Members, honorary degree recipient recognized at 99th National FFA Convention

Indianapolis (KQTV) -- The 99th National FFA Convention and Expo brought nearly 73,000 members to Indianapolis, but only a select few earned a spot on the national stage.

Among them were two National FFA Band members and one Honorary American FFA Degree recipient, each carrying a different chapter's name to the national stage.

For Truman Corbett of Hamilton FFA, the best part was simple: being on stage with the national officers, playing clarinet in front of 25,000 people.

"I'm really excited for the sessions because, I mean, just getting to be on stage and be right there with the national officers and get to play my instrument in front of 25,000 people," Corbett said.

For Olivia Welter of Stuart FFA, being a member of the National FFA Band runs in the family. Both her brother and father were part of the band for two years, and her mom performed with the National Chorus for one year.

"I think that's really exciting. My dad did two years here. And my brother also did two years, and my mom was a member of the National Chorus," Welter said. "It's been so much fun. Very tiring, I will say, but it's been just a blast. Like, we got to meet all the national officers, the head chairs. It's been crazy."

This year, 236 recipients were awarded the Honorary American FFA Degree. One of them was Rachel Kagay, who serves as chairwoman of the Community Foundation of Northwest Missouri board and operates her own coaching and consulting business.

For Kagay, her life has been full of the corduroy blue and maize gold.

"FFA has been in my blood. I grew up the daughter of an agriculture teacher, so my mom's been in and out of the classroom for years," Kagay said. "I've grown up around this organization and knew from a young age this was an organization that makes a difference in the lives of students. And so fast forward, I served as a state officer years ago."

The FFA describes the honor as one reserved for individuals who have provided exceptional service on a national level to agriculture, agricultural education or FFA.