Lowell FFA Students Earn State Honors, National Qualifiers

Lowell High School’s FFA chapter had a strong showing at the Michigan FFA State Convention, with multiple students earning state recognition and two groups qualifying for national competition.

The event serves as the culmination of the FFA year in Michigan, recognizing students for their involvement in agricultural education, leadership development events, and academic achievements. Students who compete at the state level must first place first or second at both the district and regional contests to advance.

This year’s convention also marked a transition in leadership for the Lowell program. Kyle McFarren is serving as the Agriscience teacher and FFA advisor at Lowell High School after longtime advisor Kevin Nugent accepted a position as the Michigan FFA Contest and Recognition Coordinator with Michigan State University. Nugent spent 26 years teaching agriscience, including the last 21 years at Lowell.

State Competition Results

Lowell had competitors in three Leadership Development Events, which focus on communication and leadership skills.

Makenzie Bender competed in Greenhand Public Speaking, an event for first-year FFA members. Bender wrote and delivered a six to eight minute speech on Equine Herpes Virus, a topic that recently drew national attention following an outbreak connected to a major rodeo event. After presenting, competitors answer questions from judges about their topic. Bender placed third in the state.

Lillian Schut competed in Creed Speaking, an event in which students memorize and present the FFA Creed before answering questions about its meaning and interpretation. The creed, originally written in 1928, outlines the beliefs and values of FFA members and agriculturalists. Schut won the state championship and will represent Michigan at the National FFA Convention and Expo in October.

Lowell’s Greenhand Conduct of Meetings team also won the state championship and will advance to nationals. The team consisted of Sadie Acheson, Dawson Christensen, Jaden Johnson, Madison Joyce, Chloe Kelley, Cash McCauley, Suzie Oesch, and William Thomas.

In this event, students simulate an official FFA meeting while serving in officer roles. Competitors must demonstrate knowledge of Robert’s Rules of Order and parliamentary procedure while handling a piece of business that is introduced just minutes before the contest begins.

Individual Honors and Degrees

Several Lowell students were also recognized with individual awards during the convention.

Students receiving the Outstanding Junior Award were Kenneth Harden, Jolene Jousma, and Henry Oesch.

Hannah Minier and Frankie Eddy received Academic Excellence Awards for their academic achievements.

Frankie Eddy also received a Proficiency Award for her supervised agricultural experience.

Six Lowell students earned the State FFA Degree, the highest honor awarded by the Michigan FFA Association. Those recipients were Maddyson DeWitt, Frankie Eddy, Hannah Minier, Maree Perfitt, Jenna Roggow, and Kaylee Sweany.

Frankie Eddy Elected Michigan FFA State President

One of the most significant moments of the convention came when Lowell senior Frankie Eddy was elected Michigan FFA State President for the 2026–2027 year. One member in the entire state gets this honor.

State officer candidates go through multiple interview rounds before a nominating committee selects a slate of candidates to be voted on by student delegates from across the state. The slate is not revealed until the evening before elections.

Eddy was slated for president and delivered a speech the next morning to nearly 300 delegates before the vote. She was elected to serve as the next Michigan FFA State President.

As state president, Eddy will represent more than 10,000 FFA members across Michigan. Her role will include attending the National FFA Convention and Expo, working with business and industry partners who support agricultural education, and visiting FFA chapters across the state to lead workshops and programs.

Eddy’s election is a historic moment for the Lowell FFA chapter. The last Lowell student elected State President was David Hildenbrand in 1993. Eddy also becomes the first female State President from Lowell and the first Lowell student to serve as a state officer since Maria Blough was Region V State Vice President in 2015–2016.

Her selection reflects years of dedication to the organization and serves as an inspiration to fellow FFA members in Lowell and across Michigan.