter.
