Jimmy Reyes of the Dayton FFA Chapter in Oregon works on his family’s 15.8-acre container and bare root nursery operation and landscape maintenance company. As a child, he would go with his father to help mow lawns and prune landscapes. He began in the nursery as a general field worker, tasked with weeding, irrigating and transplanting plants. He is now the assistant manager. Jimmy plans to pursue a degree in horticulture and agriculture business management. He is supported by his parents, Victoria and Rufino, and his FFA advisor, Mitch Coleman. This award is sponsored by The Toro Company and Wilbur-Ellis Company.

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Landon D. Herring of the Lowndes FFA Chapter in Georgia grows tobacco, bell peppers, eggplants, cucumbers, sweet potatoes and multiple varieties of squash on a family farm. Since he began his supervised agricultural experience, his tasks have ranged from minimal skill jobs like stacking boxes to managing farm laborers. Since graduating high school, he has been working to grow the farm from a 10- to 20,000-acre farm that reaches from Georgia to North Carolina and Florida. He is supported by his parents, Lisa and Joey, and his FFA advisors, James Corbett, Quinton Hadsock and Michael Lee Barnes. This award is sponsored by Growing America’s Farmers and National Crop Insurance Services.

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Cole Ketterling of the Wishek FFA Chapter in North Dakota started his farming operation when he was in the seventh grade. At first, he rented 40 acres from his father. Today, he farms 300 acres, growing corn, sunflowers, spring wheat and soybeans. Cole’s crops are sold and used for food, ethanol and cooking oil. He is attending North Dakota State University, majoring in accounting and agricultural economics. He is supported by his parents, Dynette and Kermit, and his FFA advisor, Kristi Tonnessen. This award is sponsored by CHS.

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Nole Gerfen of the Ridgemont FFA Chapter in Ohio remembers a childhood of riding in tractors with his parents. Today, his supervised agricultural experiences include commercial breeding swine, finisher hogs, breeding sheep, roaster lambs, market steers, beef breeding heifers, corn silage, hay, corn and some placement experiences on the family swine farm. His own swine breeding enterprise consists of 33 sows that farrow two and half times each year to produce 11 pigs per litter. Nole plans to attend The Ohio State University, majoring in agricultural business. He is supported by his parents, Kim and Steve, and his FFA advisor, Stephanie Jolliff. This award is sponsored by Ram Trucks.

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Jared T. Dickman of the Eastland FFA Chapter in Illinois milks 150 registered Holsteins and one Jersey cow twice a day. At the operation he works for, they feed three different types of rations: one for the milking herd, one for the dry cows and another for breeding age heifers. Jared’s tasks include everything related to the production and care of the dairy animals and the quality of the milk that they produce. He plans on majoring in dairy science at the University of Wisconsin Platteville. He is supported by his parents, Tina and Connan, and his FFA advisor, Cynthia Feltmeyer. This award is sponsored by Kuhn North America and Nasco.

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Isabella Lynn Portner of the Sleepy Eye FFA Chapter in Minnesota grew up on the family dairy farm, receiving her first registered Brown Swiss calf when she was seven years old. By 2016, her herd had grown to 34 cows, heifers and bull calves. Allowed to house her herd on her family farm, she barters milk sales for her expenses of feed, housing, vaccinations, semen, BST, bedding and vet costs. Isabella hopes to continue expanding her herd throughout her life and become more productive through genetic selection. She is supported by her parents, Mary and Tom, and her FFA advisors, Mary Hoffman and Kelsey Brandt. This award is sponsored by New Holland.

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Thomas Logan Waldrop of the Franklin County FFA Chapter in Georgia works with four different cattle operations located throughout north Georgia. Beginning his experience as a seventh-grade student, he learned the ins and outs of beef cattle on his family farm. Assisting in facility management, herd health, managing forages and synchronizing the herd for breeding, his endeavors have led him to working nearly 800 acres and 300 head of cattle. Thomas plans to attend the University of Georgia and study animal science. He is supported by his parents, Mary and Tommy, and his FFA advisors, Cale Watkins, Eric Hickox, Anna Watkins and Owen Thomason. This award is sponsored by Red Brand.

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Lane Fanning of the Laverne FFA Chapter in Oklahoma has a labor exchange agreement with his parents, allowing him to use facilities, machinery and equipment. This agreement has allowed him to grow a herd of 230 stocker cattle and maintain 169 acres of grassland. Responsible for the purchase, health, care and feeding of his stocker cattle, he had approximately 500 cattle in his herd in 2014. Max has completed the Master of Beef Advocacy program through the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association, allowing him to tell the story of his beef production experience and promote beef in a positive way. He is supported by his parents, Michele and Tom, and his FFA advisors Sandi Kolbe and Jim Culp. This award is sponsored by Merck Animal Health and Rabo AgriFinance.

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Courtney Jane Cameron of the Lowndes FFA Chapter in Georgia has used her research skills to tackle the problem of the tobacco mosaic virus, or TMV, by using acetylsalicylic acid. TMV is a viral crop disease worldwide impacting approximately 250 species of plants with no known cure. Through her work, Courtney determined that aspirin was effective in controlling TMV in heirloom tomato plants and went on to test the same on heirloom pea plants. She plans on attending the University of Georgia to study horticulture with a goal of obtaining a PhD in plant pathology. She is supported by her parents, Mary Beth and Wes, and her FFA advisors, James Corbett, Quinton Hadsock and Michael Lee Barnes. This award is sponsored by FMC Corporation, Agricultural Solutions.

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Amelia Anne Hayden of the Big Foot FFA Chapter in Wisconsin initially developed a passion for research because she wanted to find solutions for issues within the agricultural industry while improving her skills. She has conducted research observing the effects of cinnamon as a nutritional supplement on the development of various systems. Amelia was hoping to find a dietary supplement which would lower blood glucose levels in animals. In college, she plans on majoring in microbiology and work in the field of epidemiology. She is supported by her parents, Claire and Edward, and her FFA advisors, Lisa Konkel, Jeanne Case and Zachary Markhardt. This award is sponsored by Seneca Foods Corporation.

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