Missouri FFA News Releases

Michael Gillum First Place Winner of 2009 Missouri FFA Agriculture Sales Placement Award

COLUMBIA , Mo., April 16, 2009 –Michael Gillum, of the Putnam County FFA Chapter, Putnam County, Mo., was named the first place winner in the FFA Agriculture Sales Placement Award at the 81^stMissouri State FFA Convention.

Gillum, a senior at Putnam Co R-1 High School, is the son of Bradley Gillum and Lori O’Reilly. His FFA advisors are Randy Morris and Clyde Bondy.

As a member of the Putnam FFA Chapter, Gillum has participated in National FFA convention, Washington Leadership Conference and State FFA convention.

Outside of FFA, Gillum has participated in National Honor Society and Future Business Leaders of America

Gillum began his Supervised Agricultural Experience Program (SAE) working for Hy-Vee food store in Unionville, Mo. His first job was sacking groceries he also was promoted to checker. By working at Hy-Vee, he improved his people skills as well as his business skills and ethics.

After graduation, Gillum plans to attend the University of Missouri studying agriculture business and animal science. After college, he plans to return to the family farm.

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

The Missouri FFA Association sponsored this award.

The Missouri FFA has 24,410 members representing 317 chapters. The national organization has more than 507,000 member 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 to premier leadership, personal growth and career success through agricultural education.