Youth News
Meet Your National Proficiency Award Winner in Ag Mechanics Repair- Jake Grossnicklaus, Chickasha FFA
Sat, 02 Nov 2013 07:03:40 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 2013, Oklahoma has advanced and brought to Louisville 20 National Proficiency 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 7 National Proficiency Titles, the most of any state. Ohio was second with six National Proficiency titles and Georgia was third with five. In 2012, Oklahoma FFA members earned 8 National Proficiency Awards.
The 2013 National Proficiency award in Agricultural Mechanics Repair and Maintenance- Entrepreneurship goes to Jacob Grossnicklaus of Chickasha.
Grossnicklaus is a third generation agriculture service and maintenance welder. At a young age, he began going on service calls with his father and as he gained the knowledge and skill, he was entrusted with more and more tasks. Today, he is able to repair and build corrals, fences, tillage tools, forage and grain harvesting equipment and livestock and utility trailers. Jake tells us that he is a third generation welder and that he loves it. Grossnicklaus is supported by his parents Robin and Jay and his FFA advisors Chancer and Melinda McPherson.
Farm Director Ron Hays talked with Grossnicklaus about his Supervised Ag Enterprise after he received the National award on stage in Louisville at the 86th annual FFA Convention. You can hear that Interview by clicking on the LISTEN BAR below.
Our exclusive coverage from the 2013 National FFA Convention in Louisville 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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