Kylee Wood of the Cedar Ridge FFA Chapter in Arkansas works for Wood Bee Farms, helping to raise 1,336 honeybee hives. The hives are located in sixteen different locations within the state, taking up a 200-mile area. The operation also rents out 1,220 hives to a broker in California. One of her tasks is to feed the bees, using a mixture of sugar and water made at a ratio of 2 to 1. Wood is supported by her parents, Shanda and Jimmy, and her FFA advisor, Tim Cunningham. The National FFA Foundation and the National FFA Organization sponsor this proficiency.

She shares more with Broadcast Desk Intern Kailey Foster.

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Eli Patrick of the Covington FFA Chapter in Tennessee has a three-acre vegetable production farm where he produces a large variety of vegetables, including sweet corn, yellow squash, purple hull peas, bell peppers, habanero peppers, cayenne peppers, okra, cucumbers, zucchini, sweet potatoes and much more. He sells his produce to wholesalers, produce stands, neighbors, and keeps some for personal use. He plans to take over the family farm after earning a degree in plant and soil science. Patrick is supported by his parents, Becky and Tim, and his FFA advisors, Jeremiah Johnson, Bryan Cole and Elizabeth Flanagan. Tractor Supply Company and Wilbur-Ellis Company sponsor this proficiency.

Eli’s advisor Jerry Johnson spoke with Broadcast Desk Intern Kailey Foster on his behalf.

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Addy Stuever Battel of the Cass City FFA Chapter in Michigan was twelve years old when her hometown lost its only grocery store, becoming a food desert. As a farm kid, she realized that while her freezer was full of meat, others were not as fortunate. She recruited three of her friends from FFA to raise fifty broiler chickens and a pig for a local food pantry. More than six years later, her organization, “Meating the Need for Our Village” is a nationally recognized hunger relief nonprofit with a $62,611 impact on the community. Stuever Battel is supported by her parents, Sue Stuever and Bob Battel, and her FFA advisors, Leigh Osentoski and Heather Middleton. CHS sponsors this proficiency.

She shares more with Broadcast Desk Intern Kailey Foster.

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Matt Malcom of the Morgan County High FFA Chapter in Georgia works on his family’s 100-acre nursery, where he grows 40 varieties of ornamental trees. His duties include planting, spraying herbicides, pruning, setting up irrigation systems, cleaning underbrush and harvesting. The trees that Malcom raises are sold to landscape professionals and some homeowners. He is supported by his parents, Renee and Damon, and his FFA advisors, Rachel Kinsaul and Briana Stoops. The National FFA Foundation and the National FFA Organization sponsor this proficiency.

He shares more with Broadcast Desk Intern Michelle Stangler.

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Mackenzie Henning of the Jackson County Central FFA Chapter in Minnesota works for an independent seed corn business in her community. Starting as an intern before becoming a paid employee, her responsibilities were initially simple – hand detasseling seed corn and working in the warehouse. The goal of detasseling is to remove all female tassels from the field of seed corn to allow for cross pollination. Henning is also involved in roguing or removing off-types from the field. She is supported by her parents, Ann and Brad, and her FFA advisors, Laura Bidne, Larry Christopher and Jeff Voss. Topcon, Valent USA Corporation and Wilbur-Ellis Company sponsor this proficiency. She shares more with Broadcast Desk Intern Michelle Stangler.

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Luke Hendrix of the Wayne County FFA Chapter in Georgia works for Eighth Day Farms, a pecan farm his family started in 2011. The farm has 1,100 trees and grows five pecan cultivars. He is involved in each production stage, including pest management, equipment operation and maintenance, harvesting and marketing. Hendrix is excited to be a part of this industry that he feels is quickly becoming global. He is supported by his parents, Emily and Lance, and his FFA advisors, Michael Kirkland, Reggie Beasley, Cole Madray and Nick Hodges. Valent USA Corporation sponsors this proficiency.

He shares more with Broadcast Desk Intern Michelle Stangler.

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Tad Nelson of the Rigby FFA Chapter in Idaho owns and manages Nelson Mow and Trim, a full-service lawn and landscape company. He began mowing lawns at the age of eight and had a workload of eight weekly lawns by the time he was twelve. Last year, after his fifth year of operating the business, he had 60 weekly lawn clients in addition to installing and maintaining landscapes. Nelson is supported by his parents, Karie and Keith, and his FFA advisors, Robert Hale, Casey Sanders, Holly Fullmer and Lex Godfrey. Tractor Supply Company sponsors this proficiency.

He shares more with Broadcast Desk Intern Kailey Foster.

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