More than 70 students from all six JCS FFA chapters recognized at the 2026 West Virginia State FFA Convention and State Career Development Events
Jefferson County Schools FFA members earned six team state championships and seven individual first-place finishes at state competition this summer and fall.
Students from all six JCS FFA chapters, at Charles Town Middle, Harpers Ferry Middle, Shepherdstown Middle, Wildwood Middle, Jefferson High, and Washington High schools, competed this year at the 98th Annual West Virginia State FFA Convention, held July 7 through 11 at Cedar Lakes Conference Center in Ripley, and at the West Virginia State FFA Career Development Events (CDEs), held August 16 at Jackson's Mill and September 16 through 19 at West Virginia University in Morgantown. Career development events are competitive, hands-on contests that build professional and real-world skills in agriculture and leadership.
Jefferson FFA and Washington FFA each received the Superior Chapter Award and were named Gold Emblem chapters, placing them among West Virginia's top six chapters. Both will represent the state in the National Chapter Award program at the National FFA Convention this month. Five JCS members are also candidates for the American FFA Degree, the highest honor the National FFA Organization awards: Maci Dunn, Grace Ott, and Abigail Shanley of Jefferson FFA, and Mary Gruber and Odell Ware of Washington FFA.
Three JCS teams have already earned the right to represent West Virginia at the 2027 National FFA Convention: Jefferson FFA's Agricultural Technology and Mechanical Systems team and Dairy Cattle Evaluation team, and Washington FFA's Farm Business Management team.
Individual students stood out on the state stage, too. Washington FFA's Odell Ware earned a First Place State Proficiency Award in Beef Production Placement for his work at Audley Farm and was named West Virginia's American Star in Placement. His chapter mate Emmalea McNeely presented the FFA Creed before a packed evening session on her way to the Upperclassmen Creed Speaking state title. Jefferson FFA's Aaron Sanderson placed first individually in Agricultural Technology and Mechanical Systems and earned a $5,000 scholarship to WyoTech, and Grace Ott closed her year as West Virginia FFA Central Region Vice President with her retiring address, "Living Like Everyday Matters."
Middle school members made their mark as well. Shepherdstown Middle's state champion ceremonies team opened the full convention at the Night of Champions session, Gracie LeMaster won the Middle School Prepared Public Speaking title with her speech on the role of technology in agriculture, and all four members of Harpers Ferry Middle's state champion Food Science team finished in the top 10 individually.
State champions this year include:
• Jefferson FFA: Dairy Cattle Evaluation team and Agricultural Technology and Mechanical Systems team; Aaron Sanderson, 1st individually in Agricultural Technology and Mechanical Systems
• Washington FFA: Farm Business Management team; Clay Stolipher, 1st individually in Farm Business Management; Emmalea McNeely, Upperclassmen Creed Speaking; Odell Ware, First Place State Proficiency Award in Beef Production Placement
• Harpers Ferry Middle FFA: Middle School Food Science team
• Shepherdstown Middle FFA: Opening and Closing Ceremonies team and Quiz Bowl team; Gracie LeMaster, Middle School Prepared Public Speaking; Laney Schriever, 1st individually in Middle School Food Science
• Charles Town Middle FFA: Ryder Stolipher, Middle School Tractor Driving
"Jefferson County should be extremely proud of the young people who are FFA members here. We have six outstanding programs at both the middle and high school level and the success they have had this week are a result of hard work, commitment and support from our community," said Katlin Grantham, agriculture teacher and FFA advisor at Washington High School, reflecting on the State Convention in July.
"We are proud of the hard work our FFA students have put in this year," said Superintendent Dr. Chuck Bishop. "These results reflect the strength of agricultural education across Jefferson County Schools, and we wish our chapters well as they represent West Virginia at the national level."
Jefferson County's FFA chapters are advised by agricultural education teachers Kristin Friend (Charles Town Middle), Maxwell Alexander (Harpers Ferry Middle), Rylee Brown (Shepherdstown Middle), Tony Barrett (Wildwood Middle), Charity Marstiller and Jamison Smith (Jefferson High), and Jay Earl and Katlin Grantham (Washington High).
Complete Results
98th Annual West Virginia State FFA Convention (July 7 through 11, Cedar Lakes Conference Center, Ripley)
Charles Town Middle FFA
• Third Place, Middle School Quiz Bowl: Brayden Braithwaite, Greyson Braithwaite, Wyatt Truitt, and Gavin Watson
• Middle School Tractor Driving: Ryder Stolipher, state champion; Wyatt Truitt, 2nd place; Greyson Braithwaite, 7th place. All three qualified by finishing first, second, and third at the regional competition in April.
• Seventh Place, Middle School Opening and Closing Ceremonies: Annabelle Bethke, Greyson Braithwaite, Isabelle Friend, Ryder Stolipher, Wyatt Truitt, and Gavin Watson
Harpers Ferry Middle FFA
• Sadie Ward placed third in the Middle School Prepared Public Speaking Leadership Development Event with her speech on spotted lanternflies.
Shepherdstown Middle FFA
• Gracie LeMaster, state champion, Middle School Prepared Public Speaking Leadership Development Event, with her speech on the role of technology in agriculture
• State Champion Opening and Closing Ceremonies Team: Jaden Breeden, Hunter Cogan, Elizabeth Gorsuch, Jedidiah Hoover, Audrina Kelly, Gracie LeMaster, and Hunter Ware. As champions, the team conducted opening ceremonies for the full convention at the Friday evening Night of Champions session.
• State Champion Quiz Bowl Team: Elizabeth Gorsuch, Audrina Kelly, Gracie LeMaster, and Hunter Ware
Jefferson FFA
• Superior Chapter Award and Gold Emblem chapter; one of West Virginia's top six chapters
• Third Place, Conduct of Chapter Meetings: Raelynn Buckler, Ella Carroll, Abigail Daniel, Audrey Milner, Jillian Owens, Cali Raley, and Sophie Sepulveda
• Avery Baione and Collin Engle performed in the WV FFA State Band.
• Aaron Sanderson received a $5,000 scholarship to WyoTech for placing second overall in the Agricultural Mechanics CDE in March.
• Morgan Grove served as the Northeast Region representative on the State Nominating Committee, which elected the new West Virginia FFA State Officer Team.
• Grace Ott completed her year as West Virginia FFA Central Region Vice President, delivering her retiring address, "Living Like Everyday Matters."
Washington FFA
• Superior Chapter Award and Gold Emblem chapter; one of West Virginia's top six chapters
• Emmalea McNeely, state champion, Upperclassmen Creed Speaking Leadership Development Event. After qualifying at regionals, she was selected as a finalist and presented the FFA Creed before a packed evening session.
• Odell Ware received a First Place State Proficiency Award in Beef Production Placement for his work at Audley Farm. Proficiency awards recognize growth and mastery in a member's Supervised Agricultural Experience.
• Odell Ware was also named the American Star in Placement, selected from all of West Virginia's American Degree candidates after a rigorous application and interview process.
State FFA Degree recipients (the highest honor a state FFA association can bestow)
• Jefferson FFA: Morgan Grove, Kayleny Payne, and Jess Toms
• Washington FFA: Khloe Fisher, Carly Masters, and Tyler Stolipher
American FFA Degree candidates (the highest honor in the National FFA Organization, to be conferred at the National FFA Convention)
• Jefferson FFA: Maci Dunn, Grace Ott, and Abigail Shanley
• Washington FFA: Mary Gruber and Odell Ware
West Virginia FFA State Courtesy Corps (prepared the assembly hall and served as timekeepers for state competition all week)
• Charles Town Middle FFA: Annabelle Bethke and Isabelle Friend
• Harpers Ferry Middle FFA: Hazlee Wynn
• Jefferson FFA: Abigail Blue, Kayla DuVal, Aaron Sanderson, and Katherine Selby
• Washington FFA: Porter Bethke, Hunter Braithwaite, Kohlton Dailey, Abigail Lowe, Maddie McDonald, Clay Stolipher, and Piper Stolipher
West Virginia FFA Dairy Cattle Evaluation CDE (August 16, WV State Dairy Show, Jackson's Mill)
• Jefferson FFA, 1st place, State Champions: Abigail Blue, Kaiden Day, Kayla DuVal, and Jess Toms
West Virginia State FFA Career Development Events (September 16 through 19, West Virginia University, Morgantown)
Middle School Agriscience Knowledge CDE (13 teams)
• Shepherdstown Middle FFA, 2nd place: Caitlin Clipp, Gracie LeMaster, Madilyn LeMaster, and Isaac Merkel-Mason. Gracie LeMaster placed 5th individually and Madilyn LeMaster placed 10th.
• Charles Town Middle FFA, 6th place: Brayden Braithwaite, Declan Carper, Isabelle Friend, and Wyatt Truitt
• Harpers Ferry Middle FFA, 7th place: Peyton Barrett, Elsie Dunn, Elizabeth Selby, and Hazlee Wynn
• Wildwood Middle FFA, 10th place: Bentley Frazee, Amelia Johnson, Camden Lyons, and Randi Lynn Sweeney
Middle School Food Science CDE (6 teams)
• Harpers Ferry Middle FFA, 1st place, State Champions: Sophia Frey, Mason Glessner, Joseph Milner, and Hailey Nastasi. All four placed in the top 10 individually: Joseph Milner 2nd, Sophia Frey 6th, Mason Glessner 7th, and Hailey Nastasi 9th.
• Shepherdstown Middle FFA, 2nd place: Jaden Breeden, Laney Schriever, Isabella Schwartz, and Michael Sheehan. Laney Schriever placed 1st individually, Isabella Schwartz 4th, and Michael Sheehan 7th.
Agricultural Technology and Mechanical Systems CDE (14 teams)
• Jefferson FFA, 1st place, State Champions: Raelynn Buckler, Kayla DuVal, Spencer Gil, and Aaron Sanderson. Aaron Sanderson placed 1st individually and Kayla DuVal placed 3rd.
• Washington FFA, 5th place: Hunter Braithwaite, Kohlton Dailey, Mason Friend, and Abigail Lowe. Kohlton Dailey placed 8th individually.
Farm Business Management CDE (4 teams)
• Washington FFA, 1st place, State Champions: Porter Bethke, Emmalea McNeely, Clay Stolipher, and Tyler Stolipher. Individually, Clay Stolipher placed 1st in the state, Emmalea McNeely 2nd, Porter Bethke 3rd, and Tyler Stolipher 6th.
Floriculture CDE (17 teams)
• Jefferson FFA, 6th place: Collin Engle, Emily Gorham, Morgan Grove, and Sophie Sepulveda
• Washington FFA, 14th place: Annabelle Bethke, Jovee Earl, Maddie McDonald, and Sadie Ward
Food Science CDE (16 teams)
• Jefferson FFA, 4th place: Ella Carroll, Abigail Daniel, Jillian Owens, and Cali Raley. Abigail Daniel placed 7th individually.
Livestock Evaluation CDE (26 teams)
• Washington FFA, 2nd place: Khloe Fisher, Clay Stolipher, Piper Stolipher, and Tyler Stolipher. Tyler Stolipher placed 3rd individually and Clay Stolipher 6th.
• Jefferson FFA, 18th place: Abigail Blue, Hunter Cogan, Jess Toms, and Hunter Ware
Meats Evaluation CDE (15 teams)
• Washington FFA, 4th place: Greyson Braithwaite, Cameron McDonald, Ryder Stolipher, and Gavin Watson