AgroExpo invests in future leaders with FFA contests

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AgroExpo invests in future leaders with FFA contests

A farm show is taking partnering with tomorrow’s leaders to a new level.

Burt Henry with AgroExpo and former FFA advisor says for the past three years, FFA members have been able to compete in contests on the show grounds to gain hands-on experience in agronomy.  The newly developed Crop Management Contest is a nearly yearlong program where students make management plans for demonstration plot at the event, attend in-season field days, are judged on public speaking and other components, “They literally determine nutrition, they determine tillage, they determine plant populations—all of those—we give them as many choices as we can,” he explains.

Winning schools are awarded cash prizes from industry partners.  A tractor driving contest also takes place where Michigan FFA Region I State Vice President Olivia Coffey tells Brownfield members are tested on their equipment knowledge and driving abilities, “A lot of the members that I talked with live on farms or work for farms and they’re able to use their driving skills through the fields and also basic safety knowledge on it,” she says.

FFA members attending the last day of the show were also able to attend a career panel to learn about potential jobs in the industry.

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