Missouri FFA News Releases

A.J. Starnes Second Place 2009 Missouri FFA Ag Mechanics Design and Fabrication Placement Proficiency Award

COLUMBIA , Mo., April 16, 2009 – A.J. Starnes of the Richland FFA Chapter, Richland, Mo., was named second place of the FFA Agricultural Mechanics Design and Fabrication Placement Award at the 81^st Missouri FFA Convention.

Starnes, a senior of Richland R IV High School, is the son of Junior and Shannon Starnes. His FFA advisor is Scott Hedges.

Starnes has participated in numerous FFA events and activities including statewide CDE workshop, greenhand motivational conference and meats evaluation CDE.

Starnes Supervised Agricultural Experience (SAE) began working for a company that focused on designing and fabricating agricultural products such as bumper trailers, gooseneck trailers, cattle guards, panels, custom gates, as well as round bale and square bale feeders. He became well known with designing agricultural products and he focused on his time management skills.

After graduation, Starnes plans to attend a technical school focusing on heavy equipment and eventually run heavy equipment for the Department of Conservation.

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.

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