NISD FFA students secure top honors at state, two are headed to nationals

Four Northwest ISD FFA students have achieved outstanding success, securing top honors at state and two are headed to the FFA National Convention in October.

• Cole Bolton, a sophomore at Eaton High School, earned the Texas FFA Star Greenhand in Agribusiness. This accolade is awarded to the top-scoring first-year agribusiness member in the state.

• Rylie Copeland, a senior at Eaton High School, secured the state title in Turf Grass Management Proficiency at the Texas FFA State Convention. This achievement reflects his expertise in turf grass and exemplary record-keeping skills.

• Montgomery Lankford, a 2024 graduate of Northwest High School, was named the Texas State FFA Proficiency winner in Beef Production Placement. He also achieved Lone Star finalist status for all placement proficiencies and will compete at the National FFA Convention in October.

• Peyton White, a junior at Byron Nelson High School, was selected for the National FFA Chorus. Out of approximately 400 applicants, she was one of just 50 chosen for this honor. She will perform with the choir at the National FFA Convention in October.

Copeland’s passion for FFA and turf grass began five years ago when he started his own turf grass business. 

“I was looking for a way to earn money quickly at 12 years old,” he explained. “With my family’s background in beef cattle production, joining FFA felt like a natural fit, and I’ve thrived in many ways.”

White, who had been involved in choir since fifth grade but had to step back to focus on other activities, eagerly auditioned for the FFA Chorus when she learned about it. 

“When I found out about this, I was like, ‘I miss choir, so I tried out for it,’” she said. “I’m just really excited to be back into choir and getting to represent Byron Nelson on a national level.”

For Bolton, his success is a testament to his hard work and dedication. 

“I always wanted to show a steer, but living in a residential area made that difficult,” he said. “I started showing rabbits and working on agricultural mechanics projects. When my dad’s budget couldn’t keep up with my ambitions, I began mowing and maintaining lawns. It turned out that I could compete through my business and ultimately won.”

These students’ achievements highlight their dedication and the impact of the FFA program in nurturing their skills and passions.