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Odessa FFA students report enrollment gains, industry credentials and regional certification event
Summary
Odessa FFA students told the school board the chapter now enrolls about 250 students, ranked 10th in Missouri, offers 16 courses across five of six pathways, and will host a regional certification event March 17 to deliver 17 industry-recognized credentials.
Odessa FFA students told the Odessa R‑VII School Board on Monday that the chapter has grown substantially and expanded career and technical offerings.
Harper Dicki, an Odessa FFA junior who identified herself as the chapter president and an area secretary, said the district’s agricultural program is a three‑teacher operation with about 250 students enrolled for the 2025–26 school year and that the chapter is ranked 10th in the state for program enrollment. Dicki said Odessa offers 16 unique courses and currently provides five of six career pathways; a sixth pathway will open next year after the chapter received grant funding.
"We offer industry‑recognized credentials in 17 areas," Dicki said, adding the chapter will host a certification event in Odessa on March 17 that is expected to bring hundreds of students from dozens of schools.
Students also summarized recent competitive and scholarship results. Dicki said the chapter has awarded $9,250 in scholarship money through the Odessa FFA alumni since May 2022, reported four American degrees granted at a national convention and noted multiple state contest placings and qualifiers.
Kaylee Robinson, the chapter’s first vice president and a senior, delivered a prepared speech connecting conservation and community that included the line, "Home is where the habitat is," and cited outreach programs such as EQUIP and the Conservation Innovation Grants program highlighted by the Missouri Department of Conservation.
Board member Mr. Sheepard and other trustees asked students how the chapter tripled its membership in recent years. Students attributed growth to adding two advisers, expanded course offerings, middle‑school exploratory classes that familiarize younger students with FFA, and targeted recruitment incentives during a recruitment week.
The presentation concluded with board praise for students’ public‑speaking skills and an invitation for questions.
The board did not take formal action on the presentation. The district packet and student comments said the March 17 certification will make credentials available locally to many visiting students.
