Gatlinburg, TN – At the 86th Tennessee State Future Farmers of America (FFA) Convention over 3,000 Tennessee FFA members convened in Gatlinburg to participate in Career Development Events (CDEs), compete in 49 proficiency areas, receive scholarships and witness over 500 FFA members receive their State FFA Degree, while also learning about the importance of premier leadership, personal growth and career success from the eight State FFA Officers presiding over the convention.

The Agricultural Issues Forum CDE was one of approximately 10 CDEs to take place at State Convention with the Wilson Central FFA chapter in Lebanon, Tennessee winning first place. The Wilson Central chapter will represent the state of Tennessee on the national level at National FFA Convention in Louisville this October. Teams placing in the top four were the Wilson Central, Mt. Juliet, McEwen and Eagleville FFA chapters, respectively.

The Agricultural Issues Forum CDE provides an opportunity to expose a wide variety of students to the selection, research, planning and presentation of an agricultural issue, such as environmental issues, animal issues, food safety issues and biotechnology. The event aims to allow students to acquire knowledge and skills in community leadership, become knowledgeable of local, state, national, and international issues facing agriculture and to further awareness of agricultural issues in the local community.

The event is sponsored by Helena Chemical Company located in Collierville, Tennessee. Helena Chemical Company has been a proud sponsor of Tennessee FFA since 2007.

FFA makes a positive difference in the lives of students by developing their potential for premier leadership, personal growth and career success through agricultural education. Nationally, there are 579,678 FFA members, aged 12-21. The Tennessee FFA Association is comprised of 13,644 members from 213 high school chapters, seven middle school chapters and eight collegiate chapters across the state of Tennessee.