SENECA - Four members of the Mendota FFA competed in eight different proficiency areas at the Section 7 proficiency interviews at Seneca High School on Feb. 12. Proficiency awards are designed to recognize students who have excelled in their Supervised Agricultural Experience program in 47 different areas.

To be recognized, the student’s program must be supervised by their agriculture instructor, must be related to the agriculture industry, and there must be career-building skills or career exploration activities involved in the program. Students record their experiences and their income and expenses in their record books, which are evaluated by a panel of judges. The judges then interview the candidates in each area to determine a Section Winner who will advance to District 2 competition.

Competing for the first time at Section 7 Proficiency Interviews were Mendota High School sophomore Elizabeth Schillinger and junior Piper Artman. Schillinger, the daughter of Jeff and the late Catherine Schillinger, competed and placed second in the area of Vegetable Production for her project, which involved growing, harvesting, and marketing pumpkins, gourds, and squash this past year. Artman, the daughter of Jason and Tori Artman, competed and placed second in the area of Equine Science - Placement for her work caring for the stock on a local horse farm over the past year.

Mendota High School senior Alison Schlesinger, daughter of Tod and Christine Schlesinger, competed and placed second in Poultry Production with her three-year project of raising broiler chickens. Over the past year, she added projects working as an intern at the Mendota Golf Course, which allowed her to compete and place second in Landscape Management. Working at the golf course as well as managing the Mendota FFA Greenhouse (Nursery Operations) and mowing for some neighbors (Turf Grass Management) allowed her to also compete and place second in Diversified Horticulture. 

Jack Beetz, son of Brooke Beetz and a junior at Mendota High School, competed for the second year in a row at the Section 7 Proficiency Interviews. His work with the family business allows him to maintain several placement record books related to crop production and agricultural sales. Jack competed and placed second in both Diversified Crop Production - Placement (Grain Production, Specialty Crop Production, Fiber and/or Oil Crop, & Forage Production) and Forage Production. He was Section 7 winner in Forage Production last year. He also competed in and was the Section 7 winner in the area of Specialty Crop Production for his work in the production of seed corn. Jack will advance to the District 2 Proficiency interviews which will be held on Wednesday, March 4  at the Joliet Junior College Weitendorf Agriculture Education Center.

The Mendota FFA expressed their appreciation to the volunteers who served as judges for the Section 7 interviews, Mrs. Rickette Collins, Mrs. Dawn Dieter, and Mr. Jeff Doughty. Their experience and knowledge ensures that highly qualified candidates advance to the next level of competition.

The Illinois Association FFA is divided into 25 sections, which are then grouped into five districts. The Mendota FFA Chapter is located in Section 7, District 2. According to “Envision the Future: 2019 Illinois Agricultural Education Report” (www/ilaged.org) the majority (56 percent) of students’ SAE projects last year were Job Placement; with the remaining projects being either Entreprenuership/Ownership (38 percent) or Research (6 percent).

Collectively the net earnings of students’ SAE projects statewide exceeded $12 million. The FFA continues 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.

For more information about SAE’s, the FFA or agricultural careers, contact MHS agriculture teacher/FFA advisor Matt Meyer or visit www/ilaged.org.