148 Eastern Oregon FFA Members, Including Union County Students, Earn State Degrees

Thirty-three Union County students walked across the stage at the Deschutes Fair & Expo Center in Redmond last weekend as part of the 98th annual Oregon FFA State Convention, each receiving the FFA state degree, the highest degree that can be bestowed at the state level.

The convention wrapped up this past weekend, with 148 Eastern Oregon FFA members from Gilliam, Morrow, Umatilla, Union, Wallowa, Grant, Baker, Harney, and Malheur counties walking on stage to receive their degrees. Statewide, 369 Oregon FFA members earned their state degrees at the convention.

Imbler FFA turned out the largest contingent from Union County, with 11 members earning the honor: Joseph Bingaman, Madillyn Burright, Jeytt Cant, Kellan deLint, Isla Howard, James Johnston, Ayden Lucas, Jaymee McDonald, Ian Paulson, Paden Phelps and Carson Yancey. Union FFA followed with seven recipients: Alysha Frye, Millie Miller, Preston Mouritsen, Sam Platz, Kari Stockhoff, Henry Wing and Brylie Wright. Elgin FFA sent five students: Kadin Allen, Carly McLaughlin, Kennedy Moore, Abigale Roulet and Savannah Smith. Cove FFA and North Powder FFA each had four recipients. Cove's honorees were Preston Bakker, Chloe Hatch, Katelyn Matthews and Gideon Topliff; North Powder's were Gage Bingham, Emmie Dickison, Baylee Smith and Livie Warner. La Grande FFA rounded out the county with two recipients: Isaiah Kast and Jade Mata.

To qualify for the state degree, members must have completed at least two years of active FFA membership, participated in a minimum of 10 school and community activities, completed at least 25 hours of community service in a minimum of two different activities, maintained a minimum GPA and delivered a six-minute speech on an agriculture or FFA topic, among other requirements.

The 148 Eastern Oregon recipients represent a significant share of the state's total class. For context on the weight of high-level FFA honors in the region: when 24 Northeastern Oregon members earned the national-level American Degree in fall 2025, Oregon FFA CEO Kjer Kizer noted that the organization's top graduates are "the best students, the most well-rounded employees, kids that are prepared to step into the workforce and understand what it takes to be successful."

The 98th Oregon FFA State Convention ran March 19-22, 2026, at the Deschutes Fair & Expo Center in Redmond. Alongside the degree ceremony, the convention featured competitions and presentations drawing FFA members from chapters across the state. Union County's six participating chapters — Cove, Elgin, Imbler, La Grande, North Powder and Union — were among more than 30 Eastern Oregon chapters represented at the event, from Condon and Heppner in the west to Adrian, Ontario and Vale near the Idaho border.