| Contact: | April 15-18, 2009 Joyce Cutright at 573-882-0866 After April 18 at 417-887-9844 |
| Email: moffaconv@missouri.edu | |
| Web: http://agebb.missouri.edu/news/moffaconv/ | |
SIMPKINS, FROM THE STOCKTON FFA CHAPTER RECOGNIZED AS AREA 10 STAR IN AGRIBUSINESS
COLUMBIA, Mo., April 16, 2009 - The Missouri FFA Association named J.R. Simpkins of Stockton, Mo., a member of the Stockton FFA Chapter, as Area 10 Star in Agribusiness at the 81st Missouri FFA Convention. His parents are Jim and Pam Simpkins. His advisors are Jim Phillips and John Rummel.
Area Star in Agribusiness is based on outstanding agribusiness activities as part of the student’s Supervised Agricultural Experience Program and FFA leadership activities. Area 10 covers 22 chapters in the Southwest District.
MFA Inc., Columbia, sponsors the Area Star in Agribusiness awards.
Simpkins’ SAE program began with the purchase of five crossbred Missouri Show-Me-Select heifers. He purchased a combine to begin his custom-harvesting business. He harvests fescue seed for customers for a share of the crop. He has increased the number of acres harvested from about 80 to 400.
Simpkins has served as assistant sentinel and as chairman of the economic development and cooperation committees. In 2006, he competed in the National FFA Dairy Foods Career Development Event; his team placed third, and he placed third individually. Simpkins also has participated in forestry, agronomy, and grasslands career development events at the state level. He was named Star Greenhand and has received numerous awards.
Simpkins was a member of the Stockton High School baseball team for three years. He has been named to the A-B honor roll for three years. He has competed in the science olympiad and was a language arts fair participant.
Simpkins plans to continue his cattle enterprise and custom-harvesting business after graduating from Stockton . He also plans to pursue a degree in agriculture from Missouri State University .
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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