Monthly Archives: November 2014
Turf Grass Management—Entrepreneurship/Placement, Stone Hayden—Kansas
Stone Hayden of the Chapman FFA Chapter in Kansas owns a lawn mowing and maintenance business. At the age of 12, his neighbor farmer asked him if he knew how to cut grass and for the next two summers, he … Continue reading
Specialty Animal Production—Entrepreneurship/Placement, Kaitlynn Buys-McFarland—Indiana
Kaitlynn Buys-McFarland of the Madison FFA Chapter in Indiana has always had a fascination with the bright, flashy colors of the fish that her family kept. This inspired her interest in aquaculture. When she became old enough, she took over … Continue reading
Outdoor Recreation—Entrepreneurship/Placement, Garrett Eugene Leeds—Ohio
Garrett Eugene Leeds of the Fairbanks FFA Chapter in Ohio works for his uncle’s farm business that develops outdoor recreational activities as an income-producing enterprise, as well as a teaching facility for local school groups. The farm offers a variety … Continue reading
Grain Production—Entrepreneurship, Tysen Rosenau—North Dakota
Having grown up riding tractors with his father on the family farm, Tysen Rosenau of the Carrington FFA Chapter in North Dakota did not hesitate to start his SAE by planting 160 acres of hard red spring wheat. The following … Continue reading
Fruit Production—Entrepreneurship/Placement, Carina L. Duran—California
Carina L. Duran of the Wasco FFA Chapter in California doesn’t see her work at a local grapevine nursery as just a job—she sees it as the beginning of her career. The nursery grafts and grows grapevines for both table … Continue reading
Fiber and/or Oil Crop Production—Entrepreneurship/Placement, Clayton Mack—Oklahoma
Recalling the rides with his father on a car seat in the tractor, Clayton Mack of the Drummond FFA Chapter in Oklahoma is passionate about family farming. Today he personally farms 320 rotated acres of wheat, canola, soybeans or corn. … Continue reading
Environmental Science and Natural Resources—Entrepreneurship/Placement, Ross Christopher Andre—Ohio
Ross Christopher Andre of the Wauseon FFA Chapter in Ohio manages an OEPA Class II compost facility at Andre Farms Organic Nutrient Recovery. Here, he takes a product that was once considered waste and turns it into a premium organic … Continue reading
Diversified Agricultural Production—Entrepreneurship/Placement, Andrea Thomas—California
Although her passion is hog farming, Andrea Thomas of the Colusa FFA Chapter in California really wanted the opportunity to drive her father’s Freightliner hay retriever truck. As a sixth-generation cattleman, her SAE now spans a commercial cow/calf operation, a … Continue reading
Beef Production—Placement, Cole Hudson—Texas
Cole Hudson of the Ponder FFA Chapter in Texas is a part-time farm and ranch employee on his family’s cattle operation. He has an active role in the ranch’s daily operations including feeding cattle, building and repairing fences, transporting equipment … Continue reading
Agriscience Research—Animal Systems Taylor Shayne Swinson—Texas
Taylor Shayne Swinson of the Sulphur Springs FFA Chapter in Texas spends each summer at her grandparent’s ranch helping castrate sheep and sell wethers for show. For her SAE, Taylor used research and experimentation to determine what changes to nutrition … Continue reading