Youth News
Meet Your 2021 National Proficiency Award Winner in Ag Sales- Entrepreneurship- Drake Williams of Cherokee FFA
Thu, 28 Oct 2021 21:29:17 EDT
Eleven Oklahoma FFA members qualified as National Finalists in the Proficiency Awards for the National FFA in 2021. One of those hearing his name called as National Champion is Drake Williams of the Cherokee FFA Chapter. Drake was awarded his Championship in the Agircultural Sales- Entrepreneurship.
Drake Williams of the Cherokee FFA Chapter in Oklahoma has been buying and re-selling various breeds of goats, sheep and exotic animals for three years. He attends sales throughout the area to purchase bred nannies and replacement bucks for resale helping his customers build superior herds. He's sold to families in Nebraska, Oklahoma, Texas, Kansas, Arkansas and Missouri. He has resold more than 1,000 head of sheep, goats and exotic animals. Williams is supported by his parents, Dana and Aaron, and his FFA advisor, Christy Snider. Nutrien Ag Solutions and Valent USA Corporation sponsor this proficiency.
Earlier in 2021, Drake was named the Oklahoma Star in AgriBusiness- click here to read more (and to see the video that we produced) that honmor that he received in Oklahoma City at the 2021 State Convention of the Oklahoma FFA.
After Drake received top honors in his Proficiency category, FFA Broadcast intern Kailey Foster talked with him backstage at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indiaanpolis asbout the honor. Listen to their conversation by clicking on the Listen Bar below.
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 47 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.
Judging for the 2021 Awards was done virtually ahead of the National Convention. The winners were announced, a few at a time, during each of the General Sessions on Thursday and Friday at the 94th National FFA Convention.
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