Franklin FFA's Collin Johnson elected Illinois FFA vice president
Collin Johnson of Franklin was elected Illinois FFA vice president in Springfield, adding another statewide honor to Morgan County’s agriculture profile.
Franklin FFA’s Collin Johnson carried Morgan County onto the state stage Thursday at the Bank of Springfield Center in Springfield, where he was elected vice president of the Illinois FFA. The victory put a Franklin student among the six major state officers chosen from 10 candidates and added another statewide credential to a chapter that has become one of the county’s most visible in agriculture education.
Johnson’s election came at the 98th annual Illinois FFA State Convention, where the organization said its membership spans 36,874 students in 385 chapters across Illinois. In that field, a student from Franklin reaching one of the top leadership posts underscored how far the village’s FFA program reaches beyond Morgan County lines.
Johnson arrived at the convention with a strong record already in place. He had been installed as Section 14 president for the 2025-2026 Illinois FFA year and had earned the Illinois State FFA Degree, the highest achievement in Illinois FFA. Fewer than 2% of members statewide receive that degree, a marker that places Johnson among a small group of students recognized for sustained work in agricultural education, leadership and chapter involvement.
For Franklin FFA, the election continued a run of prominence that has helped define the chapter’s place in Morgan County agriculture. Former Franklin FFA member Thaddeus Bergschneider was elected National FFA president, and the chapter has also collected state-level recognition in recent years, including proficiency and star awards at the June 2025 state convention. Under advisers Kaitlyn Kane and Brent Nelson, the chapter has built a record that now reaches from Franklin High School to the top levels of Illinois FFA leadership.
Johnson’s new role gives Franklin another voice in statewide agriculture conversations at a time when local chapters matter to farm families, rural schools and the broader pipeline of future ag leaders. For younger FFA members in Morgan County, his election offers a clear example that the path from a local chapter in Franklin can lead to major responsibility across Illinois.
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