Thank You, Convention Sponsors

The Kentucky FFA State Convention is a celebration of the dedication, growth, and accomplishments of our members. This inspiring event would not be possible without the generous support of individuals and organizations committed to investing in the future of Kentucky FFA. We are proud to recognize and thank the sponsors whose contributions have helped make this year’s convention a reality. Their support plays a vital role in providing a meaningful, life-changing experience for every member in attendance.

5-Star Sponsors

Farm Credit Mid-America

First Southern National Bank

Kentucky Department of Agriculture

4-Star Sponsors

Kentucky Farm Bureau

Kentucky State University

Nutrien

Tarter USA

3-Star Sponsors

Army ROTC

H&R AgriPower

Ingram Barge Company

Kentucky Cattlemen's Association

2-Star Sponsors

1-Star Sponsors

2007-2008 Kentucky FFA State Officer Team

Agrisbusiness Association of Kentucky

Bluegrass Ingredients

Bluegrass Region FFA in Memory of Neal Floyd

Cal Maine Foods

Commonwealth Agri-Energy

Cralle Foundation

David Wayne - Kentucky Farm Service Agency State Executive Director

Davidson Financial Services

Dr. Charles Byers Endowment

Dr. Luther & Brenda Hughes - Endowment Gift

Dr. Tony & Lisa Brannon

Fresh Start Farms

Hallway Feeds

Hardin County Farm Bureau

Hutson

iCEV

Jeff and Morissa Hayes

Jim & Betty Claycomb

Jim David Meats

Jonathan Fox

Ken and Brenda Reed Endowment

Kentucky Association of Agricultural Educators

Kentucky Cattlemen's Association

Kentucky Corn Growers Association

Kentucky Division of Forestry

Kentucky Electric Cooperatives

Kentucky Pork Producers

Kentucky Poultry Federation

Kentucky Retail Federation

Kentucky Sheep & Goat Development Board

Kentucky Small Grain Growers Association

Kentucky Soybean Promotion Board

Kentucky State Horticulture Society

Kentucky Thoroughbred Farm Managers Club

Kentucky Veterinary Medical Association

Kentucky Young Farmers Association

Little Kentucky Smokehouse

Martin- Gatton College of Agriculture, Food, and Environment

Matt & Betsy London

Meade Stock Farm - ALR Farms LLC

Mr. Billy Ray Smith

Mr. Damon Talley

Murray State University Collegiate FFA

Nationwide Insurance

Oldham County Farm Bureau

Paris Stockyards

Pulliam and Associates Consulting

Randal Williamson

Rice Agri-Marketing

Rip's Farm Center

Robey Farms

Ryan Brothers

Southern States

Spencer County Farm Bureau

Stith Brothers

Syngenta Crop Protection

The Late John Colliver Endowment

The Lawrence Hall Trust

Trumbo Farms

Western Kentucky University Department of Agriculture

Wright Implement

Wright Farms

Sneak Peek at This Year's Shark Tank Finalists

Get ready for one of the most anticipated moments of the Kentucky FFA State Convention— Shark Tank finalist presentations!


Eight bold and innovative FFA members will step into the spotlight to pitch their business ideas live to a panel of judges. Each finalist is competing for a $5,000 grant to take their SAE project to the next level.


From creative startups to ag-focused ventures, this year’s lineup is packed with fresh ideas and big dreams. Check out the finalists and get a sneak peek at the businesses that could be tomorrow’s success stories.

Abree Warren, Carlisle County

Abree owns Tulip Pickins, a cut flower business specializing in tulip arrangements. She plans to expand by creating a public tulip-picking bed in town and promoting it on social media.

Gabe Vincent, Webster County

Gabe is the owner of Gabe’s Aquatics, where he breeds and sells freshwater fish and breeding stock pairs. He also offers aquarium consulting and creates educational content, and is seeking funding to purchase a larger tank for stingrays.

Hudson Hancock, Adair County

Hudson operates Hancock Cattle Farms, where he leases pasture from his family and runs a herd of Simmental cattle. He is seeking funding to improve his cattle handling facilities.

Klay Vansickle, Logan County

Klay is in a partnership with his mom at Antiquity Farms LLC, where he owns the livestock and she owns the physical assets. He plans to use the grant to begin direct-to-consumer beef sales from the farm.

Madelin Macario, Hopkinsville

Madelin Macario is the founder of Sabores de Mi Tierra, a mobile dessert business offering handmade Guatemalan ice cream and traditional shaved ice. With the grant, she hopes to launch her own colorful pushcart and begin selling her original recipes independently at local events.

Olivi Irvin, Casey County

Olivia runs Sip & Savor, a food truck and lemonade business. Now serving as manager, she plans to use the grant to purchase a second lemonade station, create a pop-up outdoor dining area, and purchase branded uniforms to elevate the business’s professional appearance.

Peyton Collins, Todd Central

Peyton is the owner of Collins Critters, where she breeds and sells small livestock. She plans to expand her breed selection and upgrade her animal housing to better care for her growing operation.

Preston Hughes, New Horizons

Preston raises Katahdin sheep and is focused on selling registered ram lambs while retaining ewe lambs to grow his flock. His goal is to build a strong, sustainable breeding program.

Meet the 2025 State Officer Candidates

Serving as a Kentucky FFA State Officer is one of the highest honors a member can achieve. With that honor comes the responsibility to represent the association at the local, regional, state, and national levels. State officers are charged with informing, motivating, and inspiring FFA members, advisors, educators, and the public as they advance the mission and vision of Kentucky FFA and the National FFA Organization.


This year, 24 candidates will participate in an intensive interview and selection process during the 96th Kentucky FFA State Convention in hopes of being named to the 2025–2026 Kentucky FFA State Officer Team. The twelve individuals selected will be announced during Session 5 on Thursday, June 12 at 9:00 a.m. EST.


Join us in Lexington or tune in live on our YouTube channel to witness the announcement.

Barren River Region

Matthew Estes

Barren County

Barren River Region

Kate Ford

Franklin-Simpson

Big Sandy River Region

Josh Brammell

East Carter

Big Sandy River Region

Madison Young

Johnson Central

Bluegrass Region

Madi Daugherty

Madison Southern

Bluegrass Region

Tyren Harris

Carter G. Woodson

Capital City Region

Callie Derosset

Henry County

Capital City Region

Sierra Morris

Western Hills

Green River Region

Blake Bratcher

Butler County

Green River Region

Mikayla Fields

Ohio County

Kentucky River Region

Isaac Brock

Lynn Camp

Kentucky River Region

Anna Chaliff

Rockcastle County

Lake Cumberland Region

Clinton Corner

Pulaski County

Lake Cumberland

Colson Pierce

Southwestern Pulaski

Licking River Region

Aiden Manley

Menifee County

Licking River Region

Laney Pease

Fleming County

Lincoln Trail Region

Hazel Duckworth

Central Hardin

Lincoln Trail Region

Dawson Hall

John Hardin

Northern Kentucky Region

Maddie Lawson

Gallatin County

Northern Kentucky Region

Madison Wright

Owen County

Pennyrile Region

Mollie Goode

Hopkinsville

Pennyrile Region

Maddie Ziegler

Madisonville North

Purchase Region

Jacee McKeel

Calloway County

Purchase Region

Abigail Treas

Marshall County

Tune-In to the Convention Livestream

Can’t make it to Lexington? You can still be part of the action! The 96th Kentucky FFA State Convention will be livestreamed so that FFA members, alumni, families, and supporters can join in from anywhere.


All five convention sessions will be broadcast live on the Kentucky FFA YouTube channel. From keynote speakers and award recognitions to retiring addresses and state officer elections, you won’t miss a moment of the excitement. Each session will feature moments that showcase the talent, dedication, and leadership of FFA members from across the Commonwealth.


Make plans to watch and cheer on your favorite members as we celebrate the best of Kentucky FFA, wherever you are!

Welcome, Cassidy!

The Kentucky FFA Foundation is thrilled to announce that Cassidy Hutchison has accepted the role of Program Manager. 


Cassidy is a Union County, Kentucky native with FFA roots. She served as her local Chapter President, a regional FFA officer and has continued service as a judge for many local, regional and state activities. 


Cassidy is a graduate of Murray State University where she obtained a degree in Organizational Communications, a minor in Agriculture and a certificate in Agricultural Education. An innovator by nature, she’s used her skillset to work at Pratt Industries, where she’s taken a start up role and thrived, developing new systems & efficiency procedures companywide while successfully leading a growing team. 


All of Cassidy’s recommendation letters praised her work ethic and willingness to go above and beyond the expectation, to maximize projects with her analytical, data-oriented approach, and her ability to communicate with a wide variety of audiences & on multiple platforms. 


We welcome Cassidy to the role of Program Manager where she will take the lead on all of Kentucky’s Teach Ag efforts, Kentucky FFA Works and the Kentucky FFA Foundation’s Grant Writing initiatives.

Join Us at the 2025 Blue & Gold Gala

The Kentucky FFA Foundation Board of Trustees invites you to the 2025 Blue & Gold Gala on Saturday, September 6, 2025, on Millionaire’s Row, at Churchill Downs in Louisville. This special evening celebrates and supports the mission of Kentucky FFA in an iconic and elegant setting.


The Blue & Gold Gala is a meaningful opportunity to invest in the future of Kentucky agriculture. Proceeds from the event fund a variety of grants that support FFA members and agriculture programs statewide, helping students grow as leaders and learners in and out of the classroom.


Guests will enjoy dinner, fellowship, and inspiring stories of FFA’s impact at one of Kentucky's most legendary venues. We invite you to be part of this experience as we honor the people and programs shaping the next generation of agriculture.

This Week's Podcast

On this episode of Growing Kentucky's Leaders, Kentucky FFA State Reporter Luke Mullins and State President Trenton Page discuss their impactful year as state officers, highlighting personal growth, leadership lessons, and the unique challenges and rewards of their roles. They also share an exclusive preview of the upcoming Kentucky FFA State Convention.

You can get Growing Kentucky's Leaders wherever you listen to your podcasts, or you can watch our episodes on our YouTube channel. Tune in each week for interviews with Kentucky leaders in FFA, youth development, and agriculture. It may just be the best 20 minutes you spend all week.


If you're a teacher, our episodes would make great additions to your lessons. Here's where you can download a worksheet for students to complete after each episode.

From the Feed

The 96th Kentucky FFA State Convention is gearing up to be an exciting three days of speakers, student achievement, and fellowship within Kentucky agriculture. We're excited to hear from keynote speaker Dallin Cooper during Session 1 on Tuesday, June 10th at 3:30 p.m. as he brings remarks on leadership and communication.





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Contact Us

Sheldon McKinney, Executive Director

Ruth Ann Fink, Development Officer

Ashley Weaver, Stewardship & Administration Coordinator