Ashland Leads Missouri FFA Chapters With Three National Finalists
The Ashland FFA Chapter at Southern Boone High School is in the running for a national chapter award, and three of its members are national finalists for proficiency awards. Regional Radio’s Kyle Hill has more.
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Ashland FFA is one of three chapters from Missouri in the running for the Model of Excellence award from the National FFA Organization. The chapter at Southern Boone High School finished third in the state at this spring’s virtual convention and earned top honors for its Strengthening Agriculture project. However, its Building Communities project, “Working to Move Along” earned Ashland finalist honors. In that project, Ashland’s members teamed up with an area Optimist Club to refurbish 30 old bicycles, then distributed them and helmets to their community. Braymer and Troy are also finalists for Model of Excellence honors.
Three Ashland members also learned Tuesday that they had earned national finalist honors in their proficiency award categories. Amanda Belew is in the nation’s top four in wildlife management for developing a business that raises and sells Northern Bobwhite quail. Cole Hammett remains in the running for top honors in specialty crop production for growing chrysanthemums. And a watermelon operation has Ethan Hilgedick in the finals for fruit production.
Champions will be announced during the 93rd National FFA Convention, which will take place virtually October 27th through 29th.
For Regional Radio, I’m Kyle Hill
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Nine Missouri FFA members are national finalists in their proficiency categories, while seven projects will be featured in FFA’s annual science fair. Here is the list of national finalists and ratings from the state.
MODEL OF EXCELLENCE NATIONAL FINALISTS
Ashland (Southern Boone)
Braymer
Troy
Premier Chapter: Building Communities
Ashland – “Working To Move Along”
Premier Chapter: Strengthening Agriculture
Audrain County (Community) R-VI – “Agriculture Around The World”
NATIONAL FINALISTS
Amanda Belew, Ashland – Wildlife Production
Jacob Dierking, Santa Fe – Diversified Crop Production (Entrepreneurship)
Cole Hammett, Ashland – Specialty Crop Production
Ethan Hilgedick, Ashland – Fruit Production
Bryce Hixson, Neosho – Forest Management
Zachary Main, North Mercer – Swine Production (Placement)
Grant Norfleet, Mexico – Service Learning
Brylee Williams, Princeton – Swine Production (Entrepreneurship)
Cory Word, Saxony Lutheran (Jackson) – Environmental Science & Natural Resources Management
Science Fair Finalists
Leah Crawmer and Jordan Hall, Troy – Social Systems, Division Four
Ashley Freiburger and Courtney Freiburger, Verona – Food Products and Processing Systems, Division Six
Caroline Herigon, Boonville – Environmental Services & Natural Resource Systems, Division Five
Dakota Kuester, Boonville – Power, Structure and Technical Systems, Division Three
Audrey Langlotz and Nash McKenzie, Boonville – Food Products and Processing Systems, Division Four
Josie Toombs and Jacob Toombs, Bolivar – Animal Systems, Division Six
Shelbea Tosh and Mallory Templeton, Bolivar – Animal Systems, Division Four
GOLD RATING
Paul Boeckman, Fatima – Poultry Production
Addison Burns, Gallatin – Agriscience Research (Animal Systems)
Logan Finke, Montgomery County – Diversified Crop Production (Placement)
Alyssa Francis, Paris – Sheep Production
John Gach, Mid-Buchanan – Goat Production
Blake George, Monett – Dairy Production (Entrepreneurship)
Jessica Grathwohl, Boonville – Agriscience Research (Plant Systems)
Allison Harris, Tuscumbia – Agriscience Research (Integrated Systems)
Josie Horne, Elsberry – Nursery Operations
Caitlin Jedlicka, West Plains – Beef Production (Entrepreneurship)
Hayden Jumps, Gallatin, Turf Grass Management
Jenna Korff, Norborne – Grain Production
David Lemmon, Clark County – Diversified Ag Production
Kaylee Lower, Weaubleau – Ag Communications
Abby Meyer, Seneca – Diversified Horticulture
Jada Momphard, Troy – Specialty Animal Production
Jenna Perry, Liberal – Small Animal Production
Brett Sayre, Milan – Ag Education
Jacob Toombs, Bolivar – Veterinary Science
SILVER RATING
Heath Brandt, New Bloomfield – Equine Science (Placement)
Trent Buswell, Linn County R-I – Ag Mechanics Repair & Maintenance (Placement)
Tom Crouse, Gallatin – Equine Science (Entrepreneurship)
Seth Hildebrand, Marshfield – Landscape Management
Mackenzie McAtee, Trenton – Ag Sales (Placement)
Ben McGill, Brunswick – Vegetable Production
Juliette Mead, Lake CTC (Camdenton) – Beef Production (Placement)
Brett Roderick, St Joseph – Dairy Production (Placement)
Kamryn Voris, Halfway – Fiber and/or Crop Production
BRONZE RATING
Trent Bass, Steelville – Outdoor Recreation
Science Fair Entries
Noelle Abend, Rich Hill – Food Products and Processing Systems, Division Three
Danielle Dillon, Boonville – Plant Systems, Division Five
Kaitlynn Foster, Troy – Animal Systems, Division Three
Marina Firman, Boonville – Animal Systems, Division Five
Garrett Henke, Troy – Plant Systems, Division Three
Nathan Routh, Crocker – Environmental Services & Natural Resource Systems, Division Three
