5/2/2011
Wesley Davis, a Mason County Vocational Center FFA student, is among 10 winners nationwide in a farm risk management essay contest sponsored by the USDA Risk Management Agency as a special project of the National FFA Foundation.
“I’m very proud to see a West Virginia FFA member receive such an honor, especially one from my home county,” said West Virginia Commissioner of Agriculture Gus R. Douglass. “I credit much of my success in life to the training and experience I received through FFA. It is a superb student organization that teaches important leadership skills, as well as scientific agricultural practices,” said the 11-term agriculture commissioner and former national FFA president.
The winners and their respective advisors will be treated to an all-expense-paid trip to Washington, D.C., May 5-8. While there, they will be recognized at a special USDA ceremony. They will also meet with USDA officials and members of Congress, and tour the city.
The Risk Management Essay Contest aims to help young agricultural entrepreneurs understand how to manage business-related risks. FFA members were encouraged to write an essay about the strategies they use to minimize risks and maximize returns in their supervised agricultural experience.
Other winners are: Patrick Arkfeld of Lourdes Central Catholic chapter, Dunbar, Neb.; Whitney Bowman of Stonewall Jackson FFA, Mount Jackson, Va.; Jacob Chisholm of SP Red River Valley, Gary, Minn.; Joshua Conaway of Ringwood FFA, Ringwood, Okla.; John Duke of Hooks FFA, Hooks, Texas; Joshua Mabrey of Nelson County FFA, Coxs Creek, Ky.; Lindsey Pritchett of Bergman FFA, Harrison, Ark.; Julie Riess of Grapeland FFA, Grapeland, Texas; and Dustin Stanton of Centralia FFA, Centralia, Mo.
The National FFA Organization, formerly known as Future Farmers of America, is a national youth organization of 523,309 student members who belong to 7,487 local FFA chapters in all 50 states, Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands.
The FFA mission is to make a positive difference in the lives of young adults by developing their potential for premier leadership, personal growth and career success through agricultural education. For more information visit
www.ffa.org, and follow us on Facebook, Twitter and FFA Nation.
Contact Information
Buddy Davidson, Communications Officer
304-558-3708; 304-541-5932 (cell)
bdavidson@ag.state.wv.us