Missouri FFA News Releases

Aaron Lowrey State FFA Winner Diversified Crop Production Entrepreneurship Proficiency Award

COLUMBIA , Mo., April 16, 2009 –Aaron Lowrey, a member of the Trenton FFA Chapter, Laredo, Mo., was named the state winner of the Diversified Crop Production Entrepreneurship Proficiency Award at the 81^st Missouri FFA Convention.

Lowrey, a graduate of Trenton R-IX High School, is the son of David and Melissa Lowrey. His advisors are Callie Brook Kreatz and Erika Swindler.

As a member of the Trenton FFA Chapter, Lowrey has attended state and national conventions, Washington Leadership Conference, and Missouri FFA Camp. Lowrey competed in the state grasslands and agricultural mechanics career development event in 2006. He was the Chapter FFA vice president in 2008.

Lowrey’s Supervised Agriculture Experience Project (SAE) began with only his JD 730 tractor. His operation has now expanded to where he produces 23 acres of corn, 44 acres of soybeans and 11 acres of wheat. His SAE includes diversified crop production, vegetable production, grain production, specialty crop production, and fiber/oil crop production.

After Lowery graduates with an Animal Science degree from North Central Missouri College, he plans to become a full time farmer.

Proficiency awards recognize FFA members who excel as agricultural entrepreneurs, employees or volunteers while gaining hands-on career experience. Diversified Crop Production Entrepreneurship is one of 47 proficiency awards presented at the state level. The Missouri Crop Improvement Association sponsored this award.

The Missouri FFA has 24,410 members representing 317 chapters. The national organization has over 500,000 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.