Agricultural News
Springer FFA Member Ryan Noland Receives Honor as Oklahoma FFA Star in Agribusiness Winner
Wed, 03 May 2017 18:07:52 CDT
Springer FFA member Ryan Noland's success in operating Noland Lawn Management for his supervised agricultural experience led him to capturing one of Oklahoma FFA's highest honors: the 2017 State Star in Agribusiness.
Noland's supervised agricultural experience was rated the best agribusiness program among the 797 FFA members who received the State FFA Degree during the 91st Oklahoma State FFA Convention in Oklahoma City on May 3.
Noland said he first learned about landscape management through helping his parents and grandparents with lawn projects at their homes and rental properties. Today, he maintains more than 35 residential and 10 commercial properties throughout the year.
Watch a video clip featuring the 2017 State Star in Agribusiness, Ryan Noland, describe his SAE in agribusiness, by clicking or tapping the PLAY BUTTON in the video box below.
Noland said he started his business owning only a push mower and a cheap weed-eater, but he now owns a flatbed trailer, a new weed-eater, a leaf blower and a zero-turn riding lawn mower.
"This has not only allowed me to hire the help of yet another person," Noland said, "but also has allowed me to work much more efficiently."
In addition to mowing customers' lawns, Noland said he rakes leaves during the winter and uses soil testing to recommend fertilizer applications to his customers.
Noland said the Springer High School agricultural education program and his father's support has helped his business succeed.
"My dad showed me the pride in doing a job well," Noland said. "He taught me not to stop at the simple mowing and trimming, but to go above and beyond what the customers expect and do every little thing."
Noland received second-place honors in 2016 and 2017 and third-place honors in 2015 in the Oklahoma FFA Turf Grass Management Proficiency Award area. Noland currently serves as the Springer FFA Chapter vice president, and he served as the chapter reporter and chapter secretary in 2014 and 2015, respectively.
Noland now has an Oklahoma applicators license, and he plans to continue operating Noland Lawn Management after graduating from high school.
The 18-year-old Springer FFA member is the son of Russell and Leah Noland. His agricultural education instructor and FFA adviser is Michael Stuckey.
Along with the State Star honor, Noland also received the Governor's Trophy and a $1,500 cash award sponsored by Blue & Gold Sausage Co. The national sponsor for this award is CNH Industrial Capital.
FFA is an integral part of the Agricultural Education division in the Oklahoma Department of Career and Technology Education system. With more than 27,000 members and 357 chapters, the Oklahoma FFA Association is the fourth-largest state FFA association. The FFA mission is to make a positive difference in the lives of students by developing their potential for premier leadership, personal growth and career success through agricultural education. To learn more about the Oklahoma FFA, visit okffa.org.
Noland was featured on the Blue-Green Gazette page of our website earlier this year in recognition of his achievement being named the Central District Star in Agribusiness. Click or tap here to jump to that story.
Source - Oklahoma State FFA Association
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