Nebraska FFA will be well represented when the organization recognizes its top members, research projects and chapters during the 2026 National FFA Convention in Indianapolis.
Twenty-three Nebraska FFA members were selected as national finalists in the National FFA Agriscience Fair. The students are competing individually or in teams with 15 research projects spanning animal systems, environmental and natural resource systems, food products and processing, plant systems, and power, structural and technical systems.
Nebraska’s Agriscience Fair finalists are:
- Reese Cunningham, Elwood FFA
- Clare Schmidt, Battle Creek FFA
- Cooper Jones and Adree Case, Johnson County Central FFA
- Emily Brhel, Nebraska Ag Academy FFA
- Brantley Robbins, Johnson-Brock FFA
- Sophia Schmid and Reese Badertscher, Johnson County Central FFA
- Esther Vanoverbeke, Waverly FFA
- Molly Weber and Saige Rother, Johnson County Central FFA
- Hailey Fries and Laney Becker, Southern Valley FFA
- Ava Schmutte and Olivia Zoubek, Norris FFA
- Landon Varvel, Southern Valley FFA
- Drake Fries and Sawyer McIntosh, Elm Creek FFA
- Caroline Timm, Lyons-Decatur Northeast FFA
- Jordan Bonifas and Lee Gibson, Silver Lake FFA
- Bethany Preister and Katerina Maricle, Boone Central FFA
Four additional Nebraska members were named national finalists in the Agricultural Proficiency Awards. The awards recognize FFA members who develop specialized skills and experience through their supervised agricultural experience programs.
Nebraska’s proficiency award finalists are:
- Esther Vanoverbeke, Waverly FFA, agriscience research in integrated systems
- Jaelin Wolfinger, Sumner-Eddyville-Miller FFA, beef production entrepreneurship
- Reese Hirschfeld, York FFA, small animal production and care
- Carson Reiman, Gothenburg FFA, vegetable production
Nebraska members received recognition across more than 40 proficiency award areas, with ratings spanning agricultural communications, mechanics, livestock production, crop production, agricultural sales, horticulture and veterinary science.
Nebraska FFA chapters also earned national recognition for their work strengthening agriculture, building communities and developing chapter members.
Eleven Nebraska chapters received the highest three-star rating in the National Chapter Award program:
- Beatrice
- Lakeview
- Meridian
- Minden
- Nebraska City
- Newman Grove
- Norfolk
- Southern Valley
- Stuart
- Waverly
- Wayne
Nine additional chapters earned two-star ratings: Blue Hill, Elm Creek, Heartland, Holdrege, Humphrey, Osmond, Overton, Palmer and West Holt.
The finalists and award-winning chapters will be recognized during the 2026 National FFA Convention in Indianapolis. National winners in the Agriscience Fair and Agricultural Proficiency Award programs will also be announced during the convention.