Georgia and Florida FFA Proficiency Award Winners

Randall Weiseman Ag "Outdoors", Alabama, Cattle, Citrus, Field Crops, Florida, Forestry, General, Georgia, Industry News Release, Livestock, Specialty Crops

ffa-logoA variety of awards were handed out during the National FFA Convention in Louisville, Kentucky. That included a host of Proficiency Awards, where a few students from Georgia and Florida came away as winners. This list includes:

National Diversified Crop Production – Placement Proficiency Winner – Knapp Boddiford:
Knapp Boddiford of the Southeast Bulloch FFA Chapter in Georgia works on two family-owned row crop farms. He feels fortunate to observe two types of management styles and combine them to create a new personal skill set. While his initial farm duties included trapping feral hog and picking peanuts, Boddiford now participates in custom harvesting and supervised seasonal labor. He looks forward to completing a degree in crop and soil science and continuing his family’s legacy of row crop production. Boddiford is supported by parents Joe and Susan Boddiford and FFA advisors Susannah Lanier and Brian Elrick. This award is sponsored by Crop Production Services and National Crop Insurance Services.

National Landscape Management Proficiency Winner – Christopher Crump:
Christopher Cline Crump of the Banks County FFA Chapter in Georgia spent countless hours assisting his grandfather in his shop and eventually developed the same level of work ethic. He secured a job with a landscaping company—developing important skills such as edging, string trimming, pruning and mowing. Crump also got to work outside and gain horticultural experience, helpful for his long-term goal of entering agricultural education. Crump is supported by parents Rodney and Gena Crump and FFA advisors Kipp Jackson and Scott Wheatley. This award is sponsored by John Deere and Tractor Supply Company.

National Specialty Crop Production Proficiency Area – Sam Herring:
Sam Herring of the Lowndes FFA Chapter in Georgia works under his father and uncle on their family flu-cured tobacco production farm. When he started his SAE, he was motivated to learn more about producing and processing tobacco. Herring has since developed a sense of responsibility from his project as well as from doing things such as curing and irrigating the crop. Herring hopes to eventually take over his family’s farm. He is supported by parents Joey and Lisa Herring and FFA advisors Dr. James Corbett, Quinton Hadsock and Michael L. Barnes. This award is sponsored by CF Industries, Inc.

Small Animal Production and Care—Entrepreneurship/Placement – Anastasia Sturgis:
Anastasia Sturgis of the Orlando Colonial Senior FFA Chapter in Florida became interested in birds at 5 years old when her parents bought her a duckling. As a freshman in high school, Sturgis constructed numerous aviaries, obtained federal permits to breed endangered bird species, and perfected techniques to handle defensive and aggressive birds. She used these skills while working at a parrot rescue center to produce high quality exotic pet bird species from rescued macaws, conures, cockatoos, cockatiels, finches and
lories. Sturgis hopes to pursue a career managing threatened avian and game bird species. She is supported by parents Gil and Renee Sturgis and FFA advisor Timothy App. This award is sponsored by Ainsworth Pet Nutrition and Tractor Supply Company.

Nursery Operations—Entrepreneurship/Placement – Matthew George:
Matthew George of the Trenton Senior FFA Chapter in Florida started helping his grandfather with his daylilies seven years ago. Since then, he has built 18 growing beds in his backyard to harvest his own daylilies. He has learned time management skills and the ability to boost customer satisfaction from his grandfather. In addition, George’s mother and grandmother have taught him bookkeeping. These factors have all influenced his own business, “Daylilies By George, LLC.” George is supported by parents Denny and Hallie George and FFA advisors Ashley Young and Heather Rucker. This award is sponsored RAM Trucks.

The National Farm Broadcaster’s Association continued its tradition of working with student interns at the 87th National FFA Convention, as four agriculture communications students gathered a variety of interviews including from the students named above. To hear these interviews and more go to www.ffaconvention.com. They are all fully searchable using the Search function at the top right side of the page.