The 98th National FFA Convention kicks off this week in Indianapolis, running Oct. 29 through Nov. 1. Thousands of FFA members from across the United States, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands will gather to celebrate agricultural education and compete for top honors, including Waunakee native Tyler Leuch.
Leuch, a freshman at Iowa State University studying agricultural business and finance, will take the national stage to represent Wisconsin in a proficiency competition highlighting his student-run business, TL Clips.
“I didn’t come from a traditional ag background. I wasn’t raised on a farm. My parents aren’t involved in agriculture. But I’ve always had a passion for it. And I’ve always had a very strong interest in it,” he says. “I’ve been fortunate to have some great friends and great mentors and people who have supported me along my way to kind of help keep my passion alive.”
That passion led Leuch to start TL Clips, a cattle clipping and fitting business he launched five years ago. He now travels across Wisconsin, preparing animals for shows, from local county fairs to World Dairy Expo.
Listen to the interview with Tyler Leuch for how he learned the art of fitting cattle:
“I love it because it’s a different thing every day. I’m in a different place working with different people, learning new experiences, and making more connections in the industry,” he says. “And overall, it’s been great for me as a person and as a business owner… I’ve definitely learned a lot of skills that can help me in the real world.”
His trophy case is proof that he’s good at what he does:
- In 2023, Leuch earned the top spot in the Intermediate Male Division for the World Dairy Expo Youth Fitting Contest.
- In 2024, he placed first out of 168 exhibitors in the Senior Division of the World Dairy Expo Youth Showmanship Contest, which included the Annette Ostrom Showmanship First Place Award.
Despite his busy college schedule, Leuch is squeezing in a quick trip to the National FFA Convention, flying out Wednesday night, standing on the national stage on Thursday, and returning for a calculus exam Friday morning.
“I’m excited to go to National Convention and see some of my some of my friends from school there,” he says.
See the students up for awards: https://convention.ffa.org/awards-recognition/
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