Blue Ridge Ag Dept. & FFA

2025-2026 President:

Carmen Ellis

This is Carmen's 5th year as an FFA member. Carmen joined in 8th grade earning her Discovery Degree. During her freshman year Carmen was recognized as one of the Star Greenhand members and has earned her Greenhand, Chapter, and State Degrees. Carmen has competed in Conduct of Chapter Meetings and Parliamentary Procedure every year, and went to State 3/4 years.

Advice to members: Try new things and step out of your comfort zone! You may find something you like that you didn't realize before.

Current Ag Class: Ag Business

Favorite CDE: Poultry Judging

SAEs: Speialty Crop Production, Vegetable Production, Fruit Production, Outdoor Recreation (all from working at Mariah's Mums and her own garden)

FFA Memory: Going to Washington D.C. on the Premier Chapter Trip and the Illinois FFA Leadership Camp

2023-2024 Vice President:

Rachel Light

This is Rachel's forth year in FFA as she joined in 8th-grade and has received her Discovery, Greenhand, and Chapter Degrees. This is her second year on the officer team. Rachel was part of the 2x IL FFA 3rd place Conduct of Chapter Meetings Team.

Advice to members: Try new things!

Current Ag Class: BSAA

Favorite CDE: Horticulture

SAEs: Small Animals, Agriculture Business

FFA Memory: Washington DC Premier Chapter Award Tour

2023-2024 Reporter:

Kaydance Wooton

This is Kaydance's 3 year in FFA. She is currently a Junior at Deland-Weldon High School. She has earned her greenhand degree freshman year and her Chapter degree sophmore year. She is planning on working twards her statedegree and possibly american degree!

Advice to members: Take advantage of every opportunity. Even if you don't like it, you'll learn a lot.

Current Ag Class: leadership/horticulture

Favorite CDE: prepared public speaking

SAEs: outdoor recreation

FFA Memory: State convention frehman year and taking pictures.

2023-2024 Secretary:

Lori Weiss

This is Lori's fourth year in FFA as she joined during her 8th-grade year and earned her Discovery Degree. Since then she has received her Greenhand and Chapter Degrees. This is her second year on the officer team. Lori was part of the 2x IL FFA 3rd place Conduct of Chapter Meetings Team.

Advice to members: Don't be afraid to joke around and have fun! Laughter is the best medicine.

Current Ag Class: BSAA

Favorite CDE: Agronomy

SAEs: Fruit Production/Small Animal

FFA Memory: FFA Leadership Camp

2023-2024 Treasurer:

Presley Hardesty

This is Presley's 3rd year as an FFA member. Presley joined in 8th grade earning her Discovery Degree and earned her Greenhand Degree at the end of her Freshman year. She is currently a Sophomore This is her first year on the officer team.

Advice to members: If you are on the fence, just do it!

Current Ag Class: BSAA

Favorite CDE: Dairy Foods

SAE: Ag Education

FFA Memory: Late nights in the ag room and after FFA events

2023-2024 Sentinel:

Ava Paullin

This is Ava's third year in FFA as she joined in her 8th grade year. She has received her Discovery and Greenhand Degrees. Her Freshman year she was awarded the Star Greenhand award.This is her first year on the officer team, she is also one of the three Plot Managers at Blue Ridge. Ava has been apart of the 2x state bound Conduct of Chapter Meetings Team.

Advice to members: Do anything and everything. Don't miss any opprotunities.

Current Ag Class: BSAA

Favorite CDE: Conduct of Chapter Meetings

SAEs: Diversified Crops and Outdoor Recreation

FFA Memory: Late night practices in the Ag room

2023-2024 Historian:

Carmen Ellis

This is Carmen's third year in FFA as she started in 8th-grade and received her Discovery and Greenhand Degrees. She was also a part of the 2x State-Bound Conduct of Chapter Meetings team. This is her first year on the officer team.

Advice to members: Have fun and try new things, you may find new things that you enjoy that you never would have thought of as well as make new friends.

Current Ag Class: Ag Communications/Leadership, Horticulture

Favorite CDE: Conduct of Chapter Meetings

SAEs: Vegetable Production

FFA Memory: FFA Leadership Camp

Blue Ridge FFA Advisor:

Ms. Jacalyn Meisner

This is Ms. Meisner's 9th year as the Blue Ridge FFA Chapter's Advisor.

She is originally from the Southwestern side of the state from Jerseyville, IL and was active in the Jerseyville FFA Chapter and Section 15 FFA throughout high school. Ms. Meisner attended Eastern Illinois University and graduated with a Bachelors in Education before attending the University of Illinois and receiving a Masters Degree in Agriculture Education.

She loves being here at Blue Ridge and firmly believes she has the #bestjobever!

Favorite CDEs: Parliamentary Procedure/ Conduct of Chapter Meetings , Livestock Judging, & Meat Evaluation

SAEs when in FFA: Beef Production Entrepreneurship and Specialty Animal (now Goat Production)

FFA Memory: There are too many wonderful memories with the Blue Ridge crew. Seeing any of the members achieve their goal always provides a new favorite memory- two that particularly stand out would include seeing the reaction of one of her students when she won state in her SAE and hearing another being announced as the 2021-2022 State FFA Vice President.

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