The St. James R-1 School District is proud to celebrate the remarkable achievements of its FFA members who have demonstrated outstanding dedication and excellence in various activities and competitions.
Lexi Mullins Embarks on a Journey as Missouri FFA State Officer
Congratulations to Lexi Mullins for being installed as a Missouri FFA Association State Officer for the 2024-2025 term. As Vice President, Lexi will play a pivotal role in fostering leadership and growth within the FFA community. Her responsibilities include visiting schools in Area 15, contributing to Camp Rising Sun, engaging with chapters, and assisting in organizing Greenhand Motivational Conferences statewide. 
Recognition for Lane Engelmeier and Caleb Strackeljahn
Lane Engelmeier's participation in the 2023 Missouri Agribusiness Academy and Caleb Strackeljahn's receipt of the Building Our American Communities (BOAC) grant from the Missouri Department of Agriculture are testaments to their hard work and dedication. Lane was honored on stage during the first session of the State Convention, while Caleb's grant will contribute to the enhancement of our community by building bleachers for the fairgrounds.
Outstanding Proficiency Winners and Team Performances
Our FFA chapter is proud to have three Area Proficiency Winners recognized during the 3rd session of the State Convention: Emily Douglas for Agriculture Communications, M'Lynn Steen for Beef Production-Placement, and Lexi Mullins for Equine Science-Entrepreneurship. Lexi Mullins, in particular, has been announced as the state winner and will represent Missouri at the National Convention in October.
Additionally, our Conduct of Chapter Meetings team showcased their talents, securing victory at the Area 14 level and placing 2nd at the South Central District contests. The team, consisting of Abby Fuhring, Bethany Paine, Adalee Richardson, Hudson Black, Brooke Warren, Dakota Sidwell, Lillian Snelson, and Grant Arnold, exemplifies teamwork and excellence.
Individual Achievements in Floriculture and Public Speaking
In individual competitions, our Floriculture team received a Group II rating, with standout performances from Paige Sells, Savannah Smith, Journey Lloyd, and Trystan Evans. Furthermore, Kate Strackeljahn's success in Division 1 Public Speaking with her speech "I Believe in the FFA Creed" highlights her exceptional oratory skills and dedication to the FFA's principles.
State Degree Recipients
We are thrilled to announce that Elijah Barnett, Emily Douglas, Alexus Freeman, Chloe Gipson, Lexi Mullins, Logan Nothnagel, and Caleb Strackeljahn have been awarded the prestigious State Degree.
State Choir Representation
Last but not least, we celebrate the musical talents of Chloe Gipson, M'Lynn Steen, and Carlin Sybert, who represented our chapter in the State Choir, showcasing the diverse talents within our FFA community.
These achievements show the dedication, talent, and spirit of excellence embodied by the members of the St. James FFA chapter. Thank you to our amazing educators who support our students every step of the way: Mrs. Bouse and Mrs. Watson!
Congratulations, Tigers!