Media Contact:
Kevin Kent, kevin.kent@flaffa.org
Edwards Wins State Agricultural Proficiency Award
ORLANDO, Fla. – Florida FFA is pleased to announce Morgan Edwards of the South Sumter FFA
Chapter as the winner of this year’s Diversified Crop Production Proficiency Award. Edwards and the
other finalists of this award were recognized at the 85th annual Florida FFA State Convention and
Leadership Conference this past June.
Edwards and the top four finalists received awards sponsored by Florida Fertilizer & Agrichemical
Association, as a special project of the Florida FFA Foundation.
Morgan Edwards a South Sumter Senior FFA member began her Supervised Agricultural Experience
Program when she wanted to earn extra money for college. Morgan went into a partnership with her
dad to grow blueberries, strawberries and hay. The majority of her blueberry and strawberry crops are
picked, graded and packed and then sent to Hinton Farms Produce in Dover, Florida. She purchases
her clam shells and flats from them and receives a label, the same label that is sold in Fresh Market
stores. She feels that this is an indicator of the quality that she is able to produce. Morgan plans to
attend the University of Florida to obtain a degree in Agricultural Communications. Her advisors are
Tim Edwards, Kelli Veal and Derek Hall.
Other finalists in the Diversified Crop Production category included:
Harold Tillis, Chiefland
Jackson Koon, Lafayette
Seth Adams, Suwannee
The Florida FFA Agricultural Proficiency Awards program recognizes outstanding student
achievement in agribusiness gained through establishment of a new business, working for an existing
company, performing agriscience research or otherwise gaining hands-on career experience. It
serves as the award structure for an FFA member’s Supervised Agricultural Experience (mandatory
for all FFA members) and is designed to develop specialized skills in over 30 categories that they can
apply toward their future careers.
About the Florida FFA State Convention
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The annual state FFA convention is truly a week that absolutely everybody should experience. FFA
members come together to celebrate the achievements won by the past and present generations of
agriculturalists, while continuing to develop their potential for premier leadership, personal growth and
career success. Over 4,000 FFA members, along with advisors, alumni, parents and supporters, will
be inspired and motivated to take pride in our industry, serve our communities, and lead our
organization to new heights.
About the Florida FFA Association
The Florida FFA Association is a premier youth, leadership organization with nearly 17,000 middle
and high school student members - as part of over 300 local FFA chapters across the state. FFA
members participate in nearly 50 leadership and career development events each year. The FFA
mission is to make a positive difference in the lives of students by developing their potential for
premier leadership, personal growth, and career success through agricultural education.
The Florida FFA Association is a resource and support organization that does not select, control,
supervise or approve local chapter or individual member activities except as expressly provided for in
the Florida FFA Association Constitution and Bylaws.
The FFA Mission
FFA makes a positive difference in the lives of students by developing their potential for premier
leadership, personal growth and career success through agricultural education.
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