INDIANAPOLIS (Thursday, Oct. 28, 2020/National FFA Organization) –  The final 10 winners of the 2020 Agricultural Proficiency Awards were named during the fifth general session of the 93rd National FFA Convention & Expo on Thursday, Oct. 29, which is being held virtually this year.

Agricultural Proficiency Awards honor FFA members who, through supervised agricultural experiences (SAEs), have developed specialized skills that they can apply toward their future careers. Students compete in areas ranging from agricultural communications to wildlife management. Proficiency awards are also recognized at local and state levels and provide recognition to members exploring and becoming established in agricultural career pathways.

Today, awards were announced for the final 10 of the 45 categories during the fifth general convention session.

Those recipients are:

Sheep Production – Entrepreneurship/Placement
Madison Woods
Madison Woods of the Gustine FFA Chapter in California operates her club lamb business, W2 Livestock. She breeds and raises high-quality wether-type club lambs to sell for competitions at county and state fairs. Her current flock consists of 21 breeding ewes, 10 baby lambs and two breeding rams. Woods hopes that one of her lambs will eventually make it into a national show.  She is supported by her parents, Mary and Mark, and her FFA advisors, Kelly Sanches, Cameron Wyman, Matt Baffunno, and Sarah Thommen. The National FFA Foundation and the National FFA Organization sponsor this proficiency.

Small Animal Production and Care – Entrepreneurship/Placement
Emily P. Makos
Emily P. Makos of the Juda FFA Chapter in Wisconsin began her supervised agricultural experience (SAE) when she was 8 years old, receiving her first rabbit that has served as the foundation of her current herd. Her rabbit project has grown from one breed and three rabbits to more than 200 rabbits, including New Zealands, Californians, Polish, and Mini Rex.  She has attended the American Rabbit Breeders Association rabbit show and learned from others in the field. Makos is supported by her parents, Jody and Eric, and her FFA advisors, Jenna Beitz and Joseph Lyne. Elanco Animal Health and Tractor Supply Company sponsor this proficiency.

Specialty Animal Production – Entrepreneurship/Placement
Andrew Scott Mehus
Andrew Scott Mehus of the Cochrane-Fountain City FFA Chapter in Wisconsin helps manage a closed herd of 200 head of Rocky Mountain Elk. The elk are raised primarily for the mineral content found in their bulls’ growing antlers, including glucosamine sulfate, collagen type II, and chondroitin sulfate. These minerals help the human body build new cells faster and repair and strengthen muscles. Bulls too old to produce are slaughtered, producing lean meat low in cholesterol and that is heart-healthy. Mehus is supported by his parents, Laurie and Scott, and his FFA advisor, Christine Jumbeck. The National FFA Foundation and the National FFA Organization sponsor this proficiency.

Specialty Crop Production – Entrepreneurship/Placement
Eric Quezeda Ridge
Eric Quezeda Ridge of the Nipomo FFA Chapter in California works at one of the few luffa farms in the United States. Since luffas are a tropical gourd, most production of the crop is done overseas. Ridge said that the most interesting thing about these plants is the drying process. The luffas are washed in a washing machine and then air-dried, allowing them to stay nonabrasive. They are softer and more natural than competing products. He is supported by his parents, Christina and Humberto, and his FFA advisors, Jessica Paulisich, Christine Ready, Katie Lord, Rosemary Cummings, Kayla Manning, and Clayton Carolson. The National FFA Foundation and the National FFA Organization sponsor this proficiency.

Swine Production – Entrepreneurship
Stetson Loyd
Stetson Loyd of the Troy FFA Chapter in Texas has a supervised agricultural experience (SAE) that consists of producing and marketing swine. He currently has one sow and four bred gilts, but throughout his enterprise, he’s had a total of 40 sows and two boars that have produced 254 offspring. He’s sold these offspring to fellow breeders from across the state to improve their operations. Loyd leases two 10×30 barns from his father and has built an additional three barns, purchasing 13 farrowing crates for the operation. He is supported by his parents, Jamie and Robert, and his FFA advisors, Hunter Parrott, Mindy Howard, and Aaron Baker. Indiana Farm Bureau Insurance and Indiana Farm Bureau sponsor this proficiency.

Swine Production – Placement
Samuel Lee Trout
Samuel Lee Trout of the Whiteland FFA Chapter in Indiana has always wanted to be like his older brother. When his brother started working for a local pig breeder, Trout knew that he would have to follow suit. When his brother graduated, he stepped into his position at Sugar Creek Genetics. The operation focuses on the sales of boar semen and spring show pigs. They maintain approximately 10 to 15 boars and 15 gilts and sows at once, farrowing around eight sows each year and averaging about 75 piglets. He is supported by his parents, Anna and Jay, and his FFA advisor, Hannah Goeb. The National FFA Foundation and the National FFA Organization sponsor this proficiency.

Turf Grass Management – Entrepreneurship/Placement
Logan Nodine
Logan Nodine of the Cambridge FFA Chapter in Illinois has some of his earliest memories of being on the lawnmower with his dad. Today, he owns his business, Nodine Lawn Care. He focuses on all aspects of turfgrass management to beautify the lawns of his clients. His day-to-day tasks include maintaining grass species with riding and push mowers, string trimmers and leaf blowers. Nodine has learned about soil, water, and nutrient availability and how to manage a stable business financially. He is supported by his parents, Sarah and Robert, and his FFA advisor, Trenton Taber. John Deere sponsors this proficiency.

Vegetable Production – Entrepreneurship/Placement
Alexander Levan Walker
Alexander Levan Walker of the Quitman FFA Chapter in Louisiana produces market vegetables, raising them from seed to table. With two acres, he starts most of his seeds in the greenhouse but sows peas, beans, okra, and squash directly in the ground.  Walker tries to find produce not sold by other vendors, introducing things like elephant garlic, eggplant, collards and tomatoes to his repertoire.  He is supported by his parents, Christy and Leo, and his FFA advisor, Marty Cantrell. Tractor Supply Company and Wilbur-Ellis Company sponsor this proficiency.

Veterinary Science – Entrepreneurship/Placement
Bailey Lowe
Bailey Lowe of the Felicity-Franklin FFA Chapter in Ohio has always had an interest in animals, but her experience was limited to mainly feeding and bathing dogs and cats. In her sophomore year in high school, she was hired as a kennel attendant at a local veterinary clinic. Her duties required her to feed, water, and walk domestic animals in addition to giving them medications and vaccinations. She is also responsible for bathing the animals upon departure, trimming their nails and cleaning their ears. Lowe even completed a daily clinic census to assess the state of the facility. She is supported by her parents, Laura and Terry, and her FFA advisors, Holly Jennings and Joe Broadwell. The National FFA Foundation and the National FFA Organization sponsor this proficiency.

Wildlife Production and Management – Entrepreneurship/Placement
Amanda Belew
Amanda Belew of the Ashland FFA Chapter in Missouri has a supervised agricultural experience (SAE) that involves purchasing Bobwhite Quail chicks to grow and sell for the training of bird dogs. The quail are used in bird dog field trials and the management release for preplanned hunting activities. Each year, she purchased 500 quail chicks. The chicks begin in a temperature-controlled brooder before they are moved to a metal hoop at the age of four weeks to provide ample flying space. Belew markets the birds to buyers from the Dakotas, Kansas and Nebraska. She is supported by her parents, Kathy and Brad, and her FFA advisors, Rebekah Hammett and Kristopher Rankin. The National FFA Foundation and the National FFA Organization sponsor this proficiency.

During the virtual 93rd National FFA Convention & Expo, proficiency award winners were announced throughout the week,  Oct. 27-29. For more information, visit Convention.FFA.org.

The National FFA Organization is a school-based national youth leadership development organization of more than 760,000 student members as part of 8,700 local FFA chapters in all 50 states, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

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About National FFA Organization
The National FFA Organization is a school-based national youth leadership development organization of more than 760,000 student members as part of 8,700 local FFA chapters in all 50 states, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. The FFA mission is to make a positive difference in the lives of students by developing their potential for premier leadership, personal growth and career success through agricultural education. For more, visit the National FFA Organization online at FFA.org and on Facebook and Twitter.

About National FFA Foundation
The National FFA Foundation builds partnerships with industry, education, government, other foundations, and individuals to secure financial resources that recognize FFA member achievements, develop student leaders, and support the future of agricultural education. Governed by a 19-member board of trustees composed of educators, business leaders, individual donors and FFA Alumni, the foundation is a separately registered nonprofit organization. About 82 percent of every dollar received by the foundation supports FFA members and agricultural education opportunities. For more, visit FFA.org/Give.