The National FFA Organization has named the James River High School FFA Chapter as one of 10 finalists for the Model of Excellence recognition program based upon the National Chapter Award Application.
This recognition highlights James River FFA as one of the top 10 FFA programs in the nation. The National FFA Organization is headquartered in Indiannapolis, Ind.
This fall, during the National FFA Convention and Expo in Indiannapolis, chapter members will provide a 10-minute presentation to a panel of judges highlighting opportunities that the chapter provides to students, the community and agriculture.
These chapter representatives will then receive eight minutes of questions from a panel of judges who will make the final decision of who the top FFA chapter in the nation will be.
This is only the second time in 10 years that a Virginia FFA Chapter has been selected as one of the top FFA chapters in the nation.
Additionally, the James River FFA Chapter will be honored with a Three Star National Chapter rating, the highest rating given to FFA programs based upon the National Chapter Award Application.
Only Three-Star high school chapters are eligible for the Models of Excellence award, and only 10 of the 150-plus Three Star chapters from around the country are selected to compete for the Model of Excellence award.
This accolade comes a little over a month after James River FFA was named the No. 1 FFA program in Virginia with 12 students being crowned as FFA state champions through their first place finishes in five different FFA Career Development Events (CDE).
The James River FFA Chapter will send 16 students to the National FFA Convention and Expo in Indianapolis in October to represent James River, Botetourt County and the Virginia FFA Association in the Model of Excellence Finalist Program, the Environmental and Natural Resources CDE, the Poultry Evaluation CDE, and the Livestock Evaluation CDE.
The James River FFA Chapter will also be recognized for its Three Star Rating and for being named one of the top chapters in the nation during the National FFA Convention and Expo. Sessions will be aired live on RFD-TV October 25-29.
The public is invited to visit the James River FFA Chapter this Friday and Saturday, Aug. 11 and 12 during the Botetourt County Fair at the Buchanan Town Park to learn more about the students and chapter achievements they have earned.
For more information about how you can help support the James River FFA Chapter and their trip to the National FFA Convention and Expo, contact Agricultural Educator and FFA Advisor Zach Wakeman by email jrffa@bcps.k12.va.us or by phone at 254-1121.
