Missouri FFA News Releases

Thomas O. Fritsche state winner 2009 Missouri FFA Ag Mechanics Design and Fabrication Entrepreneurship and Placement Proficiency Award

COLUMBIA , Mo., April 16, 2009 – Thomas Fritsche of the Perryville FFA Chapter, Frohna, Mo., was named state winner of the FFA Agricultural Mechanics Design and Fabrication Entrepreneurship and Placement Award at the 81^st Missouri FFA Convention.

Fritsche, a graduate of Perryville Area Career & Technology Center, is the son of Lowell and Beverly Fritsche. His FFA advisors are Steven C. King and Hannah Fritsche.

Fritsche has participated in numerous FFA events and activities including national convention in 2006 and the state convention in 2006. He has participated in numerous contests including grassland evaluation, poultry, agronomy and forestry. He received his State FFA Degree and the poultry production proficiency award in 2007. He also attended greenhand motivational conference in 2004.

Fritsche helps his father and uncle around the farm. He has worked at his uncle’s construction business for five years. Fritsche has re-roofed and built houses as well as pole barns. He built three cattle feed bunks his junior year of high school and plans to build more. He is now on an internship with Rocky Schumer Construction.

Proficiency awards recognize FFA members who excel as agricultural entrepreneurs, employees or volunteers while gaining hands-on career experience. Agricultural Mechanics Design and Fabrication and Entrepreneurship and Placement Combined Award are two of 47 proficiency awards presented at state level. Ahrens Steel and Welding Supply sponsored this award.

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.