November 05, 2024
Local News | Prairie Advocate
Local News

FFA members win Proficiency Awards

By Prairie Advocate

West Carroll FFA Proficiency Award contestants in Geneseo were (front row, from left) Cassie Johnson, Natalie Shaw, Natalie O'Connor, Josie Anderson and Bailey Durward; and (back row, from left) Jacob Casey, Daniel Hartman, Sage Storjohann, Tom Knight, and Contessa Ehlers. (Courtesy of Don Mathey)

GENESEO — West Carroll FFA members Daniel Hartman, Jacob Casey, Cassie Johnson and Tom Knight each won proficiency awards at the District I FFA Proficiency Awards Career Development Event held at Geneseo High School on March 9.

Hartman won wildlife production and management, and the District I Star Agri-Business Award. Casey won agriculture mechanics energy systems, Johnson won food service, and Knight won emerging ag technologies.

These members will now advance to the state FFA Proficiency Awards CDE held on April 1-2 on the campus of the University of Illinois.

“To compete for an FFA proficiency award, each FFA member must complete at least one SAE record book, type an evaluation form, and interview in front of a panel of judges,” said Don Mathey, West Carroll FFA advisor. “The judges select the winner by combining the scores of the SAE record books and the interview.”

Also participating for West Carroll at the District I CDE were Natalie Shaw, equine science entrepreneurship; Bailey Durward, forage production; Tessa Ehlers, veterinary sciences; Josie Anderson, agriculture sales placement; Natalie O’Connor, specialty crop production; and Sage Storjohann, agriculture mechanics design and fabrication.

“Special thank you to West Carroll judges Katie and Jason Johnson, Don Metz, Fred Tipton, Andrew Durward, Curtis Breuning, Jack Nickels, and Art Houzenga for volunteering their time to help judge at the CDE,” said Mathey.