The Bolivar FFA Chapter delivered a historic performance at the 98th Missouri State FFA Convention last week, walking away with a state presidency, a state speaking title, and a top-tier "Gold Emblem" ranking.

Ellie Samek was elected by her peers to serve as the 2026-2027 Missouri State FFA President. The selection followed an intensive three-day process involving interviews and exams. Samek, the daughter of John and Shelia Samek, is a veteran leader, previously serving as Area FFA President and Bolivar Senior Class President.

"The energy and passion of all FFA members gathering in one arena was truly remarkable," Samek said. "After months of preparation, it was rewarding to see that the hard work of my teammates and me paid off. I feel incredibly blessed with the opportunity to serve Missouri FFA as the incoming State President."

Samek’s leadership was matched by her academic and scientific success. She was named the State Star in Agriscience and won the State Agriscience Fair (Environmental and Natural Resources Division) alongside her brother, Garrett Samek.

"Of all the conventions I have been to, this has been the best," Garrett Samek said. "Not because of the achievements, but more of the people I have met. Being able to share that with my sister and being able to watch her achieve all she has done—this truly has been the best convention I have had."

In the speaking arenas, Skyla Moore claimed the title of State Champion in Division II Public Speaking.

"I really underestimated my abilities and thought to myself, ‘there’s no way I can win,” Moore said. "I quickly learned that with hard work and dedication, you can do anything. The moment I was up on stage and realized I had won just felt unreal."

As a chapter, Bolivar was recognized as a Gold Emblem Chapter, ranking 36th overall in Missouri. The Entomology team (Kory Pauley, Ellie Samek, Astra Beachy, and Makayla Methvin) placed 5th in the state, officially qualifying for the National FFA Convention.

Other top-ten finishes included the Soils team (Caleb Warden, Garrett Samek, Benaiah Dhondt, and Houston Gambriel), which placed 6th in the state—missing a national qualification by just two points—and the FFA Knowledge team (Ethan Tennison and Faith Clark), which placed 7th.

"Seeing our chapter recognized as a Gold Emblem Chapter is a testament to the dedication of these students," said Ashley Brown, Bolivar FFA Advisor. "From our state-winning speakers to our national-qualifying entomology team, the depth of talent this year was staggering. These students are becoming the industry's next leaders."

The chapter’s success extended into individual technical excellence, with several students earning "Group I" individual honors for scoring in the top 25% of the state. These high-achieving students included Kayler Ballard and Jackson O'Neal in Dairy Foods, Carson Scheppmann in Nursery Landscaping, Taylor Walker and Clara Harless in Floriculture, and Cole Gervais in Meats. Bolivar was also represented on the big stage by Kayler Ballard, who was selected for the prestigious State FFA Choir.

Reflecting the chapter’s commitment to long-term excellence, eight members were awarded the State FFA Degree, the highest honor the Missouri FFA Association can bestow upon its members. Recipients included Aubrey Cowden, Aubrey Funk, Emma Goodman, Aniston LeAn, Makayla Methvin, Ellie Samek, Ava Smith, and Logan Welch. Additionally, Bolivar saw a record number of Proficiency Award finalists, recognizing students who have excelled in their Supervised Agricultural Experience (SAE) projects. Finalists included Rhylan Ray (Ag Communications), Emma Hancock (Beef Production), Kaebry Rowe (Agriscience Research Animal), Caleb Warden (Diversified Crop), Aubrey Funk (Horticulture), Ellie Samek (Fiber & Oil Crop), Owen Kirby (Grain Production), Kori Miles (Specialty Animal), and Garrett Samek (Wildlife Management).