MINNEAPOLIS — Minnesota’s top students in the fields of agriculture, food and natural resources are among thousands who will attend the Minnesota FFA Association’s State Convention at the University of Minnesota and the Minnesota State Fairgrounds, April 19-21.
The event is the culmination of a school year during which students have studied, experienced and competed in a variety of activities related to the three subjects.
A team of state FFA officers will preside over the event’s general sessions with the theme, “Believe.” At the final convention session, the 2026-2027 state officers will be announced, chosen from among candidates who go through an extensive nominating and interview process.
The top four awards of the FFA Association, known as Stars, will be awarded Monday evening, April 20, at 3M Arena at Mariucci.
The finalists for Star are:
Star in Agriculture, Food and Natural Resource Sciences
- Andrew Mutchler, Grand Rapids FFA
- Andrew Schmitz, Eden Valley-Watkins FFA
- Alexandria Confer, Sleepy Eye FFA
Star in Agribusiness
- Mason Olson, Rothsay FFA
- Cayden Sundheim, Hancock FFA
- Piper Rigge, Redwood Valley FFA
- Logan Ludewig, Sleepy Eye FFA
Star Farmer
- Jaden Ebnet, Holdingford FFA
- Jada Hansen, Foley FFA
- Kody Tollefsrud, Kerkhoven-Murdock-Sunburg FFA
- Ella Doehling, Sibley East FFA
Star in Production Placement
- Victoria Thorson, Howard Lake-Waverly-Winsted FFA
- Grady Schuft, Glencoe-Silver Lake FFA
- Noah Rossbach, Sleepy Eye FFA
- Blake Siewert, Lake City FFA
Compeer Financial Services will present $100 awards to each of the finalists as well as to 11 Region FFA Stars, with an additional $300 award to each of the four winning Stars.
FFA members receiving Star recognition are chosen from among students who reach the Minnesota FFA’s highest achievement, the State Degree. Nearly 400 members will receive the degree during the convention.
Top subject areas result in advancement to national competition
Prior to the convention, FFA members in more than three dozen areas of agriculture, food and natural resource sciences were chosen, with final rankings to be announced over the course of the three-day convention. First-place winners will move on to the national competition next fall.
Agriscience Fair participants will also be recognized, reflecting the categories of animal systems, environmental services and natural resource systems, food products and processing systems, plant systems, social science, and power, structural and technical systems.
Local chapters, individuals compete for honors
Twenty-three Career Development Events will take place at the convention, with local chapter teams and individuals using their knowledge on subjects ranging from floriculture and market plans, to fish and wildlife and meats, as well as more traditional agricultural topics like livestock evaluation and agronomy. Winners from the contests advance to the national FFA competition.
Career exploration among convention activities
As a host, the College of Food, Agricultural and Natural Resource Sciences (CFANS)xat the University of Minnesota will offer visiting students a variety of experiences to help identify careers and areas of study. The University also plans a“Taste of CFANS” event highlighting many of its areas of study.
In addition, more than 80 companies and organizations are part of a Career Connections fair on the Minnesota State Fairgrounds the morning of April 20.
Chapters to be honored
Three new FFA chapters will be chartered, including Eden Prairie, Swanville and Northern Lights Community School in Warba. Chapters will be presented with New Chapter Start-Up Kits provided by sponsors through the Minnesota FFA Foundation.
One FFA chapter will be named Minnesota’s premier organization, while winners in innovation, ag literacy and community service will also be named.
For more information on the Minnesota FFA State Convention, visit MNFFA.org, or follow Minnesota FFA on their Facebook, and Instagram pages.
