Missouri FFA News Releases

Donovan Tilk Places Second 2009 Missouri FFA Agricultural Sales Entrepreneurship

COLUMBIA , Mo., April 16, 2009 – Donovan Tilk, of the Fredericktown FFA Chapter, Fredericktown, Mo., was named the state winner of the FFA Agricultural Sales Entrepreneurship Proficiency Award at the 81^st Missouri FFA Convention.

Tilk is a graduate of Fredericktown high school. He is the son of Patrick and Brenda Tilk. His FFA advisors are Tom Mooney and Mike Graham.

Tilk’s Supervised Agricultural Experience program includes part ownership of Leatherwood Mill, L.L.C.. He also started his own business of Leatherwood Stake. Tilk sells stakes, boxes, screen doors and anything else requested. His future plans are to expand his knowledge of the stake business. He is currently attending the University of Missouri – Rolla studying Agriculture Engineering.

As an FFA member, Tilk has attended both state and national conventions. He also was the Area 15 Star in Agribusiness. Outside of FFA, he is president of the Jewett 4-H. He is also a member of the math and science clubs.

Proficiency awards recognize FFA members who excel as agricultural entrepreneurs, employees or volunteers while gaining hands-on career experience. Agricultural Sales Entrepreneurship is one of 47 proficiencies awarded at the state level. The FFA Agricultural Sales Entrepreneurship Proficiency Award is sponsored by Midwest Seed Genetics in Laddonia, Mo., and the Missouri FFA Association.

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