Eight members of Bullard’s Future Farmers of America attended the 82nd annual Texas FFA Convention in Corpus Christi, joining more than 11,000 other guests.

Members of the agricultural youth-leadership organization spent a week in July attending leadership workshops, participating in events and activities, being recognized for their achievements, and serving as the legislative body for the Texas FFA Association.

Bullard members who attended are Josh Martin, Nikki Fuller, Macey Brown, Dixie Taylor, Olivia LeVoy, Jake Bickerstaff, Walker Roach, and Kolton Prince.

More than $2 million in scholarships were awarded to FFA members, and approximately 1,300 members received the Lone Star FFA degree, the highest degree of active membership bestowed by a state FFA association.

More than 700 members were recognized on stage for their accomplishments.

Members also competed for state titles in public speaking and agriscience events.

In the interest of premier leadership, personal growth and career success, the Texas FFA Association also offered an opportunity for students to compete in a Spanish-version creedspeaking event for the first time in its history.

The creed delivery and the five-minute questionanswer period were conducted in Spanish.

Texas FFA honored soldiers and all American military service personnel, including Medal of Honor recipient Col. Donald E. Ballard, during the Honoring Our Heroes Ceremony.

Ballard serves as special assistant to the adjutant general, making him one of only three Medal of Honor recipients on active service.

Members heard from national FFA Western Region Vice President Randa Braune, as well as motivational speakers Josh Sundquist and Albert Mensah.

Texas country-music artist Kyle Park performed exclusively for FFA members. Park has written or co-written all 12 songs on his new album, “Anywhere in Texas,” his most recent hit being “Don’t Look.”

The Texas FFA has evolved from an organization focusing primarily on production agriculture, to a broader-based encompassing organization that addresses the needs and interests of students in urban and suburban schools.

The Texas FFA is the nation’s largest state FFA associations with a membership of approximately 74,000 and more than 1,000 FFA chapters.

FFA gives students the opportunity to apply practical classroom knowledge to real world experiences through local, state and national competitions.