The Pine Plains Future Farmers of America celebrated student achievements for the 2025-26 academic year on June 12 at the chapter’s annual banquet at the Stissing Mountain High School auditorium.
The FFA is a national organization with over 9,000 chapters across the country, aiming to help students discover career paths in agriculture and develop leadership skills.
The evening’s top honoree was outgoing chapter president Hope Miller, who plans to study animal science at SUNY Cobleskill. She not only received the $1,000 Miller Scholarship — funded by her grandfather, dairy farmer Mike Miller — but also took home the $1,000 Brud Pulver Community Service Award for her extensive volunteer work, including teaching elementary school students how to groom and milk cows. The award is named after the longtime former FFA advisory board member, and it was presented by his son Gregg Pulver, the Assistant County Executive for Dutchess County.
“Everyone, make sure you never take anything for granted,” Miller said in her acceptance speech. “Take every opportunity you can, make memories, and don’t be afraid to try new things.”
The retiring officer team introduced the crowd to next year’s leadership: outgoing vice president Coughlan Mullen, now the chapter president, will head a team that includes vice president Jaden Cotte, secretary Addison Stapf, and treasurer Kayla French.
Mullen and Adam Cawley were also recognized with the Exceptional Membership Award for their increased engagement this year. Cotte won the Star Greenhand award for demonstrating leadership and actively participating in chapter activities, and Stapf was named Star Chapter Farmer.
Six middle school students — Leah Armstrong, Julia Decker, McKenna Mackay, Brantley Morgan, Callen Nannetti, and Zoey Woelm— shared the Discovery Degree to acknowledge their participation in FFA activities. Decker earned the Star Discovery Award for participating in the most events.
Alumnus Abigail Marino, a recent graduate of SUNY Cobleskill, earned the Empire degree, the highest honor an FFA student can receive at the state level.
The retiring team also reflected on a busy year that included a trip in May to the state FFA convention in Buffalo, where students competed in tool identification and food science contests as well as a quiz bowl. Throughout the school year, students also participated in other activities, such as the annual ag fair and the dairy product evaluation contest.
Stephanie Rhoades, the chapter’s faculty advisor, said she was proud to see members growing into confident leaders and working hard to share their agricultural knowledge with the community. Rhoades has been teaching electives like food science, animal science, and horticulture to students at the middle and high school for about 12 years.
“My hope is that next year, members will continue to develop their leadership skills and not be afraid to step out of their comfort zones,” Rhoades said.
Assemblymember Didi Barrett (D-106) attended the event, praising the FFA’s role in giving back to the farming community in the Hudson Valley and connecting students to agricultural education.
“I love that for many students who may find science threatening or not something that they understand or relate to,” Barrett said, “this kind of programming is such a great portal for kids to be able to access a different part of their brain, as they grow up to be adults operating in a strange and complicated world.”