Missouri FFA News Releases

COLUMBIA , Mo., April 16, 2009 –Nicholas Harry Fray, member of the Boonville FFA Chapter, Boonville Mo., was named the second place winner of the Nursery Operations Entrepreneurship-Placement Proficiency Award at the 81^st Missouri FFA Convention.

Fray, a junior at Boonville Tech Ed Center, is the son of Scott and Kelly Fray. Fray’s FFA Advisors are Doug Henke and Deana Thies.

Fray has had many great accomplishments while in FFA. In 2006, Fray won the Star Chapter Agribusiness. In addition to his Nursery Operations proficiency, Fray has participated in the State FFA Knowledge, Soils and Dairy Foods Career Development events

Outside of FFA, Fray has been a member of the Varsity Soccer Team and a member of the Church Youth Group.

Fray’s Supervised Agricultural Experience Program (SAE) began when he was employed at a local greenhouse. He worked there for four years. His main jobs are to pull weeds, mow and trim hedges. Fray has become more efficient and completed his goals of getting a raise and working more.

Fray’s future plans include working at Blooming Hills and Custom Creations Landscaping.

Proficiency awards recognize FFA members who excel as agricultural entrepreneurs, employees or volunteers while gaining hands-on career experience. Nursery Operations Entrepreneurship/Placement is one of 47 proficiencies awarded at the state level. The Missouri Landscape and Nursery Association sponsors 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 leadership, personal growth and career success through agriculture education.

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