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.

Dyersburg FFA Wins State FFA Agricultural Sales Career Development Event

Members of the Dyersburg won first-place in the Tennessee Association FFA Agricultural Sales Career Development Event during the 85^th Tennessee State FFA Convention on March 26.

This team will represent Tennessee in the National Agricultural Sales Career Development Event at the National FFA Convention in October. The Dyersburg agricultural education instructors and FFA advisors are Chris Cummins and Jessica Smith.

The Agricultural Sales CDE is a competitive activity that allows students to apply classroom knowledge to real-life situations. The event includes actual sales presentations, a written exam, a team sales situation, an individual practical situation focusing on customer relations, customer service or prospecting for customers. Learning Labs and Applied Technology sponsored a cash award to the team for expenses relating to participation in the national contest.

Dyersburg FFA Member Earns Environmental Science and Natural Resources Management Proficiency Award

Morgan Reed of the Dyersburg FFA Chapter earned first-place honors in the Tennessee Association FFA Environmental Science and Natural Resource Management Proficiency Award area during the 85^th Tennessee State FFA Convention on March 26.

The environmental science and natural resources management proficiency award is designed to recognize students who are involved in a supervised agricultural experience in which the student receives practical experiences concerned with the principles and practices of managing or improving the environment and natural resources. Activities may include the areas of management of agriculture waste, recycling of agriculture products, environmental cleanup, serving in the conservation corps; managing agricultural energy usage, multiple used of resources, land use regulations pertaining to soil, water and air quality, preservation of wetlands, shorelines and grasslands, wildlife surveys, erosion prevention practices; public relations and education concerning pollution.

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 the Tennessee Society of Farm Managers and Rural Appraisers.

Dyersburg FFA Member Earns Diversified Crop Production Entrepreneurship Proficiency Award

Cody Gray of the Dyersburg FFA Chapter earned first-place honors in the Tennessee Association FFA Diversified Crop Production Entrepreneurship Proficiency Award area during the 85^th Tennessee State FFA Convention on March 26.

The diversified crop production entrepreneurship proficiency award is designed to recognize students who are involved in a supervised agricultural experience involving the use of the best management practices available to produce and market crops from two or more of the crop related proficiencies. These areas include grain production, fiber/ oil production, forage production, specialty crop production, vegetable production or fruit production.

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 the TN FFA Foundation.

Dyersburg FFA Member Earns Agricultural Sales – Entrepreneurship Proficiency Award

Maryanna McClure of the Dyersburg FFA Chapter earned first-place honors in the Tennessee Association FFA Agricultural Sales Entrepreneurship Proficiency Award area during the 85th Tennessee State FFA Convention on March 26.

The agricultural sales entrepreneurship proficiency award to recognize students who are involved in a supervised agricultural experience in which a student owns the enterprise or business involved in the sales of feed, seed, fertilizer, agriculture chemicals, agricultural equipment, machinery structures. Enterprises could also include merchandising of crops, livestock, processed agricultural commodities, horticulture, floriculture or forestry items at either the retail or wholesale level.

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 Rock Creek Angus.

Dyersburg FFA wins Floriculture Contest

Members of the Dyersburg FFA Chapter won first-place in the Tennessee Association FFA Floriculture Career Development Event during the 85^th Tennessee State FFA Convention on March 25.

This team will represent Tennessee in the National Floriculture Career Development Event at the National FFA Convention in October. The Dyersburg agricultural education instructors and FFA advisors are Chris Cummins and Jessica Smith.

In the Floriculture CDE, FFA members test their knowledge and skills in the production and retailing of flowers, plants and foliage. Participants must complete a general knowledge exam on the floriculture industry, identify plant materials, and demonstrate problem solving and decision-making skills, employment and customer service skills, technical floral skills and the ability to work as a team. The Tennessee FFA Foundation sponsored a cash award for expenses related to participation in the national contest.

Dyersburg FFA wins Agricultural Technology and Mechanical Systems Contest

Members of the Dyersburg FFA Chapter won first place in the Tennessee Association FFA Agricultural Technology and Mechanics Career Development Event during the 85^th Tennessee State FFA Convention on March 25.

This team will represent Tennessee in the National Agricultural Technology ad Mechanics Career Development Event at the National FFA Convention in October. The Dyersburg agricultural education instructors and FFA advisors are Chris Cummins and Jessica Smith.

The Agricultural Technology and Mechanics CDE is a competitive activity that allows students to apply classroom knowledge to real-life situations. Activities included in the event are a written exam, a team activity, demonstration of problem-solving skills, and hands-on performance activities. Areas of emphasis include environmental and natural resource systems; machinery and equipment systems; and industry and marketing systems. Agricenter International Dairy sponsored a cash award for expenses related to participation in the national contest.

Dyersburg FFA Member Maryanna McClure named State FFA Vice President- West for 2012-2013

Visiting the White House is a unique experience for every person. But for Maryanna McClure, the newly elected western region vice president of the Tennessee FFA Association, her invitation to the nation’s capital was unlike any other.
Maryanna became the first winner of the National Agriscience Fair from Tennessee in 2011. This accomplishment landed her in the White House presenting her project to the President of the United States, congressmen and women and other national leaders.

“My blue corduroy jacket holds within its stitches the most memorable moments of my life,” McClure said. “At first, I thought FFA would just give me an opportunity to show livestock, but I have since learned that it is so much more.”
As a conclusion to the 84th Tennessee State FFA Convention in Gatlinburg, McClure was elected State FFA Vice President West for 2012-2013.

Joining McClure to serve as state FFA officers for 2012-2012 are Stephen McBride of the Coffee County FFA Chapter as state president, John Adam Turner of the Warren County FFA Chapter as state vice president-middle, Jessie Campbell of the Sweetwater FFA Chapter as state vice president- east, Mitch Baker of the Baxter FFA Chapter as state secretary, Grant Saum of the McNairy Central FFA Chapter as state treasurer, Christy Chicas of the Station Camp as state reporter and Hannah Dugger of the Johnson County FFA Chapter as state sentinel.

“Becoming a state officer gives me an opportunity to be an advocate for agriculture, use my experiences to serve and influence the members across the state and together realize that FFA can take you places,” McClure said.

McClure is currently a senior and plans to attend Tennessee Tech University and major in agricultural education and animal science. She is the daughter of Mickey and Pollyanna McClure and her agricultural education instructors and FFA advisors are Brett Butler , Chris Cummins and Jessica Smith. Farm Bureau Insurance sponsored the entire state officer selection process.
For the next year, McClure and her state officer peers will be the face and spirit of FFA. Collectively, they will travel thousands of miles throughout the state as they engage top leaders in business, government and education and lead a host of personal growth and leadership training seminars for FFA members. The team will also help set policies that will shape the future of the Tennessee FFA Association and promote agricultural literacy in general.

News Release- Western Region Vice President

Dyersburg FFA Member Earns Turf Grass Management Proficiency Award

Jacob Dudley of the Dyersburg FFA Chapter earned first-place honors in the Tennessee Association FFA Turf Grass Management Proficiency Award area during the 84^th Tennessee State FFA Convention on April 3.

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 Dyersburg FFA member’s agricultural education instructors and FFA advisors are Brett Butler, Chris Cummins and Jessica Smith. This award is sponsored on the state level by the Tennessee Department of Agriculture- Ag Tag Fund.

Dyersburg FFA Member Earns Veterinary Science Proficiency Award

John Stallings of the Dyersburg FFA Chapter earned first-place honors in the Tennessee Association FFA Veterinary Science Proficiency Award area during the 84^th Tennessee State FFA Convention on April 3.

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 Dyersburg FFA member’s agricultural education instructors and FFA advisors are Brett Butler, Chris Cummins and Jessica Smith. This award is sponsored on the state level by the Tennessee Veterinary Medical Association.