Media Contact:
Kevin Kent, kevin.kent@flaffa.org
Jones Wins State Agricultural Proficiency Award
ORLANDO, Fla. – Florida FFA is pleased to announce Erin Jones of the Trenton FFA Chapter as the
winner of this year’s Agricultural Services Proficiency Award. Jones and the other finalists of this
award were recognized at the 85th annual Florida FFA State Convention and Leadership Conference
this past June.
Jones and the top four finalists received awards sponsored by Dunson Harvesting, Inc., as a special
project of the Florida FFA Foundation.
Trenton FFA member, Erin Jones stumbled into her SAE program. When her father was busy and
could not help her clip her show calf, Jones set out to learn the ins and outs of clipping and fitting
cattle. Jones works to continually improve her skills through going to other cattle shows and seeing
other experienced clippers clip calves and then returned to practice on her cattle at home. Using
these experiences, she has developed her own business. She markets her business through word of
mouth and has expanded from clipping cows for just her family members, to clipping and fitting for
FFA members at several shows in her area. Jones plans to graduate in the top of her class and run
for State FFA Office. Her advisors are Steve Broker and Heather Rucker.
Other finalists in the Agricultural Services category included:
Christopher Young, Branford
Tyler D'Angelo, DeLand
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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