Abingdon-Avon High School Conduct of Chapter Meetings Team Wins BIG

By - Taylor Hendel, Abingdon-Avon FFA Chapter Reporter

Abingdon-Avon Conduct of Chapter Meetings Team

When most students are approached about learning how to run a formal meeting and presenting it in front of a panel of judges, they run the opposite way. Contrary, seven freshmen at Abingdon-Avon High School jumped on the opportunity with confidence and determination. While it may look like the road to success was short, the polar opposite was true for the Conduct of Chapter Meetings team at Abingdon-Avon High School. In September, the team set out with one goal in mind: to win state. Practice quickly began and continued for several months, each day getting up at 7:30 am to practice before school as well as during advisory. The team worked vigorously as it paid off at their first competition in March with a win at the section level.

The next step was to get past the district contest, held in Geneseo in April. Once again, the team’s goal was to win State. Practice continued, and the competition day came. Unfortunately, the team was not pleased with their performance and was sure the road to state had ended. Luckily, they ended second at districts and got to advance to state. The team went back to work and vowed to not let what happened at districts get them down. After another month of practice, the State competition came. On May 1st, 2025, the team traveled to Peoria, Illinois, where they competed in the Illinois FFA State Conduct of Chapter Meetings Contest held at ICC. Here, their hard work and determination paid off, and the team came home STATE CHAMPIONS.

The team will now get an opportunity to travel to Indianapolis, Indiana, where they will compete against the top team of all 50 states as they try for a national title. This competition will be held at the National FFA Convention and Expo at the end of October. Team members included: Abby Kemp; President, Terrance Reffett; Vice President, James Shuey; Secretary, Maci Brooks; Reporter, Josie Featherlin; Treasurer, Elias Carreon; Sentinel, Collin Jennings; Advisor, the team was coached by their two advisors Mrs. Makayla Worhtington and Miss. Colby Trone.