Warren County Middle School FFA Earns Historic National Honor: First Local Chapter Ever to Receive 3-Star Gold Rating from National FFA

For the first time in Warren County’s history, a local FFA chapter has received the highest honor possible from the National FFA Organization. Warren County Middle School’s FFA Chapter has earned the prestigious National Chapter Award with a Gold 3-Star Rating, placing it among the top agricultural education programs in the nation.

This major accomplishment was announced after the chapter advanced through state-level competition and qualified for national recognition. The award celebrates chapters that exemplify the FFA’s mission: growing leaders, building communities, and strengthening agriculture.

“This achievement reflects the hard work, passion, and dedication of our FFA members, officers, and supporters,” said Lynne Phillips, the FFA advisor at WCMS. “It’s not just a win for our chapter—it’s a proud moment for our entire community.”

To be considered for the Gold 3-Star rating, chapters must meet strict requirements set by the National FFA Organization. This includes achieving high scores in areas such as leadership development, community involvement, and agricultural education. WCMS FFA students created a 26-page application outlining 15 high-impact events they organized throughout the year. These events had to meet S.M.A.R.T. goals (specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound) and be evaluated against an official national rubric.

Unlike many middle school programs, WCMS FFA members took full ownership of the application process. They planned, implemented, and measured each activity themselves—from food drives and environmental cleanups to leadership workshops and agriculture-based science projects.

The students set out to make a real difference and prove just how capable middle schoolers can be when equipped with the right tools and trusted to take the lead. Their goal wasn’t just to learn about leadership—it was to actively demonstrate it through meaningful action.

The Gold 3-Star Rating does more than just put WCMS FFA on the map—it sets a new standard for youth leadership and agricultural education in the region. According to the National FFA Organization, fewer than 10% of chapters nationwide receive this top-tier recognition.

Warren County Middle School FFA will be officially honored during the National FFA Convention in late October 2025, where students will join other top chapters from across the country to celebrate their success.

The National FFA Organization recently announced it now serves over 1 million student members across 9,407 chapters in all 50 states, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. As agriculture continues to evolve, FFA’s focus on leadership and career preparation remains vital.

For WCMS, this recognition is not the finish line—it’s just the beginning. The chapter plans to expand its activities in the coming year, growing its impact in the community and continuing to develop tomorrow’s agricultural leaders, one student at a time.