FFA announces state degrees, proficiency award
Missouri FFA has been working to find the best solutions within the health concern parameters given by state and national leaders during the COVID 19 pandemic.
The 92nd State FFA Convention has been postponed. Missouri FFA has decided to move forward with award announcements in an effort to give students time to prepare their applications for national competition.
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12 earn State Degree
Several area students have earned the State FFA Degree to be announced at the 2020 Missouri FFA Convention. The State FFA Degree is the highest degree Missouri FFA members can receive at the state level.
Area students include: Bethany Bailey, Tom Crouse, Jessica Hart, Gloria A. Hernandez, and Macie McNeely of Gallatin; Riley Still and Michelle Sutton of Gilman City; Wyatt Brewer, Alexandria Carter, Abbie Rexing and Brayden Ward of Jamesport; and Holly Ann Caldwell of Winston.
These students are among a record 988 degree recipients receiving the honor.
Awarding of the degree is based on a member’s Supervised Agricultural Experience program, and leadership ability as demonstrated through involvement in FFA, school, and community activities.
Burns a state winner
Addison Michelle Burns of Gallatin won the Missouri FFA Agriscience Research – Animal Systems Proficiency Award. Addison, a graduate of Gallatin R-5, is the daughter of Brant and Tara Burns. She is a member of the Gallatin FFA chapter. Proficiency awards recognize FFA members who excel as agricultural entrepreneurs, employees or volunteers while gaining hands-on career experience. Agriscience Research – Animal Systems is one of 46 proficiency award areas recognized at the state level. The St. Louis Community College Center for Plant and Life Sciences sponsored this award.
Addison’s supervised agricultural experience program consists of researching swine conception rates and litter sizes using spirettes and foam-tipped artificially inseminated catheters. Over three years, four new gilts were purchased yearly. Two were bred with a spirette and two with a foam-tipped catheter. Burns discovered spirettes produce a higher conception rate and larger litters.
In FFA, Burns competed at the state level in the agronomy and nursery/landscape career development events, where she received a Group I individual rating in both. She was a national finalist in the agriscience research plant systems proficiency and the agriscience research integrated systems proficiency awards. Burns is a graduate of Helping Youth Maximize Agricultural eXperiences Academy and Public Speaking Academy. She attended National FFA Convention & Expo, and State FFA Leadership Camp.
In addition to FFA, Addison was a member of Future Business Leaders of America; Family, Career and Community Leaders of America; National Honor Society; and student council.
After graduating high school, Burns’ plans include attending college to study architectural design. Burns said she wants to expand her swine operation.
Crouse a state winner
Tom Joe Crouse of Gallatin won the Missouri FFA Equine Science Entrepreneurship Proficiency Award. Crouse, a senior at Gallatin R-5 High School, is the son of Gene and Carrie Crouse. He is a member of the Gallatin FFA Chapter.
Crouse’s supervised agricultural experience program consists of raising horses and rodeoing. He owns two horses and uses them for calf roping at competitions across the country. In 2019, he competed in about 50 rodeos and earned income from his winnings. Crouse placed second in tie-down roping at the 2018 National High School Rodeo Finals. Crouse was named the 2019 United Rodeo Association Open Calf-Roping Champion.
In FFA, Crouse competed at the state level in the forestry evaluation career development event. He attended the National FFA Convention & Expo, and Missouri FFA Convention.
In addition to FFA, Crouse participated in football, where he served as team captain, and wrestling, where he competed at state. Outside of school, Crouse also is active in the Missouri High School Rodeo Association and United Rodeo Association.
After graduating high school, Crouse’s plans include attending college to study agriculture. Crouse said he plans to continue working toward earning the American FFA Degree.
Proficiency awards recognize FFA members who excel as agricultural entrepreneurs, employees or volunteers while gaining hands-on career experience. Equine Science Entrepreneurship is one of 46 proficiency award areas recognized at the state level. William Woods University Equestrian Studies, sponsored this award.
More honors to come
During the week of April 20, videos prepared by the 2019-2020 State FFA Officers will be released. The videos will announce Proficiency Award winners (both Area and 1st/2nd state winners), National Chapter Award winners (Gold, Silver, Bronze Emblem categories) and the final four members in each of the four Star State categories (Placement, Agribusiness, Agriscience and Farmer).
A convention is planned for later in the summer (in person or virtual) to focus on recognizing the achievements of FFA members and chapters while providing the state officer team the opportunity to celebrate the conclusion of a challenging FFA year. The plan for the event is to recognize not only proficiency winners, but also FFA chapters and their placing in the award program and to name the star state winner in placement, agribusiness, agriscience and farmer along with other member recognitions like the State FFA Degree recipients.
The Missouri FFA has 25,945 members representing 348 chapters. The national organization has more than 700,000 members representing 8,612 chapters in all 50 states, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands.
The FFA makes a positive difference in the lives of students by developing their potential for premier leadership, personal growth and career success through agricultural education.