MENDOTA - Griffin Lee Newell, a Mendota High School graduating senior, was recently presented the school’s highest agricultural honor, the DEKALB Agricultural Accomplishment Award, sponsored by Monsanto Company.

Newell, the son of Kevin and Jennifer Newell, received the award for excellence in academics, leadership, and agricultural work experience. He has attended various leadership conferences through FFA including the Illinois FFA State Convention and the National FFA Convention and Expo as well as serving as Jr. Advisor and president for the Mendota FFA Chapter. He has also competed in several Career Development Events (CDEs) including the Meats Evaluation CDE, Agronomy CDE, Land Use CDE, Agriculture Mechanics CDE and the Parliamentary Procedure CDE. Newell has worked extensively in the agriculture industry.

Matthew Meyer is Newell’s agricultural education instructor at MHS.

For over 70 years more than 168,000 high school seniors from across the country have received the DEKALB Agricultural Accomplishment Award, which has become a symbol for excellence and the school’s highest agricultural honor.

As the winner of the 2019 Award, Newell’s name will be recorded on a permanent plaque displayed at MHS.

Monsanto, a long-time supporter of agricultural education, FFA, 4-H and other farm youth organizations and initiatives, sponsors the DEKALB Agricultural Accomplishment Award.