BUILDING HIS SKILLS

FFA member gains experience in mechanics, receives national finalist honor

By MARTHA BLUM – AgriNews Publications

Being involved with FFA activities helped Maxwell Griffey develop job skills, as well as receive national recognition for his FFA project.

“All through high school I had a job,” said Maxwell

Griffey, who was selected as one of four finalists for a

FFA national proficiency award in the area of agricultural mechanics repair and maintenance — placement.

“I started working for the school district doing grounds maintenance and then I applied for a job as a mechanic at CSR Bobcat in DeKalb, where I worked for almost three years,” the Sycamore FFA member said. “I worked on all sorts of Bobcat equipment doing services like oil changes and parts replacement.”

After graduating in May, Griffey applied for a job with the City of DeKalb’s street division.

“I do mowing, pothole repair on streets, tree trimming, traffic control and mechanical work on equipment,” said the son of Jason and Kate Griffey.

“All of this has been a great success due to my activities with the FFA,” he said. “It’s a result of being an officer and using the leadership qualities that I got out of FFA.”

At left: Maxwell Griffey learned to operate all sorts of equipment for his FFA project that includes working for three employers. The Sycamore FFA member is looking forward to attending the National FFA Convention and is counting down the days until the national proficiency award winners are announced. (Photo provided)

The winner of the national award was recently presented during the 94th National FFA Convention and Expo in Indianapolis.

Griffey was interviewed for the national award over Zoom.

“I gave a brief introduction speech and then the judges asked a series of questions,” he said. “It really didn’t feel like an interview. It felt like a conversation because I knew what I was talking about.”

Becoming an FFA national finalist is nerve-racking, Griffey said.

“It doesn’t seem real that we are the only four people in the country competing for this title,” he said.

Since the FFA member wasn’t involved with sports in high school, he didn’t have the experience of looking forward to a championship.

“I’m so excited. I don’t know what to do with myself,” he admitted. “I’m counting down the days to convention.”

While in high school, the FFA member was a member of the ag mechanics team.

“For the contest we had to find out what was wrong with an engine and the fix for it and we also had to know the different types of engines and the tools to work on them,” he said.

Another favorite FFA activity for Griffey was packing meals for the Feed My Starving Children program.

“We went as a chapter to package protein-packed meals for less fortunate people in developing countries,” he said. “It is goodhearted program and we had a good time doing it, so it didn’t feel like we were working.”

Advised by Kara Poynter, Christian Thurwanger and Courtney Wiedemann, Griffey was both the junior plot manager and plot manager for the chapter.

“We have two plots of land that totals about 80 acres where we alternate planting corn and beans,” Griffey said. “My job was to organize all the tillage, planting, harvesting and anything special that needed to happen.”

During harvest last year, the FFA member operated the combine.

“The farmer rode with me, but I harvested the whole plot except for about 10 or 12 rows,” Griffey said.

“I owe all of the success I’ve had to my advisers because anything that I ever completed or was a part of had been a push from the advisers,” he said. “I wouldn’t be where I’m at today without them. I owe them a huge thank you.”

Griffey plans to complete some alternate education to obtain safety certifications and licenses.

“I am going to get a chemical applicators license and water operators license, as well as safety certifications on different equipment,” he said.

Martha Blum can be reached at 815-410-2254, or mblum@shawmedia.com. Follow her on Twitter at: @AgNews_Blum.