Missouri FFA News Releases

COLUMBIA , Mo., April 17, 2009 – Tyler Choate, of the Pleasant Hope FFA Chapter, Pleasant Hope, Mo., was named winner of the Poultry Production Proficiency Award at the 81^st Annual Missouri FFA Convention.

Choate, a senior of Pleasant Hope High School, is the son of Ronnie and Debbie Choate. His FFA advisors are Jeff Voris and Mary Anne Keck.

As a member of FFA, Choate attended the 2006 National FFA Convention and state events. He was a Missouri State Fair exhibitor and has obtained a FFA state degree. Choate is also a member of the American Quarter Horse Association and the Dairy Farmers of America.

Choate’s Supervised Agricultural Experience Program (SAE) involves working with his parents on their poultry and dairy farms. Choate works more closely with the turkey farm because it requires more attention. Choate helps to manage the two turkey barns on his parents’ farm. Choate has gained great management skills from his experience working with poultry.

Proficiency awards recognize FFA members who excel as agricultural entrepreneurs, employees or volunteers while gaining hands-on career experience. Poultry production is one of 47 proficiency awards presented at the state level. The Poultry Federation 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 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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