| Contact: | April 15-18, 2009 Joyce Cutright at 573-882-0866 After April 18 at 417-887-9844 |
| Email: moffaconv@missouri.edu | |
| Web: http://agebb.missouri.edu/news/moffaconv/ | |
Photo cutline: Austin Ireland, of the Chillicothe FFA Chapter, receives the second place Swine Production Placement Proficiency Award during the 81st Missouri FFA Convention in Columbia, MO, April16-17. ProficiencySwineProdPlacement-2nd-Ireland-0187-caption
Photo available at: http://agebb.missouri.edu/news/moffaconv/ProfWin/pics/IMG_0187.JPG
Ireland Places Second 2009 Missouri FFA Swine Production-Placement Proficiency Award
COLUMBIA , Mo., April 16, 2009 – Austin Ireland, of the Chillicothe FFA Chapter, Chillicothe, Mo., has placed second in the FFA Swine Production Placement Proficiency Award at the 81st Missouri FFA Convention.
Ireland , a junior at Grand River Technical School, is the son of Thomas and Cindy Ireland. Ireland ’s FFA advisors are Rusty Black, Keith Dietzschold, Jim Grozinger and Leda Schreiner.
In the FFA, Ireland was active in attending chapter, area and state events. He also attended the area Greenhand initiation and Greenhand Motivational Conference.
Ireland ’s Supervised Agricultural Experience Program (SAE) is on his father’s farm. Ireland Farms in cooperation with Premium Standard Farms. Ireland works to maintain the four hog buildings on the farm. His daily work involves checking the hogs and the water and food supply. Ireland also administers vaccinations. This year, Ireland has gained the responsibility of filling out paperwork. From his experience, Ireland has developed mechanical, recordkeeping and animal husbandry skills.
Ireland plans to attend North Central Missouri College pursing an associate’s degree then transferring and studying agriculture.
Proficiency awards recognize FFA members who excel as agricultural entrepreneurs, employees or volunteers while gaining hands-on career experiences. Swine Production is one of 47 proficiency awards presented at state level. The Missouri Pork Producers Association sponsored this award.
The Missouri FFA has 24,410 members representing 317 chapters. The national organization had 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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