FFA members bring home awards from Fort Worth
The Albany FFA Chapter brought home several honors from the 97th Annual Texas FFA Convention, held June 30–July 4 in Fort Worth.
FFA sponsor Chris Beard, who attended the convention with the local group, said the trip was a chance to both celebrate student success and build momentum for the year ahead.
“We were proud of what our kids accomplished this year,” Beard said. “It’s great to see their hard work recognized at the state level.”
Two Albany members – Madailein Beard and Ryan Turner – received the Lone Star FFA Degree, the highest honor awarded by the Texas FFA Association. The degree recognizes members who show exceptional leadership, dedication to their chapter and community, and success in their Supervised Agricultural Experience (SAE) projects.
“It takes a lot to earn that degree,” Beard said. “Madailein and Ryan have been involved in everything from leadership events to hands-on projects, and they’ve both been a big part of our program.”
Several other Albany students were also recognized for their individual accomplishments, including Hattie Braly, Tatum Grady, Charlee Patterson, and Tara Cauble.
In addition to individual awards, the Albany FFA Chapter earned recognition as a Superior Chapter in Texas—a distinction given to programs that excel in chapter development, community service, and member involvement.
“Our chapter does a lot behind the scenes that people might not realize,” Beard said. “From helping at local events to hosting workshops for younger students, our members are constantly active and finding ways to lead.”
The convention drew more than 16,000 attendees from across the state, offering students the chance to attend leadership workshops, network with other FFA members, and hear from guest speakers. Along the way, Albany students built new connections and gained ideas to bring back to their own chapter.
The Albany group wrapped up the week not only with plaques and certificates, but with new motivation heading into the 2025–26 school year.
“This group has a lot of potential, and they’re already thinking about what’s next,” Beard said. “I’m excited to see what they’ll accomplish this year.”
