Taking center stage for National FFA

By Adyson Rackley, Contributing writer

National FFA is more than just livestock and farming, especially to Centralia High School (CHS) sophomore Jaden Decker.

Missouri FFA recognized Decker for his exemplary agriscience fair research project on April 18, 2024 which he received first for division three of the animal systems area. 

Decker’s project was titled, Estimates of Heritability of Show Success in Hereford Cattle Using Pedigrees and Linear Mixed Models.

To create an agriscience project students have to identify a concern or topic they feel strongly about and research it. Decker chose to research animal systems because he is a rancher and is constantly working with animals and getting hands on knowledge. Starting his two month research process, Decker collected data on his topic and started analyzing it. Decker's last step was to write his final paper. “I wanted to reach Nationals and I wanted to find something that I could use for myself and others,” Decker stated when asked what he wanted to accomplish with his project. 

To qualify, Decker had to be a competitor in the Missouri FFA Agriscience Convention. Decker took first place at state with his animal systems research paper. He reused his final paper and submitted it to Nationals. Jaden’s essay was then selected for the top ten in the country. 

The purpose of the Agriscience Fair is for FFA members to hone their research skills. Mr. Scott Stone, CHS agricultural teacher and FFA advisor, replied that another purpose of the fair is to “solve problems facing the agricultural industry.” The winning prizes are $1,000 for first, $750 for second and $500 for third place. 

Decker will find out his placing this October at the 97th National FFA Convention and Expo in Indianapolis, IN. 

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