Youth News
Meet the National Proficiency Winner in Agricultural Communications - Entrepreneurship/Placement-Garrett Yerigan of Pryor
Fri, 26 Oct 2012 17:35:16 CDT
The Agricultural Proficiency Awards honor FFA members who, through their Supervised Agricultural Experiences have developed specialized skills that they can apply toward their future careers. Students can compete for awards in 49 areas covering everything from Agricultural Communications to Wildlife Management. Each award area has two categories, placement and entrepreneurship- although in some award area- those two categories are combined.
Placement proficiency awards are given to those whose SAEs are related to employment, apprenticeships, or internships at an agribusiness or agriculture-related organization. Entrepreneurship proficiency awards are given to those whose SAEs are related to ownership of an agribusiness or agriculture-related organization. Proficiency awards are given out at the local, state and national levels. .
Here in 2012, Oklahoma has advanced and brought to Indianapolis 20 National Profiency Finalists out of the 49, which was the third most Finalists behind Georgia and California. By the end of the afternoon on Friday, Oklahoma had claimed 8 National Profiency Titles, matching the number the state claimed two years ago at the national convention. Georgia claimed ten national titles, with Oklahoma and Georgia well ahead of other states with multiple titles in the Profiency Award categories.
The 2012 National Proficiency Award in Agricultural Communications - Entrepreneurship/Placement was awarded to Garrett Yerigan of the Pryor FFA Chapter.
Yerigan has been traveling the rodeo circuit all his life and became enamored with the role of the announcer. With this passion, he began Lightning G Announcing & Sound, his own business offering his announcing services to rodeos and other agricultural shows. In addition to working on his communication skills as an announcer, he's also developed marketing strategies, ensuring that his business gains new customers throughout North America. Yerigan is supported by his parents Kathy and Dale and his FFA advisors Walt Taylor and Jerrod Melugin.
Yerigan says rodeo is in his blood-his parents took him to his first rodeo when he was only two weeks old. He says being able to continue his life in the rodeo world as an announcer is a blessing to him. Being a rodeo announcer involves a lot of study Yerigan says. He says it's important to keep up with the lives of the cowboys in and out of the arena so that he can better inform and entertain his audiences. He has his sights set on one day announcing at such venues as the National Finals Rodeo and the Calgary Stampede.
Click on the LISTEN BAR below to learn more about this National Proficiency Award winner from Oklahoma.
Our exclusive coverage from the 2012 National FFA Convention in Indianapolis is a service of the Oklahoma FFA Association and the Oklahoma FFA Alumni Association. Click here for more information about this youth organization. FFA makes 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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