Chapter to nationals; Weldon, Bohannon, Dowell each tapped for individual honors.
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The Gallatin FFA Chapter placed 23rd out of 275 schools in the state to earn a Top Chapter Award at the 72nd annual Missouri State FFA Convention held April 13 in Columbia.
Three Gallatin FFA members were awarded state honors for outstanding achievement, and seven other FFA members contributed to Gallatin’s proud FFA tradition by earning State FFA degrees. Gallatin FFA Chapter advisor is Dennis Croy.
Andy Weldon, son of Kenneth and Mary Ann King, earned the State Star in Agribusiness. He was selected for the state honor by being one of 13 area agribusiness first place winners. Honorees are chosen on the basis of outstanding agribusiness activities as part of the students Supervised Agricultural Experience Program (SAEP). The award is sponsored by MFA Inc.
Andy’s SAEP consists of lawn care business and landscaping operation. He utilizes current technology to create advertisements, business cards, record keeping and billing systems. Andy is currently vice president of both the Gallatin Chapter and Area II FFA. Last year he was an area and state winner of the Landscape Management Proficiency Award, receiving a bronze at the national convention.
This year Andy placed second in the Turf Grass Management Proficiency Award competition. Sponsored by Missouri FFA Association, this proficiency requires FFA members to plant and maintain turf for outdoor beautification and improvement of recreation areas.
Weldon plans to attend Southwest Missouri State University to study ag business and music education. He participated in the Washington Leadership Conference, Missouri Made for Excellence Conference, and is a graduate of the 1998 Missouri Agribusiness Academy.
Travis Bohannon, son of Mike and Linda Bohannon, was a State Proficiency Award winner in feed grain production. He qualified for the state honor by recently winning first place in Area II competition. Sponsored by the Missouri Corn Growers Association, this proficiency recognizes students who use sound management practices to produce and market crops, which typically involve ownership.
Travis’ SAEP consists of 20 acres of corn that he planted in NC+1585. He uses an Allis-Chalmers no-till planter for yields of about 120 bushels per acre. Bohannon received an average of $2 per bushel for corn sold; most of the corn was fed to his hogs. Travis expects to plant 30 acres of corn this year.
Trent Dowell, son of J.D. Dowell and Judy Dowell, was named second place winner of the Agricultural Sales and/or Service Placement Proficiency Award. This proficiency recognizes students involved in sales of feed, seed, fertilizer and ag chemicals. Trent recently won first place in Area II competition to be eligible for state recognition.
Trent owns part of the family business specializing in warm season grass sales. This business sells all types of ag seeds, where most of these warm season grasses are produced on their farms. The Dowells also custom cut over 500 acres for the Missouri Department of Conservation.
“The Conservation Reserve Program plantings have made the seed business very good,” says Trent. “I plan to continue my work with the company and when my grandfather retires, I hope to take over the operation of J&J Seeds.”
Seven Gallatin FFA members and one Pattonsburg FFA member earned the highest degree offered at the state level in becoming State FFA Farmer degree recipients at the convention. Those earning state degree status are Cody Berten, Travis Bohannon, Kyle Gannan, Ida Jarboe, Ronnie D. Walker, Andy Weldon, and Kenny Youtsey. The new State Farmer at Pattonsburg is Leslie Mason.
Gallatin FFA Chapter will be among the top 28 chapters in the state representing Missouri at the national FFA level. Gallatin ranked 23rd in the Chapter Activity Award competition where 38 chapters were recognized.
Gallatin FFA student development activities consisted of an Agriculture Sales Team that participated in the Agriculture Products for the 21st Century Contest and the Missouri Pork Producers’ Sales and Marketing Contest, a $1,000 ag scholarship, a community health fair, and Career Development events. The chapter also sponsors a junior FFA chapter, an annual Program of Activities meeting, and works with the Daviess County Fair Board besides conducting traditional FFA Week activities.
The local chapter hosted the National Tamworth Show and Sale this past year. Gallatin FFA also participates in the Adopt-A-Highway program, and constructed a new folding portable stage for the community.
A King City girl was elected president of the state organization. Dana Staley tops the slate of state officers as Missouri FFA enters into a new year.
Missouri FFA Association has nearly 19,500 members in 275 chapters. FFA is a national organization of over 452,000 members preparing for leadership and careers in the science, business and technology of agriculture. The organization has 7,268 chapters throughout the nation, Puerto Rico, Guam and the Virgin Islands.