Missouri FFA News Releases

COLUMBIA, Mo., April 16, 2009- The Missouri FFA Association recognized Heidi Stahlman of Union FFA Chapter as Area 14 Star Farmer at the 81^st Missouri FFA Convention. Stahlman is the daughter of Gary and Sheila Helling. Her advisor is Blair Grosse Hellebusch.

Area Star Farmers are chosen based upon outstanding production agriculture for the students Supervised Agriculture Experience Program and active participation in FFA. Area 14 covers 19 chapters in the South Central District.

MFA Inc., Columbia, sponsors the 16 Area Star Farmer awards.

Stahlman’s SAE program began with cattle, horses and 15 acres. She now owns five beef cattle, six horses and 5 acres of corn, wheat and soybeans.

Stahlman has served as chapter reporter. She has competed in agricultural sales and equine evaluation career development events. She was the area winner of diversified crop entrepreneurship, grain production entrepreneurship, and oil and fiber crop proficiency awards.

Stahlman is a member of the National Honor Society and history club. She was a captain of the Union High School softball team and a class representative to the student council. She is a member of her local 4-H club and is a board member at her church.

After graduating high school, Stahlman plans to study agricultural education and agricultural economics at Northwest University. She hopes to teach agriculture in Union.

The Missouri FFA has 24,410 members representing 317 chapters. The national organization has more than 507,000 members representing 7,439 local chapters in 50 states, Puerto Rico, Guam and the Virgin Islands.

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.

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