Central 301 FFA Students Earn Top Honors at State Competitions

Central High School’s FFA students delivered an outstanding performance at last Friday’s Illinois FFA state contests, earning top finishes and individual recognition across multiple Career Development Events (CDEs).

In the Veterinary Science CDE, the Central team captured 1st place in the state out of 46 teams. The competition challenges students through breed, parasite, and equipment identification, lab practicums simulating clinical skills, and written and math exams covering veterinary science knowledge and calculations. Individually, Emilie Anderson placed 1st out of 178 participants, while Ava Polites (5th), Karli Maurer (16th), and Gianna Cikauskas (17th) also earned top finishes.

Central students also excelled in the Horse Evaluation CDE, where the team placed 5th in the state out of 71 teams. Participants evaluated multiple classes of horses based on industry standards, emphasizing critical thinking and professional assessment skills. Riley Boehning led the team with a 13th-place individual finish out of 253 competitors, followed by Kate Jarovsky (37th), Emma Hartmann (53rd), and Ella Scherer (81st).

Adding to the celebration, Karli Maurer earned the Illinois FFA State Degree, the highest honor awarded by the Illinois FFA Association. Fewer than 2% of members statewide receive this distinction, recognizing exceptional achievement in agricultural education, leadership, community service, and work-based learning. Maurer was one of just 23 students in Section 6 FFA — representing approximately 1,800 members across 14 schools — to receive the award.

These accomplishments highlight the strength of Central High School’s agriculture and veterinary science programs and reflect the dedication, preparation, and professionalism of its students.

Congratulations to our Central 301 FFA students on an incredible showing at the state level.

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