Media Contact:
Kevin Kent, kevin.kent@flaffa.org
Brown Wins State Agricultural Proficiency Award
ORLANDO, Fla. – Florida FFA is pleased to announce Regan Brown of the Orlando Colonial FFA
Chapter as the winner of this year’s Small Animal Production & Care Proficiency Award. Brown and
the other finalists of this award were recognized at the 85th annual Florida FFA State Convention and
Leadership Conference this past June.
Brown and the top four finalists received awards sponsored by Purina Animal Nutrition LLC, as a
special project of the Florida FFA Foundation.
Regan Brown has always been fascinated with the process of training police K9 animals. When she
was ten years old, her parents purchased her a German Shepherd. Her father taught her to guide and
train the animal. As she got older, she and her father decided to begin breeding Belgian Malinois to
train and sell. She worked with her father to prepare the facilities to house the dogs. She took over as
full time trainer and care taker. She utilized positive reinforcement, using props and other devices as
signals to initiate 22 commands that can be used in the field. Using her developed training skills, she
is able to train dogs in 16 months and deliver the trained dog to her customer. She has secured 24
current and potential buyers for her business; which have included eight private companies, 11 law
enforcement agencies and four government agencies. Brown is a member of the Orlando Colonial
FFA Chapter and her advisor is Tim App.
Other finalists in the Small Animal Production & Care category included:
Christopher Young, Branford
Jerri Rowell, Durant
Jana Caracciolo, South Lake
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.
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About the Florida FFA State Convention
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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