NATIONAL CONTACT: Geoffrey Miller FFA Marketing and Communications gmiller@ffa.org 317-802-4217
Member of Minnesota’s Redwood Valley FFA Chapter wins national award at 85th National FFA Convention & Expo Jaclyn Dingels competed for Sheep Production Placement award INDIANAPOLIS (October 27, 2012/National FFA Organization) A local FFA member, already immersed in a hands-on experience aimed to jumpstart careers in agriculture, can add one more impressive achievement: national winner. Jaclyn Dingels of the Redwood Valley FFA Chapter was named national winner of the Sheep Production – Entrepreneurship Placement Award by a panel of judges Friday during the 85th National FFA Convention & Expo in Indianapolis. Jaclyn Dingels was one of four FFA members nationwide selected as national finalists in the Sheep Production – Entrepreneurship Placement area supported nationally by Bimeda, Inc., as a special project of the National FFA Foundation. The National FFA Organization’s Agricultural Proficiency Awards program recognizes outstanding student achievement in agribusiness gained through establishment of a new business, working for an existing company or otherwise gaining hands-on career experience. It serves as the award structure for an FFA member’s Supervised Agricultural Experience (mandatory for all FFA members) that is designed to develop specialized skills in 49 categories that they can apply toward their future careers. Awards, like the <<Sub Award Name 2>> Award, are available at the local, state and national levels. Jaclyn Dingels of the Redwood Valley FFA Chapter in Redwood Falls, Minn., has been raising Hampshire and Suffolk sheep for the past seven years. Her flock has grown from five leased ewes to 52 owned ewes and a partial interest in two leased rams. Developing a marketing strategy to sell her sheep throughout the country, she has guaranteed quality by raising her own replacement ewes instead of purchasing them in order to reduce the potential for disease transmission. Dingels is supported by her parents Pat and Steve and her FFA advisor Jeremy Daberkow. Jaclyn Dingels became eligible for the national award after winning the Minnesota state FFA competition earlier this year and will take home a $1,000 award, plus a special plaque. More information can be found online about the Agricultural Proficiency Awards (FFA.org/proficiency), the Supervised Agricultural Experience (FFA.org/SAE) and the 85th National FFA Convention & Expo (FFA.org/convention) on the National FFA Organization’s web site, FFA.org. ### About National FFA Organization The National FFA Organization is a national youth organization of 557,318 student members as part of 7,498 local FFA chapters in all 50 states, Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands. 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. The National FFA Organization operates under a federal charter granted by the 81st United States Congress and it is an integral part of public instruction in agriculture. The U.S. Department of Education provides leadership and helps set direction for FFA as a service to state and local agricultural education programs. For more, visit the National FFA Organization online at www.FFA.org, on Facebook, Twitter and the official National FFA Organization blog.