Allison Rife, Miami Trace Student
State Proficiency Award Winners Tori Wilt and Tanner Mick
Each year members of the FFA have a chance to put their skills, hard work and SAE projects to the test by entering them for district evaluation. From there they have a chance to go to state and perhaps even nationals. Miami Trace FFA had 4 students compete for a proficiency award.
In the area of Forestry and Management, Charlie Miller has successfully started his own firewood business and sold and marketed over 85 cords of firewood from 2011 to present.
Charlie harvested dead and nuisance trees from his family farm, then cut, split, and marketed the wood to members of the community for fuel. He has earned over $10,000 and was in the top 4 awaiting an interview in May to determine his placement before receiving 2nd place. In the area of swine production entrepreneurship Gus Mitchem started his SAE project two years ago with a 6 sow herd. He has worked 1,945 hours with his project. Gus sells purebred and crossbred market swine and breeding stock. Any of his left over swine are sold as market.
Gus was interviewed for being in the top 4 with his final placement at 3 Horticulture Tori Wilt has worked for Patchwork Gardens for the past three years. She has worked 1,680 hours and has earned over $12,000. While working, Tori transplants different flowers and vegetables, sows seed, works in retail and does different office work. She also works in wholesale selling to other greenhouse owners.
Tori was in the top 4 in the state and awaited an interview in May before receiving 1st overall. In the area of Agricultural Processing, Tanner Mick has logged 960 hours at Prime Meats and Deli. His earnings for this placement total $6,000. While at the deli, Tanner’s responsibilities include, cutting meat to customer specifications, inspecting the meat and prep area, cleaning the work area, and identifying retail meat cuts. He was interviewed as a state finalist, ultimately receiving 3rd.
First place finishers Tori Wilt and Tanner Mick will advance to the national competition in October to determine their final national placement. In the area of Diversified overall.