MIKE McCORMICK
Staff Writer
Meeker High School’s FFA chapter once again has been named a top 10 national finalist in the Model of Excellence competition.
It’s the second time in three years the Meeker FFA chapter, under the direction and guidance of Vo-Ag instructor and FFA advisor Logan Johns, has been named a national finalist.
“In 2020 the chapter was named national champions, the top FFA chapter in America,” Johns recalls.
He explained, “This is the entire chapter. The program of activities was planned by the chapter offi ce but the activities were carried out by the entire chapter,” Johns noted.
He said this past school year the enrollment in FFA was 59. “It was those 59 that put it all together,” he added.
This coming school year he anticipates the chapter to number between 90-95 students.
“We’ll have 20-25 eighth graders, 30-40 freshmen, 15 in horticulture and 15 in shop class,” Johns stated.
“We’re excited,” Johns said, referring to the chapter being named again a top 10 finalist and this year which is starting this week.
Johns pointed to what takes place now regarding the national competition.
“Some of our students will do a presentation of about 15 minutes over those activities we have completed and will have to answer some questions.
“This will be done at the national FFA convention the last week of October in Indianapolis, Ind. Right now, it looks like 12 to 13 students will make the trip.”
Johns said, “We’re competing in two different areas at Indianapolis. We qualified at the state level in Conduct of Chapter meetings and Model of Excellence.
“At the state level, they determine the top 37 applications in the Model of Excellence from Oklahoma and they submit that to the national FFA and nationals ranks them 1, 2 or 3 star. Three star is the highest you can get and we got that,” Johns continued.
From there, he said, “They go through all the 3 star applications across the nation and rank the top 10 application scores and the top 10 application scores are top 10 Model of Excellence finalists.”
Johns pointed out, “I think we have as good a chance as anyone else. I am confident in their ability to compete.”
Two other FFA chapters from Oklahoma, Okmulgee and Miami, were also named top 10 Model of Excellence finalists, meaning the state has three of the 10 chapters in America competing for the national honor.