Here is an update of the events at the 81st Kansas FFA State Convention now underway in Manhattan, Kan.

• The Cherryvale High School FFA Chapter won first place in the state in the scrapbook competition.

• Coffeyville’s Kaylee Koch won first place in the state in the prepared public speaking CDE (Career Development Event). To participate in the prepared public speaking CDE, members must submit a manuscript and bibliography, present a six- to eight-minute speech and answer questions about their selected speech topic. By winning at the state level, Koch has the opportunity to compete in the National Career Development Events at the National FFA Convention in Indianapolis, Ind., on Oct. 21-24, 2009.

• Presented with their Kansas State FFA Degree were several area FFA members, including Courtney Lay and Quint Lockwood of the Caney Valley High School FFA CHapter and Erin King and Clint Diver of the Cherryvale High School FFA Chapter.

• Courtney Lay of the Caney Valley chapter was among 14 FFA students to compete for a state officer position. Lay did not make the slate of final 10 candidates.

• Receiving a state FFA scholarship from the Montgomery County was Shane Blaes of Cherryvale. Carrie Blaes of Cherryvale as well as Boone Ott and Kaylee Koch, both of Coffeyville, received national FFA scholarships at the state convention.

• Receiving their American Degrees were Cherryvale’s Shane Blaes and Carrie Blaes.