The award is one of the highest honors bestowed by the National FFA, according to a news release from the Moriarty FFA Chapter. Moriarty earned the recognition by participating in a variety of activities including community service, student leadership development, chapter development, and by being the Superior Chapter in New Mexico. Out of 7,500 FFA chapters, Moriarty is ranked among the top 300 chapters in the nation. Seven Moriarty students will compete individually at the 82nd national convention Oct. 21-24.

Megan Mouser, Sydney Stuart, Kolene Winn, Melissa Burson, Amanda Ball, Alyssa Hackett and Leah Hasler each won state competitions in June.

Freshman Mouser will compete in the Agriscience Fair event with her project, "Can CO2 Make Your Plants Vertically Challenged?" Stuart, an eighth-grader, will compete in the Agriscience Fair with her project, "Crack-a-Lackin' Egg Shell Thickness." Freshman Winn will compete in the Agriscience Fair event with her project, titled "A Piece to The DNA Puzzle." Freshman Burson will also attend the Convention as the New Mexico Junior High Illustrated Talk champion. Junior Ball was selected to play the flute in the National FFA Band that will perform several times during the weeklong affair. Senior Hackett will represent New Mexico at the national level in the Beef Production Proficiency competition. Senior Hasler will compete in the Prepared Public Speaking event. Her eight minute speech, titled "Rising Oil Prices: An Arm and a Leg for Agriculture," discusses the effects of oil prices on agriculture.