Missouri FFA News Releases

Haley Davis Second Place Winner 2009 Missouri FFA Equine Science Proficiency Award

COLUMBIA , Mo., April 16, 2009 –Haley Davis of the Green Ridge FFA Chapter, Green Ridge, Mo., was named the second place winner of the FFA Equine Science-Entrepreneurship Proficiency Award at the 81^st Missouri FFA Convention.

Davis is a junior at Green Ridge R-VIII High School is the daughter of Tracy and Lisa Davis. Her FFA advisor is Nathan Hardy.

As an FFA member, Davis attended the 2006 and 2007 National FFA Conventions. She is her chapter’s president. She has competed in FFA knowledge, grasslands, and entomology team. She was the 2008 star chapter farmer.

Davis started showing miniature horses at the young age of four. Growing up as a part of the family business, she learned many tips for raising horses, as well as common procedures, to training miniature horses, grooming and clipping, breaking them to drive, jump, and do obstacles, as well as show in halter. Davis bought a colt from her mother and began training and showed him through the season. She had to make decisions, such as the amount of feed he required and how many days per week and how long his conditioning would be. She was responsible for every part of his showing, including registration and paper work, purchasing necessary items, and grooming. As Davis ’s skills and knowledge improved, she started to manage half of the business alone.

After high school, Davis plans to attend college to pursue a degree in equine business management and in veterinary medicine technician.

Proficiency awards recognize FFA members who excel as agricultural entrepreneurs, employees or volunteers while gaining hands-on career experiences. Equine Science is one of 47 proficiency awards presented at state level. The Missouri Quarter Horse Association sponsored this award.

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 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.