We Are Proud to Support FFA at the National Level

Pictured from left to right are National Proficiency Dairy Production Placement Finalists,
Cody Eilbes, Randolph, Wis.; Thomas Anderson, Pleasant Grove, Utah;
Tucker Edward Lammers, Harington, Neb.; and Co-Sponsor Representatives,
Dan Gudmunson, GEA Farm Technologies; Frank O’Brien, and Jill Leitzen, Kuhn North America.
Not pictured is winner Erin Elizabeth Daninger of Forest Lake, Minn.

Partnering with FFA for the past six years has given us the opportunity to support the development of premier leadership, personal growth, and career success of our nation’s future agricultural leaders through the sponsorship of career development events at the high school and collegiate levels.

We’ve been privileged to co-sponsor the Dairy Production–Placement Proficiency award program, along with GEA Farm Technologies. The Agricultural Proficiency awards honor FFA members who, through their SAE (Supervised Agricultural Experience), have developed specialized skills that they can apply toward their future careers. Students can compete for awards in 46 areas, covering everything from Agricultural Communications to Wildlife Management.

Each award has two categories, placement and entrepreneurship.

Placement
Placement proficiency awards are given to those whose SAE is related to employment, apprenticeships, or internships at an agribusiness or agriculture-related organization.

Entrepreneurship
Entrepreneurship proficiency awards are given to those whose SAE is related to ownership of an agribusiness or agriculture-related organization. Proficiency awards are given out at the local, state and national levels.

Four national finalists are selected for each of the 47 award areas. These individuals compete for a national proficiency award at the National FFA Convention. Each of the top four national finalists are judged on a 20-page report on their project, then present it to a panel of judges.

We appreciated the opportunity to participate in this year’s 83rd National FFA Convention where a record-setting 54,942 members, advisors, sponsors and guests gathered at the 83rd National FFA Convention, October 20-23, in Indianapolis, Indiana.

“It was an honor and a privilege to participate in the National Dairy Proficiency Award event in Indianapolis. The beginning of the FFA creed states, ‘I believe in the future of agriculture, with a faith not born of words but of deeds.’ The students were surely impressive as they shared their accomplishments. The award winner achieved a great deal in her four-year project and was indeed proficient in Dairy Production. After meeting many different young ag students who will someday be the future industry leaders, we can be even more confident in the future of Agriculture,” said Frank O’Brien, Kuhn North America Marketing and Sales Support Manager.

The 2010 Dairy Production National Agricultural Proficiency Award winners announced onstage during the National FFA Convention were:

Winner
- Erin Elizabeth Daninger of Forest Lake FFA, Forest Lake,Minnesota.

Finalists
- Cody Eilbes of Randolph Cambria-Friesland FFA, Randolph, Wisconsin.
- Thomas Anderson of Pleasant Grove FFA, Pleasant Grove, Utah.
- Tucker Edward Lammers of Hartington FFA, Hartington, Nebraska.

Each national finalist received a $500 cash award and a plaque. The national winner receives an additional $500 award and a plaque.