BLACKSBURG, VA — Eastern View High School FFA members returned home with numerous individual and chapter honors after attending the 100th Virginia FFA State Convention, held June 8–11 at Virginia Tech.

Fifteen students and three advisors represented Eastern View High School during the four-day convention, joining thousands of FFA members from across Virginia for leadership workshops, competitions, recognition ceremonies, and sessions featuring Virginia FFA State Officers, a National FFA Officer, Virginia Secretary of Agriculture Katie Frazier, and Gov. Abigail Spanberger.

Eastern View's top individual honor came from Bouldin Lucas Tapscott, who was named the Virginia FFA Creed Speaking champion. As the state winner, Tapscott will represent Virginia at the National FFA Convention this October in Indianapolis.

Three recent Eastern View graduates also received the Virginia State FFA Degree, the highest honor awarded by the Virginia FFA Association. Recipients were Allie Edwards, Holly Savage and Matthew Weaver.

The Virginia State FFA Degree recognizes members who have demonstrated outstanding leadership, excellence in agricultural education, active participation in FFA, and significant achievement through their Supervised Agricultural Experience (SAE) programs. Only a select percentage of Virginia FFA members earn the degree each year, making it one of the organization's most prestigious recognitions.

Eastern View FFA was also recognized for several chapter accomplishments during the convention. The chapter earned recognition for 100% membership, meaning every student enrolled in an agriculture course at Eastern View is an official FFA member. The chapter also received a Gold Public Relations Award, was named the Central Area winner in the Growing Leaders division of the National Chapter Award Program, and was recognized as a Superior Chapter while earning a Gold rating in the National Chapter Program.

That recognition places Eastern View among just 24 Virginia FFA chapters advancing to national judging in the National Chapter Award Program.

In Career and Leadership Development Events, the Eastern View Agricultural Issues team placed third in the state. Members also competed in Agricultural Mechanics, Hippology, Livestock Evaluation, Veterinary Science, Floriculture and Creed Speaking.

Additional individual placings included Trinley Robson, who finished 17th individually in Livestock Evaluation, and Holly Savage, who placed eighth individually in the Floriculture Career Development Event.

"The 100th Virginia FFA Convention was an incredible opportunity for our students to showcase their talents while growing as leaders," said Eastern View FFA advisor Melessa Suder. "Whether they were competing, accepting awards or participating in leadership workshops, they represented our school and community with professionalism and pride. We couldn't be more proud of everything they accomplished."

The National FFA Organization is a premier youth leadership organization that prepares students for careers in agriculture, food, natural resources and related industries through classroom instruction, hands-on learning and leadership development.