Two Perry County high school FFA chapters will send representatives to the 98th National FFA Convention & Expo in Indianapolis this fall after advancing from the Indiana state competition. Students from Tell City High School and Cannelton High School earned state-level proficiency honors at the Indiana FFA State Convention in June 2025 and were listed among state finalists to advance to nationals in an Indiana FFA announcement on Oct. 19, 2025. Local reporting by the Perry County News on Oct. 20, 2025, confirmed the qualifiers and described their Supervised Agricultural Experience projects that led to the state-level recognition.

The National FFA Agricultural Proficiency Awards recognize students who develop applied skills and business experience through supervised projects—known as SAEs—in categories that include agribusiness, crop and livestock management, and other proficiency areas. Advancing to the national stage gives Perry County youth exposure to industry mentors, scholarship opportunities and a broader network of agricultural educators and employers, resources that can be particularly valuable in a rural economy where agriculture, forestry and related industries account for more than 20 percent of local economic activity.

For Perry County, the advancement is more than individual achievement; it feeds into community-wide concerns about sustaining family farms, retaining young people who might otherwise leave for urban job markets, and strengthening local food systems. Participation in national competitions can attract new partnerships and investment to local ag education programs, potentially increasing access to hands-on learning and career pathways in STEM and agribusiness for students across the county. Such opportunities also intersect with public health goals, as stronger local food systems and agricultural training can support food security and community nutrition over the long term.

The Perry Central Community School Corporation, which includes the Tell City and Cannelton FFA chapters, and local advisors played a central role in guiding students’ SAE projects. While local reporting provided project descriptions, state lists anonymized student names in keeping with privacy practices. The Indiana FFA Association oversees state selections and nomination to the national competition; both the local news account and the state announcement serve as verification of the students’ advancement.

Looking ahead, Perry County educators and community leaders will be watching results from the national convention and considering follow-up steps. Further reporting could include interviews with FFA advisors, the Perry County Extension Office and school officials to document any subsequent changes in enrollment, local program funding or community partnerships prompted by the national exposure. Tracking outcomes also matters for policy discussions about equitable support for rural schools and workforce development.

The students’ advancement is a reminder that investment in youth agricultural education produces tangible community benefits. In a county shaped by the land and facing pressures such as farm consolidation and limited access to rural resources, the achievements of Tell City and Cannelton FFA members offer both local pride and practical possibilities for strengthening Perry County’s economic and public health resilience.