Charles City FFA to receive Supreme National Chapter Award at state convention

By Travis Fischer, tkfischer@charlescitypress.com

Charles City FFA students will be recognized as the top FFA chapter in Iowa after being selected as the Overall Winner of the 2025 Supreme National Chapter Award.

“We’re excited,” said advisor Michelle Dohlman.

“It’s recognizing what we’re doing here in Charles City,” said advisor Bret Spurgin. “It really speaks to the kids here in our community.”

The National Chapter Award is a recognition of the many efforts that FFA chapters take in providing service to their communities.

“It is based on our program activities and the local activities that we take on through the year,” said Spurgin.

From teaching elementary students about farm safety to distributing care packages for area farmers to organizing nursing home Bingo, the many different activities put on by the students contributed to receiving this year’s top honor at the state level.

Along with being recognized as the overall top FFA chapter in the state, Charles City FFA was also named as the top chapter in the Growing Leaders category.

One of three individual categories FFA chapters are judged on, the Charles City chapter stood out for its achievements in putting on its Leadership Day, organizing its College and Career Fair and its hydroponics project.

“The kids will be recognized at the state convention,” said Spurgin. “Then we get ready for nationals.”

Beyond the group awards, FFA senior Everett Schmitt will be awarded as the state’s winner for Agriculture Sales in the Agriculture Proficiency category.

“I was surprised when I heard I had won the Ag Sales Placement Proficiency,” said Schmitt. “It is nice to be recognized and I am looking forward to the national competition.”

Meanwhile, senior Jackson Ruzicka, who already farms 40 acres of cropland, will find out if he will be awarded the title of Star Farmer for his work in agriculture production. Charles City FFA has produced a Star Farmer finalist in four out of the last five years.

“It is an honor to be recognized as a Star Farmer finalist,” said Ruzicka. “It’s really cool to see my hard work be recognized at the state level. I’m looking forward to interviewing at the state convention.”

The 97th Iowa FFA Leadership Conference will be held in Ames from April 13-15. Afterwards, the FFA students will refine their reports and presentation in anticipation for the national convention in Indianapolis later next fall.

In the meantime, they’ll be celebrating a little closer to home, getting ready for their annual FFA banquet coming up at the Floyd County Fairgrounds on Monday, April 28.