INDIANAPOLIS (Tuesday, Oct. 27, 2020/National FFA Organization) – Meeker FFA of Oklahoma has been named the 2020 National Model of Excellence winner during the 93rd National FFA Convention & Expo, held virtually this year.

The National Chapter Award program recognizes outstanding FFA chapters that actively implement the organization’s mission and strategies. These chapters improve chapter operations using the National Quality FFA Chapter Standards and a Program of Activities (POA) that emphasizes growing leaders, building communities, and strengthening agriculture. Chapters are rewarded for providing educational experiences for the entire membership.

Members of Meeker FFA started noticing things in their small community they wanted to improve, such as hunger, a lack of safety knowledge, communicating with others and physical health. The chapter designed their POA to offer fun and practical solutions to these challenges. The chapter’s Food Wars activity, a Penny Wars-like food drive, provided Thanksgiving baskets for the community. This competition increased local participation and netted more than 1,100 items to donate.

High school chapters that received three-star ratings during judging are eligible to compete for the Model of Excellence award, the highest honor awarded to a high school FFA chapter by the National FFA Organization. Ten FFA chapters competed in a virtual presentation for the top honor. Meeker FFA was recognized as the winner during the second general session held virtually on Tuesday, Oct. 27.

John Deere sponsors the National Chapter Award program. The 93rd National FFA Convention & Expo takes place virtually Oct. 27-29. View the general sessions live on RFD-TV, The Cowboy Channel and FFA.org. For more information, visit Convention.FFA.org.

The National FFA Organization is a school-based national youth leadership development organization of more than 760,000 student members as part of 8,700 local FFA chapters in all 50 states, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

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About National FFA Organization
The National FFA Organization is a school-based national youth leadership development organization of more than 760,000 student members as part of 8,700 local FFA chapters in all 50 states, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. The FFA mission is to make a positive difference in the lives of students by developing their potential for premier leadership, personal growth and career success through agricultural education. For more, visit the National FFA Organization online at FFA.org and on Facebook and Twitter.

About National FFA Foundation
The National FFA Foundation builds partnerships with industry, education, government, other foundations, and individuals to secure financial resources that recognize FFA member achievements, develop student leaders, and support the future of agricultural education. Governed by a 19-member board of trustees composed of educators, business leaders, individual donors and FFA Alumni, the foundation is a separately registered nonprofit organization. About 82 percent of every dollar received by the foundation supports FFA members and agricultural education opportunities. For more, visit FFA.org/Give.