Halls FFA Member Earns Veterinary Medicine Proficiency Award

Kelsey Lathan of the Halls FFA Chapter earned first-place honors in the Tennessee Association FFA Veterinary Science Proficiency Award area during the 85^th Tennessee State FFA Convention on March 26.

The veterinary science proficiency award is designed to recognize students who are involved in a supervised agricultural experience in which the student owns the enterprise or works for a business that includes working with veterinarians in clinical practice, research facilities, colleges of veterinary medicine, animal health industry or any other environment in which they assist veterinarians in performing duties related to the health of people or health and welfare of large and small animals. This experience may include wage earning, entrepreneurial or exploratory activities not limited to hands-on care of animals, management of business aspects of a veterinary practice or working on legislative or regulations relating to animals.

The Halls FFA member’s agricultural education instructors and FFA advisors are Windy Willette and Clair Hammond. This award is sponsored on the state level by the Tennessee Veterinary Medical Association.

Dyersburg FFA Member Earns Vegetable Production Proficiency Award

Mary Evelyn Peckenpaugh of the Dyersburg FFA Chapter earned first-place honors in the Tennessee Association FFA Vegetable Production Proficiency Award area during the 85^th Tennessee State FFA Convention on March 26.

The vegetable production proficiency award is designed to recognize students who are involved in a supervised agricultural experience in which the student owns the enterprise or works for a business that involves the best management practices available to efficiently produce and market crops such as beans, potatoes, sweet potatoes, yams, pumpkins, sweet corn, tomatoes, onions, zucchini, hot peppers, all canning vegetables and all common garden vegetables.

The Dyersburg FFA member’s agricultural education instructors and FFA advisors are Chris Cummins and Jessica Smith. This award is sponsored on the state level by John Baskette.

Covington FFA Member Earns Turfgrass Management Proficiency Award

Hunter Call of the Covington FFA Chapter earned first-place honors in the Tennessee Association FFA Turf Grass Management Proficiency Award area during the 85^th Tennessee State FFA Convention on March 26.

The turf grass management proficiency award is designed to recognize students who are involved in a supervised agricultural experience in which the student owns the enterprise or works for a business that involves that planting and maintaining of turf for outdoor beautification, providing a lawn mowing service; improving recreational areas, sod produced for sale and sport field or golf course management.

The Covington FFA member’s agricultural education instructors and FFA advisors are Bryan Cole, Elizabeth Flanagan and Jeremiah Johnson. This award is sponsored on the state level by the Tennessee Department of Agriculture- Ag Tag Fund.

Covington FFA Member Earns Swine Production Placement Proficiency Award

Greg Berford of the Covington FFA Chapter earned first-place honors in the Tennessee Association FFA Swine Production Placement Proficiency Award area during the 85^th Tennessee State FFA Convention on March 26.

The swine production placement proficiency award is designed to recognize students who are involved in a supervised agricultural experience in which the student works for an employer that applies the best management practices available to effectively produce and market swine.

The Covington FFA member’s agricultural education instructors and FFA advisors are Bryan Cole, Elizabeth Flanagan and Jeremiah Johnson. This award is sponsored on the state level by the Tennessee Pork Producers.

Scotts Hill FFA Member Earns Swine Produciton Entrepreneurship Proficiency Award

Danielle Maness of the Scotts Hill FFA Chapter earned first-place honors in the Tennessee Association FFA Swine Production Entrepreneurship Proficiency Award area during the 84^th Tennessee State FFA Convention on April 3.

The swine production entrepreneurship proficiency award is designed to recognize students who are involved in a supervised agricultural experience in which the student owns the enterprise that applies the best management practices available to efficiently produce and market swine.

The Scotts Hill FFA member’s agricultural education instructor and FFA advisor is Chris Cherry. This award is sponsored on the state level by the Tennessee Pork Producers.

Jo Byrns FFA Member Earns Speciality Crop Production Proficiency Award

Andrew Thompson of the Jo Byrns FFA earned first-place honors in the Tennessee Association FFA Specialty Crop Production Proficiency Award area during the 85^th Tennessee State FFA Convention on March 26.

The specialty crop production proficiency award is designed to recognize students who are involved in a supervised agricultural experience in which the student owns the enterprise or works for a business that includes the best management practices available to efficiently produce and market crops not covered in any of the existing award categories such as: native prairie plants, sugar beets, dry edible beans, gourds, tobacco, specialty corn, popcorn, white corn, Indian corn, all grass seed production, herbs and spices, mushrooms, sugar cane, hops, sorghum cane, confectionary sunflowers, production of crop seed or specific floriculture production.

The Jo Byrns FFA member’s agricultural education instructors and FFA advisors are Ashley Drumright and Dr. Garry Gibson. This award is sponsored on the state level by The Farmers Bank.

South Greene FFA Member Earns Specialty Animal Production Proficiency Award

Taylor Boles of the South Greene FFA Chapter earned first-place honors in the Tennessee Association FFA Specialty Animal Production and Care Proficiency Award area during the 85^th Tennessee State FFA Convention on March 26.

The specialty animal production and care proficiency award is designed to recognize students who are involved in a supervised agricultural experience in which the student owns the enterprise or works for a business that includes the best management practices available to efficiently produce and market specialty animals within the Agriculture industry. Specialty animals can include aquaculture, bees, mules, donkeys, mink, worms, ostriches, emus, alpacas or llamas. Placement experiences could include roles as a zoo worker or placement at any specialty animal facility. In their supervised work experience, students must participate in hands-on activities including feeding, inoculating, performing basic animals care, weighing, measuring, showing and possibly marketing animals in an entrepreneurial or work place environment.

The South Greene FFA member’s agricultural education instructors and FFA advisors are Eric Ellison and Jeremiah Harrison. This award is sponsored on the state level by Tennessee Department of Agriculture, Ag Tag Funds.

Covington FFA Member Earns Wildlife Production and Management Proficiency Award

Jeffery Sartian of the Covington FFA Chapter earned first-place honors in the Tennessee Association FFA Wildlife Production and Management Proficiency Award area during the 85th Tennessee State Convention on March 26.

The purpose of the wildlife production and management proficiency award is to strive to improve the availability of fish and wildlife through practices such as land and water habitat improvement, development of new land and water habitat, trapping, , or the stocking of fish and wild game. This proficiency includes activities conducted with the Fish and Wildlife departments, the Forest Service, or Department of Natural Resources. The production of wild species for the stocking of ducks, geese, quail and pheasants are eligible if used as an income enterprise.

The Covington FFA member’s agricultural education instructors and FFA advisors are Bryan Cole, Elizabeth Flanagan, and Jeremiah Johnson. This award is sponsored by the Tennessee Fish and Wildlife Commission.

Covington FFA Member Earns Home and Community Development Proficiency Award

Rebecca Wauford of the Covington FFA Chapter earned first-place honors in the Tennessee Association FFA Home and Community Development Proficiency Award area during the 85^th Tennessee State FFA Convention on March 26.

The home and community development proficiency award is designed to recognize students who are involved in a supervised agricultural experience in which the student owns the enterprise or works for a business that involves improving and protecting the beauty of an area by using natural vegetation or commercial ornamental plants or modernizing homes for better healthy a comfort through installation or improvement of water and sanitary facilities, heating and air conditioning or labor saving devices. Also, home and community development involves activities such as volunteerism, community development and community betterment activities.

The Covington FFA member’s agricultural education instructors and FFA advisors are Bryan Cole, Elizabeth Flanagan and Jeremiah Johnson. This award is sponsored on the state level by Tennessee Department of Agriculture, Ag Tag Funds.

Jefferson County FFA Member Earns Small Animal Production and Care Proficiency Award

Robin Cody of the Jefferson County FFA Chapter earned first-place honors in the Tennessee Association FFA Small Animal Production and Care Proficiency Award area during the 85^th Tennessee State FFA Convention on March 26.

The small animal production and care proficiency award is designed to recognize students who are involved in a supervised agricultural experience in which the student owns the enterprise or works for a business that includes the best management practices available to efficiently produce and market small pet animals such as rabbits, cats, dogs, mice, hedgehogs, guinea pigs, lizards, etc., and programs that typically provide a service in caring for the well-being of pets. Programs could include working at a pet shop, as a groomer, as a dog trainer, providing pet sitting services, working at a kennel or preparing guide and assistance dogs.

The Jefferson County FFA member’s agricultural education instructors and FFA advisors are Adam Martin, Jim Satterfield and Mike Maples. This award is sponsored on the state level by Tennessee Department of Agriculture, Ag Tag Funds.