John David Sheppard of the Screven County FFA Chapter in Sylvania, Ga., works with his father drilling freshwater wells and installing and servicing water pumps in agricultural, commercial and residential areas. During his employment, he’s learned to install submersible pumps, set up water systems and troubleshoot service calls.  Sheppard is supported by his parents, Joy and Johnny, and his FFA advisors, Nancy Sell, Brandon White and Julie Anna Boyd. This award is sponsored by Carry-On Trailer.

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Logan Douglas of the Oakdale FFA Chapter in California works for a fisheries and environmental consulting company dedicated to advancing the research, monitoring and conservation of wild fisheries throughout the world. He began his tenure with the company by cleaning and maintaining equipment before eventually working up to monitoring and managing the collection of data on native fish species in rivers and streams throughout California. Douglas is supported by his parents, Kathryn and Bill, and FFA advisors Isaac Robles, Ed Hartzel and Rebecca Mendonza. This award is sponsored by the National FFA Foundation and the National FFA Organization.

Amy Wyant of the Pontiac FFA Chapter in Illinois is the manager of the Livingston County Humane Society. She began volunteering her free time walking dogs and socializing cats. Because of the relationships she developed, when the manager position opened, she applied and received the job. As manager, she assists with basic medical procedures, performs diseases testing and gives inoculations. Wyant is supported by her parents, Tracey and Sean, and her FFA advisors, Jesse Faber and Parker Bane. This award is sponsored by the American Veterinary Medical Association.

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Farming has always been a practice close to the heart of Zachary Ryan Call of the Cabell-Midland FFA Chapter in Ona, W.Va. After a few years of raising cows and selling eggs, he moved toward vegetable production, growing potatoes, tomatoes, cucumbers, lettuce and butternut squash. Call is part of the Farm to School Program in which he sells his produce to be served in county schools. He is supported by his parents, Rosella and Stacy, and his FFA advisors, Mary Phillips, Brian Clagg and Trevor Cummings. This award is sponsored by Tractor Supply Company and Wilbur-Ellis Company.

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Blake Goss of the Leedey FFA Chapter in Oklahoma has his own lawn care business mowing several residential and commercial properties. He’s learned how to care for turf and how to maneuver proper mowing techniques throughout the various seasons. He’s also developed the ability to research and purchase the proper equipment needed for maintaining specific client’s yards. Goss employs certain plant species that are drought resistant. He is supported by his parents, Danna and Kent, and FFA advisor Jay Muret.  This award is sponsored by John Deere.

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 As a child, Matthew S. Ries of the Lomira FFA Chapter in Wisconsin helped his father feed hogs and give vaccinations on the family hog farm. When he was in the third grade, he was given two pigs to raise and show at the fair. Today, the farm has 100 sows, with 20 sows farrowing every four weeks and producing roughly 180 pigs a week. Ries is supported by his parents, Karen and Steven, and FFA advisor Dan Robinson.  This award is sponsored by Provimi North America.

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Augustas L. Mitchem of the Miami Trace FFA Chapter in Washington C.H., Ohio, has lived on a swine farm all his life. His grandfather started him out with six sows and he has since expanded to a 22-sow herd. He purchases purebred gilts and shows some of his own at county, state, and national shows as a marketing strategy. Mitchem is supported by his parents, Nancy and Steve, and FFA advisors Bruch Bennett and Tracy Dendinger.  This award is sponsored by LA-CO Markal and Tyson Foods, Inc.

Brett Petersen of the Kerkhoven Murdock Sunburg FFA Chapter in Minnesota works for his family farm producing 1,500 acres of sugar beets. He began his own independent operation in 2014 by purchasing 25 acres of sugar beets to grow. He’s developed the ability to cultivate, plant, spray and harvest his beets. Petersen is supported by his parents, Paula and Kyle, and FFA advisors Christa Williamson and Cindy Krieger. This award is sponsored by CF Industries, Inc.

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Victor Elias Johnson of the Lemoore FFA Chapter in California works for his grandmother’s business, caring for several hundred bee hives used for the production of honey. As a child, he would help his grandmother in the delicate and important task of breeding the queen bees and extracting honey. This endeavor has inspired Johnson to learn more about the bee-keeping industry, water issues, and chemical production and distribution.  He is supported by his parents, Rebecca and Steven, and his FFA advisors, Howard Clarke and Marybeth Hearn. This award is sponsored by the National FFA Foundation and National FFA Organization.

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Lacie Anne DeRojas of the Dawson FFA Chapter in Texas began her SAE with the selection of market rabbit experiences. This led her to start raising her own breeding stock, and today she has 67 does and eight bucks. DeRojas has marketed her cull rabbits to a local USDA buyer who processes rabbits to farmers markets and high-end restaurants in the Dallas area. She is supported by her parents, Jana and Mike and her FFA advisors, Mike Littrell and Michelle Sammon. This award is sponsored by Tractor Supply Company.

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